Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the Superintendent’s Leadership Program?
- What is the application process?
- How are students selected?
- What types of businesses participate in the program?
- What is the internship experience?
- What do the students learn as leadership interns?
- What are the intern's responsibilities?
- What are the site supervisor’s responsibilities?
- What leadership training is provided?
- What time commitment is necessary?
- Are there financial commitments?
- What are the benefits of the program?
- How do universities view this type of program on a transcript?
- In what other activities will interns participate?
- When do internship placements occur and when does the internship begin?
- If I am interviewed by a site does that mean I have the internship?
- Where are seminars located?
- What are the hours required for the program?
- How are the hours posted to the transcript?
- How do I sign out of school when leaving?
- What topics are scheduled for seminar?
- What is the grading policy?
- What is the dress code for work sites and seminars?
- How do I get additional information?
- Where have graduates gone to school?
"I have had a great experience…my supervisors have been helpful and informative yet gave me space to complete my tasks. They...delegated increased responsibility to me."
- Eli Walker '03
" [The program] helped me gain extensive experience in the nonprofit world and to see what really goes on in such organizations."
- Ilona Caroll '02
"[I have achieved] patience and a sense of...awareness. I learned my leadership style and how I function in a group of intellectuals. SLP was the best part of senior year. I took it for granted, but now I realize that something so open, intellectual, and stimulating is hard to find."
- Kyra Wilson '02
What is the Superintendent's Leadership Program?
The Superintendent's Leadership Program is a program for academically elite emerging leaders to enhance their skills through weekly seminars and an internship experience. Acceptance to the program is competitive and students are chosen for their maturity, intellectual curiosity, and ability to learn in non-classroom settings. The program is a year long. Two honors credits are awarded for each semester.
What is the application process?
Students apply during the second semester of their junior year to participate as seniors. Applications are online, see How To Apply, or from high school counselors and internship coordinators. All materials in the application must be received by March 15. Interviews may be conducted and candidates will be notified of selection by April 30.
Selection for this exciting and rewarding honors program is competitive. Candidates must submit an application form, two letters of recommendation, a transcript and responses to essay questions. Interviews may be scheduled to learn more about the candidates. Successful candidates are selected for their maturity, intellectual curiosity, and ability to learn in non-classroom settings. These students demonstrate the skills needed to become future leaders and are eager to participate in high-level professional activities.
What types of businesses participate in the program?
Participating businesses represent the key occupations in the metropolitan area and are among the community's most forward-thinking and innovative organizations. They include businesses, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies. Examples of previous sites include NIH, U.S. Senate, Montgomery County Executive's Office, Edelman Communications, British Embassy, Recording Industry Association of America, NASA, IBM, American Psychological Association, Legg Mason, and the Children's Defense Fund. See Our Partners
What is the internship experience?
During the internship, students apply and assess their leadership training and career choices in real-world settings with guidance from their mentors and MCPS staff. Intern activities include writing reports, helping to organize community-based programs, and initiating their own learning experiences. Students gain knowledge about budget, personnel administration, organizational development, planning and implementation, client service, and project evaluation. The internship also affords students the opportunity to begin to development their professional network.
What do the students learn as leadership interns?
Students apply their training in problem-solving, communication, and other leadership skills. They also are introduced to management concepts by working with business professionals. This experience is an extraordinary opportunity for interns to assess their career goals.
What are the intern's responsibilities?
Each intern is responsible for functioning as a member of a professional team. This includes completing tasks in a timely and efficient manner and following the employer's policies and code of ethics and business conduct. Work can include research, administrative assignments, program planning, database development, and client outreach. It is important to understand that each site will operate differently and students, as well as mentors, should know the importance of developing a workplan so that objectives can be met. It also allows one to see the progress of their responsibilities and how every task is important to the operation of the business.
What are the site supervisor's responsibilities?
The supervisor provides work opportunities matching the student's skills and abilities. The organization provides supervision by a professional staff member who serves as the student's on-site mentor. Interns should meet periodically with the supervisor to gain feedback on the work. Mentors are also responsible for providing clear goals, explanations of work assigned and demonstrating how the entire operation functions, thus why this assignment is important to the overall work and mission of the organization. When appropriate, mentors should include the interns on staff meetings, client meetings, and other forums that allow the intern to observe how decisions are made and consensus is built in the workplace.
What leadership training is provided?
Students selected for the internship will participate in leadership training prior to the start of their senior year. Required readings, essays and lectures will be conducted throughout the senior year. Additionally, each year there are opportunities to participate in a highly supportive environment which encourages students to think and communicate in ways that promote problem-solving. Selected students may elect to participate in the weeklong residential program offered by Maryland Leadership Workshops. Fees are incurred by the student, however, financial assistance may be available to a limited number of students.
What time commitment is necessary?
Students work at their internship for four afternoons each week and also attend regular program seminars. Approximately 15 hours per week is spent at internship sites. Mornings are spent at school.
Are there financial commitments?
Students are required to provide their own transportation to and from the site. Note that this is a serious financial commitment, as some students spend nearly $25 per week on transportation depending on location. Student sign a contract committing them to the requirements of the program. Parents and supervisors sign the contract as well to understand their obligations.
What are the benefits of the program?
Interns receive two honors credit for participation. College admissions counselors view this experience very favorably and successful candidates will have a letter of recommendation from the program director or their internship supervisor for college applications.
How do universities view this type of program on a transcript?
This opportunity will allow students to stand apart from their peers. Since it is highly selective and requires a rigorous schedule, students are able to create an enhanced profile of their academic ability and demonstrate their commitment to lifelong learning. Additionally, students have sent copies of the program literature with their applications and most obtain letters of recommendation from the site supervisor, which allows admissions officials to learn more about the candidate's ability to handle high level work. Students can receive a letter of recommendation from the program office as well.
In what other activities will interns participate?
Follow-up activities provide students with opportunities to reflect on their experiences and integrate them into their personal development and career decisions.
When do internship placements occur and when does the internship begin?
Placement begins in early summer. After identifying the strengths of each student along with their intended profession, we then make contact with resources or partners in the metropolitan area. Each student is placed according to his or her profile. Generally, internships begin the week of Labor Day, however, some sites prefer earlier start dates to begin an orientation process. Students negotiate their own interview times and working hours. Many students are placed late in the summer depending on supervisors' schedules but all students are placed by the beginning of the fall semester.
If I am interviewed by a site does that mean I have the internship?
No, not necessarily. Although it is rare for a student to be rejected for an internship position, some organizations find that a student is not the right match for them. Additionally, some businesses may want to work with a student but do not have a mentor to guide their work or even a place to sit. In this case, the experience would not be valuable. However, the program does not make a practice of scheduling a series of interviews. We generally make a match and if it is not satisfactory we make another attempt. If a suitable placement is not found, the student will not be allowed to remain in the program. Students are asked to take into consideration that every work environment is a learning opportunity.
Seminars are held at in various sites in Montgomery County. Most are in an MCPS facility. However, seminars may be scheduled at public libraries and other county offices, businesses or government agencies. Some current and former internship sites will occasionally host students for a seminar. Seminars are generally held between 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. Students do not report to their worksites on seminar days.
What are the hours required for the program?
Interns work 15 hours per week for a total of 300 hours per semester. Students receive two (2) honors credits. Hours cannot carry over to the next semester, and students who fulfill their hours early are still required to go to their internship. Students do not get hours for travel time, which should be considered when identifying internship sites.
How are the hours posted to the transcript?
Students will see one grade but it will be weighted to represent four (4) class periods and honors level. Four grades are not posted to the transcript.
How do I sign out of school when leaving?
Students must adhere to the procedures in their home school for signing out when leaving the premises. Do not assume that your counselor or internship coordinator knows that you are leaving for internship. Carry documents as proof of your internship schedule.
What topics are scheduled for seminar?
Seminars are generally 2 hours long and students are expected to reflect on their work experiences, including communication in the workplace, feedback and evaluation mechanisms, work teams, motivating employees and other cutting edge management issues. Some seminars host invited guest speakers that discuss leadership, management or college experience topics.
Participants receive two honors credits for completion of internship hours, sponsor evaluation, written assignments, participation at seminars, and school presentation. Timesheets are required weekly. Journals and essays are prepared as assigned.
What is the dress code for work sites and seminars?
This is an important part of the preparation and interview process. Students should dress professionally (ties, pantsuits) for the interview no matter what the location. The question about dress code should be addressed in the interview so that each person knows what is acceptable in the workplace.
How do I get additional information?
For more information contact:
- High school counselor
- Local school internship coordinator
- Program Director
Where have graduates gone to school?
American University |
Indiana University |
Tufts University |
Superintendent's
Leadership Program
Montgomery County Public Schools
Office of Curriculum Instruction and Programs
850 Hungerford Drive, Room 250
Rockville, Maryland 20850
Phone: 301-279-3546
kim_d_jones@mcpsmd.org
Updated July 9, 2007 | Maintained by Web Services
