Excelsior Springs, Mo. (December 22, 2025) – (This article was written by ESHS Junior Kaylee Halfhill and edited by Stephanie Vincent). For the past two years, Excelsior Springs High School has offered an Internship Experience class that places students directly into professional environments, pairing classroom learning with hands-on work across the community.
The program runs four days a week during the school day and connects juniors and seniors with local businesses and organizations, helping them explore careers, understand workplace expectations, and plan for the future.
Tony Harman, now in his 21st year of teaching at ESHS, has overseen the program since its start. He shared, “The experience fits very well with what I believe school should be about… making students curious about the world around them and the impact that they can have in that world.”
Teaching Curiosity Through Experience
The internship class is intentionally structured to expose students to careers and opportunities that allow them room to grow and learn as students, while encountering professional settings and developing their real-world skills.
Early in the course, students complete a workplace competency assessment through the DeBruce Foundation. The assessment helps students better understand their existing strengths, how they naturally approach problem-solving, and how those traits align with potential career interests.
“The internship program is designed to give students professional experience in careers that they are interested in, beyond experiences they could already be hired for,” Harman said.
From there, students participate in guided exploration activities and begin developing a professional handbook outlining expectations, goals, and areas of interest. Harman said the process is designed to prompt students to identify where they would most like to intern, considering their skills, interests, and class expectations.
Once students identify possible placements, they are involved in the outreach process. Harman contacts local businesses on their behalf, while some students take the lead by calling employers to inquire about internship opportunities. Community partners have also played an important role in expanding options, like the Chamber of Commerce.
“Brian Rice was incredibly helpful,” Harman said. “I shared a list of internships my students were interested in, and he helped connect us with the decision makers.”
After placement, Harman continues to guide students. He said his role is to be a resource for both students and businesses who are participating. He observes the student’s growth, identifies areas for improvement, provides feedback, and helps develop plans to achieve their goals.
Student Voices From the Field
For senior William Mannion, who is interning at the Excelsior Springs Middle School, the experience helped clarify his plans.
“It’s been something that’s super educational for me,” Mannion said. “It’s definitely made it where I know what I want to do after high school.”
Senior Bella O’Dell, also placed at the middle school, said the class emphasized skills she had not encountered elsewhere in her high school experience.
“I feel like I’ve learned more valuable life skills in this class than I have throughout high school,” O’Dell said. “Resumes, communication, and really figuring out what I want to do, or even what I don’t want to do.”
Karly Jo McWilliams, a senior interning with the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office 911 dispatch center, said the behind-the-scenes experience reshaped her understanding of the field.
“This class has offered me an immense amount of opportunities,” McWilliams said. “I genuinely don’t think I would be where I am today without it.”
She added that the program allowed her to see workplace culture and responsibilities firsthand, rather than relying on assumptions about a career path.
Benjamin Keeley, a senior at ESHS participating in the internship program, is currently working with an independent law firm in Liberty. He said the experience taught him that respect, knowledge, and especially learning and listening are essential, and he encourages anyone interested in furthering their education to take the internship class.
Outcomes That Extend Beyond High School
Harman said the program’s impact continues after students complete their internships.
One former intern accepted a part-time role in a dispatch center in Plattsburgh following graduation. Another student who interned with the Excelsior Springs Fire Department discovered a strong interest in emergency services and is now a cadet working toward an EMS license.
In another case, a student who was not initially accepted into the Career Center’s automotive program pursued an internship with local business Chuck Anderson Ford. After a successful year of interning, the student reapplied to the automotive program during his senior year and was accepted.
“These experiences help students find direction,” Harman said. “Sometimes that means confirming a career choice. Sometimes it means finding a new one.”
As the program continues, Harman hopes more students will take advantage of the opportunity and see continued, meaningful professional growth.
If you’re a local business interested in participating with the internship program, please contact Tony Harman through email at aharman@ga.essd40.com to get started.
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