Experiential Learning

Each experiential learning placement includes completion of all required documentation, culminating in approval by the Williamsville Board of Education. Separate arrangements may not be made directly with individual schools, departments, administrators (building and district), teachers, or other school District personnel. School and District personnel are not authorized to approve placements, assign internship hours, or grant experiential learning opportunities outside of the District's established process, dates, or experiences. Additionally, colleges and universities may not commit individual schools to providing or approving internships, student placements, or other field experiences.
 

Following Board of Education approval, each internship or field experience is intentionally designed to include specific dates, hours, schedules, projects, assignments, and responsibilities that support both the educational objectives of the college or university program and the District's operational needs. Throughout the placement, interns and internship mentors are expected to engage in regular communication, collaboration, and ongoing feedback to support a meaningful, substantive, and successful learning experience.

The Human Resources Department and the Office of Instruction play an essential role throughout the placement process by:

• Coordinating internship and field experience requests;
• Ensuring compliance with District policies, procedures, and requirements; 
• Facilitating communication with colleges and universities, District departments and  schools; and
• Supporting appropriate placement and mentorship.

To preserve the integrity of the learning experience and ensure that internships remain educational, all experiences are unpaid. (For current and active District employees who receive approval through the established process, all internship-related activities must occur outside an employee's regular job responsibilities and contractual work hours. Under no circumstances may work for which a District employee is already compensated or performed as part of an employee's assigned position, or duties performed outside of the approved internship dates, be counted toward internship or field experience requirements).

Only activities completed after all required District approvals, including Board of Education approval, have been obtained may be counted toward internship or field experience requirements. Prior work, volunteer service, observations, projects, or other experiences completed before official approval will not be applied toward required internship hours.
 

To ensure appropriate supervision and provide diverse, robust learning experiences: 
Administrative interns and student teachers will not be assigned to non-tenured administrators or educators. 

District employees will not be placed for internship experiences within their own school building, department, or regular work location. 

These requirements are intended to support objectivity, provide meaningful professional growth opportunities, and ensure that interns receive appropriate mentorship.

Administrative internship opportunities are generally available only during the summer months, with placements typically occurring at summer school sites and/or, in some circumstances, at the District Office. Because administrative internships require significant planning, coordination, and supervisory support, the number of available administrative internship placements is limited and determined by District capacity and operational needs.