Internship Location: Waterford, WI // Hybrid (Remote and In-Person)
Organization Type: Wisconsin Public School District
Policy Areas: Health Policy, Educational Policy
Through my summer internship at Waterford Union High School District (WUHS), I assisted in updating the school’s health and wellness policies for staff and students. My colleague and I were responsible for reviewing 11 district policies including employee wellness, student
wellness, family medical leave act, nutrition education, human growth and development, physical examination, administration of medication, health emergencies and first aid care, tuberculosis, and pediculosis. During the updating process, I analyzed policy options and
selected clauses that fit WUHS’s mission best. I also practiced my policy writing skills in the creation of new clauses to supplement or replace previously standardized health and wellness policy clauses. My revisions involved eliminating vague or ambiguous terms, promoting personal health, and including stakeholders. I prioritized USDA guidelines in my review of the policies and ensured the continuation of precedented standards and benchmarks. Overall, the bulk of my internship followed my in-depth examination of the policy documents. Additionally, I met with team leaders and colleagues during this process, experiencing a collaborative work environment. We met regularly to report on completed tasks and resolve any inquiries. While most of the revisions were completed remotely, I was provided the opportunity to present my policy recommendations in-person to the WUHS school board. There, I refined my public speaking skills and fielded questions from community members surrounding the policy updates. This informative and interactive internship with WUHS afforded me valuable experience and educated me on both health and educational policy.