Monroe placements range from aviation to law
Monroe's Internship and Industry Immersion program began this school year, with a growing number of students taking placements at businesses in Butler and Warren counties. Participation is limited to eligible seniors, according to Monroe Schools spokesman Adam Marcum.
Students work alongside a professional in a field they want to explore for two hours a day, four days a week, Marcum said. The placements take up part of their class time. "By the end of the school year, they will have earned at least 150 work-based learning hours to add to their resume," he said.
This fall's assignments include fueling an airplane, teaching in a classroom and working in law, animal care and physical therapy settings. Senior Jaiden Wolfe, for example, is interning at Gibbs & Associates Law Firm in Mason.
Butler Tech identifies its Career and College Readiness course as the prerequisite for the senior-level internship course. Career and College Readiness is a graduation requirement for all Monroe students in grades 10 through 12.
The internship's minimum of 150 hours is distinct from Butler Tech's broader guidance on work-based learning in Ohio. That guidance says students should accumulate 250 hours, starting as early as ninth grade, in work aligned with their program of study or student success or graduation plan. It also calls for evidence of positive evaluations.
Monroe High School Principal Tom Prohaska said the first-year program is already showing positive results. He expressed enthusiasm about the launch and said local business partnerships help students connect classroom lessons with practical skills. "We look forward to seeing the positive impact this initiative will have on our students and local community," he said.
Middletown students gain healthcare experience
Now in its second year, Middletown High School's internship partnership with Butler Tech centers on nursing careers. Its Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) and phlebotomy programs offer hands-on learning and opportunities to pursue credentials that students can use to enter the workforce or continue their education, Butler Tech officials said.
Arlington Pointe and Ohio Living help provide the programs' off-campus learning opportunities. Through those partnerships, students receive clinical experience and mentoring, explore careers and meet healthcare professionals, according to Butler Tech's October 16, 2026, report.
Every student in the CNA and phlebotomy programs earned CPR/Basic Life Support (BLS) certification last school year, Butler Tech officials said. Instructor Mintkenbaugh also reported that more than half of her seniors from that year are now enrolled in nursing school, according to the October 16 report.
Separately, Butler Tech reported a 77% increase in applications to its Healthcare Science pathway between the 2023–24 and 2025–26 school years.
One Middletown student's experience illustrates how the credentials can lead to work while a student is still in school. Butler Tech reported that she earned her nursing assistant certification as a junior and then began working as a CNA. Now a senior, she is studying phlebotomy and applying to local nursing schools.
