One of the priorities within Turner USD 202's Strategic Plan is expanding Real World Learning opportunities that prepare students for success beyond graduation. Whether through internships, apprenticeships, career pathways, or hands-on learning experiences, students are gaining valuable skills, exploring future careers, and applying what they learn in real-world settings. By connecting students with authentic career experiences before graduation, Turner USD 202 is helping them discover their passions, build confidence, and take meaningful steps toward their future careers.

This summer, students had the opportunity to do just that through experiences in automotive technology and education.

THS Auto Shop Student Internship

This June, Turner High School senior Noah Marin, who has taken courses in the Auto Tech pathway for the last three years, traded the classroom for the auto shop as the district's first paid Automotive Technology student intern.

Working alongside Automotive Technology instructor Mike Creek, Noah spent the summer diagnosing vehicles, performing routine maintenance, completing repairs, learning electrical diagnostics, using professional scan tools, changing fluids, rotating and repairing tires, and helping deep clean the auto shop. Much of his work involved servicing vehicles for Turner staff members, giving him experience working on real customer vehicles in a professional setting.

In addition to earning a paycheck, Noah also earned elective credit through the district's Workplace Experience course by completing career reflections, skills assessments, and maintaining successful attendance throughout the internship.

Experiences like this allow students to bridge the gap between classroom learning and the workforce while helping them determine whether a career is the right fit for them. For Noah, that answer is clear - he plans to pursue automotive technology after graduation. “I love being able to come here every day and actually do something that I like to do. I learn a lot that I haven't had a chance to learn in class. I enjoy working on cars because it's like a puzzle."

Future Educators Explore the Teaching Profession

With the help of their THS school counselors, Chloe Buxton, Brooklyne Tomasevic, and Kaci Light applied for and were accepted to the Kansas Future Teacher Academy (KFTA) at Emporia State University. In June, they joined students from across Kansas who are interested in pursuing careers in education.

Throughout the week, students participated in keynote presentations, collaborative team sessions, specialized learning rotations, and discussions led by nationally recognized educators, Kansas Teachers of the Year, and university faculty. They explored topics including inclusive classrooms, student engagement, active listening, instructional strategies, and creating learning environments where every student feels valued.

KFTA wasn't just about listening to presentations. Students worked alongside peers from across the state, sharing ideas, collaborating in small groups, and learning from different perspectives. Throughout the week, each participant focused on a specific educational viewpoint that they would ultimately present during a culminating presentation on the academy's final day.

In addition to developing their presentation skills, students had the opportunity to network with other future educators who shared the same passion for teaching. Those conversations allowed them to learn from one another while building relationships with students who hope to make a difference in classrooms across Kansas.

The experience also reinforced what each student already believed - that teaching is the career they want to pursue. Their learning won't stop there.

This school year, all three students will continue building on what they learned through Turner High School's Learn to Teach program. They will participate in teaching internships at USD 202 elementary schools, working alongside classroom teachers while earning college credit and gaining firsthand experience in the profession.

Part of creating these in-district opportunities for future educators is a recruitment strategy - the district hopes that these students will return to USD 202 after college to teach future Turner graduates.

”I have worked with kids for almost a year now and it has brought me so much joy and taught me a lot about working with kids. KFTA definitely helped me feel secure in that I want to be a teacher and helped to show me all of the awesome parts of teaching many people don't talk about.” - Chloe Buxton

“At Kansas Future Teacher Academy we went through talks and lessons, but we also got to interact with future teachers throughout Kansas. It was amazing - everyone was so kind, and I felt so welcomed with people I’ve never met before.” - Brooklyne Tomasevic

“We learned specific techniques to make an active speaker feel heard, how to include anyone and everyone in the classroom, and the many different ways to teach that allows you to maintain and express your personality through lessons. It was intense but not in an overwhelming way. I could tell that all the presenters, organizers, and students present were passionate about teaching and willing to lend knowledge to one another.” - Kaci Light