Alignment

Alignment, Northern Kane County Region 110, and Central Unit School District 301 Partner to Introduce Drone Internship

July 27, 2026

Students Earn FAA Part 107 Certification

This summer, the Alignment Collaborative for Education partnered with Northern Kane County Region 110 and Central Unit School District 301 to launch its first-ever Drone Internship, providing students with hands-on experience in one of the fastest-growing sectors of the aviation industry while helping shape the future of career and technical education in Northern Kane County.

The internship was developed in response to Central Unit School District 301’s plans to introduce a regional Career and Technical Education (CTE) aviation pathway. As drone technology continues to transform industries including aviation, public safety, construction, agriculture, real estate, and infrastructure, the internship offered students an opportunity to explore emerging careers while earning valuable industry credentials.

“Every four years the region undergoes a deep dive into the career and technical education offerings as part of our federal and state grants cycles,” said Terry Stroh, Director of the Northern Kane County Region 110 Education for Employment (EFE) System. “Much like our First Responder Internship from just a few years back, internship opportunities like the FAA Drone Program give us the opportunity to gauge interest in new programs before their launch within schools. This summer’s Drone Program has not only allowed us to measure student interest, but also the high level of success we can achieve. This program will introduce students to many of the exciting career opportunities available throughout the aviation field.”

The internship also serves as an important foundation for Central Unit School District 301’s expanding aviation programming.

“I am thrilled that Central 301 has launched a high school-based regional aviation pathway,” said Stephen Buchs, Director of Curriculum 6–12 for Central Unit School District 301. “The aviation field is often overlooked by students and families unless they are personally connected to the career field, and bringing this option into our public schools will open the eyes of both students and the community. By offering high-impact opportunities in pilot flight training, commercial drone operations, and aviation maintenance, we are creating unprecedented opportunities for students in Central 301 and across Northern Kane County to pursue these career pathways. It is a true community launchpad that will prepare high school students to lead the future of the aerospace industry.”

The success of the inaugural Drone Internship was made possible through the collaboration of educators and work-based learning partners who helped transform an innovative idea into a meaningful student experience.

“Bridging the gap between the classroom and the aviation industry requires an extraordinary team effort,” said Dr. Todd Stirn, Work-Based Learning Specialist. “Sparked by Nancy Coleman’s initial vision, I designed and built it into a 60-hour internship curriculum that was brought to life in collaboration with instructor Brayden Teele and director Stephen Buchs. This internship sets a new benchmark for work-based learning. We aren’t just preparing students for an FAA exam; we are equipping them with the real-world operational skills to launch high-skill careers.”

Led by Brayden Teele, Computer Science and Math Teacher at Central High School, the internship provided students with the instruction and flight experience needed to prepare for the FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate, the federal certification required to operate drones commercially in the United States.

“This outstanding group of students demonstrated exceptional dedication and a strong commitment to expanding their knowledge of the drone industry,” Teele said. “By earning their FAA Part 107 license, they are taking an important step toward developing valuable career-ready skills in aviation, technology, photography, mapping, and commercial drone operations. Their willingness to challenge themselves through this internship reflects their work ethic, curiosity, and determination to succeed. We are proud of their accomplishments and look forward to seeing the many opportunities their Part 107 license will create.”

Eleven student interns participated in the inaugural program, gaining both technical knowledge and real-world experience. For Central High School student Ruans Parikh, the internship offered lessons that extended beyond drone operations. “This internship taught me that knowledge alone doesn’t create success. Success comes from putting ideas into action, adapting to unexpected challenges, and taking ownership of every result along the way.”

The Alignment Collaborative for Education is grateful to Central Unit School District 301, Central High School, and the dedicated educators who made this inaugural Drone Internship possible. Together, we are creating innovative pathways that prepare students for high-demand careers while strengthening the future workforce of Northern Kane County.

Help Us Find Our Next Community and School Program Coordinator

July 14, 2026

The Alignment Collaborative for Education is a 501(c)3 organization working to align community resources in support of public school and post-secondary strategies that raise student achievement preparing students to be academic and career ready. The goal is to create responsible, productive, and contributing members of society that advance the economic and social well-being of the Northern Kane County region.

Position Summary:

Alignment is seeking an energetic and passionate individual committed to future workforce development who can plan and deliver coaching and career preparation planning and programming for students residing in school districts U-46, 300, 301, and 303. This planning and programming must be inclusive of the business community to include organizations representing business, municipalities, non-profits, post-secondary, and school district personnel. Candidate must have an appreciation for working effectively within the diverse community that Alignment serves.

Desired fill date is on or before August 15, 2026.

Essential Job Functions:

Assist with the recruitment and deployment of a large volunteer pool to facilitate collaboration and the sharing of business and community resources for the effective delivery of programs to students that positively impact career planning.
Coordinate large scale off-site events such as the annual Explore event and the Regional Job Fair ensuring recruitment practices and communications are in place to provide a strong representation of participation from diverse business and community organizations aligned with the region’s high school pathway models.
Ensure Alignment’s program resources are fully utilized to address the region’s current and future workforce needs by continuing to be abreast of changes in the regional and national labor market and expected workforce shortages, designing programming to familiarize students with these specific career pathways.
Provide technical assistance to team members and volunteers to ensure that program delivery combines live, hybrid, and virtual programs to maximize access for students and teachers.
Track key organizational metrics such as students served and volunteer hours invested to ensure that Alignment meets its annual performance metrics as approved by the Governing Board.
Assist the Executive Director in promoting Alignment’s work with youth, showcasing the return on investment to the community and its contribution to current and future workforce development by being involved in community organizations that have complimentary missions.
Expand Alignment’s access to students served by developing new and innovative programs while also continuing to analyze existing programs and opportunities for improvement.

Knowledge & Skills Needed:

Demonstrated organization and project management skills necessary to manage an extensive volunteer pool where human resources are aligned with educational pathways and career opportunities ensuring the optimal utilization of an array of business and community volunteers.
Demonstrated experience in working successfully in middle and high school environments fostering career planning.
Ability to set priorities, execute programming and project management practices that best utilizes resources from the business community for the benefit of students.
Proficiency in the use of Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and Google applications.
Proficiency in generating and posting social media communications and promotions to increase awareness of program offerings with students, parents, school personnel, and the business community.
Experience in coordinating remote and hybrid meetings/events as well as small and large scale in person events. Some examples of these events include Explore, Regional Job Fair, and the U-46 Postsecondary Days.
Strong oral and written communications skills as evidenced by the ability to help plan and develop both instructional and recruitment flyers that provide a marketing plan aligned with ensuring maximum, quality participation from students and teachers at the individual high schools.
Creation and maintenance of an annual program and events calendar that reflects all programming within the four school districts under Alignment’s coordination from August to May of each school year.
Creation and maintenance of a comprehensive summer internship calendar that reflects all start and end dates for each internship program offered.
Experience in conducting program evaluations that are inclusive of all relevant stakeholder audiences including the development of surveys and interviews to gather feedback from students, school administration, and the participating business community.

Experience and Interests:

The ideal candidate will hold a minimum of an associates or baccalaureate degree with evidence of strong academic performance. Based on a review of previous experience, the candidate will show a history and passion of working with youth in a current or former position or volunteer capacity that includes utilizing business and community volunteers.

Experience in training and development in a corporate setting is a plus along with bilingual skills, specifically Spanish proficiency both oral and written competency. Demonstrated experience in event planning along with the design and execution of various training programs.

Compensation/Work Schedule:

Compensation will be based on experience and depth of skill necessary in meeting the knowledge and skills needed for the position. The work week, based on Alignment’s event and meeting schedule, can be flexible allowing for a combination of in office and out of office work completion. Position may also require infrequent evening and weekend meetings/events in virtual and live settings. A competitive benefits package is offered to include a generous paid leave policy.

Position Salary Range: $55,000 to $65,000

Application Process and Timeline:

Interested candidates should submit their cover letter and resume to the following email ace@align4edu.org. Position will remain open until filled. Desired fill date is on or before August 15, 2026.

The Alignment Collaborative for Education is a 501©3 organization promoting equitable employment practices

This Summer Marks a Milestone for Our Healthcare Internship Program

July 9, 2026

This summer marks a milestone for our healthcare internship program. More than 500 applications were received in preparation for the healthcare summer internship program. A record number of over 70 paid internships were made available by the local healthcare community with Advocate Sherman Hospital hosting 35 students this summer.

Summer Internships 2026 also introduced students to the behavioral health professions as Alignment works with School District U-46, Elgin Township, and the United Way Metro Chicago Elgin Neighborhood Network to address the need for greater resources focused on youth mental health.

None of these placements would be possible without our host sites and our stipend sponsorships provided by Elgin Community College’s Taking Back the Trades grant in its third year of funding. Alignment partnering with Northern Kane County Region 110 wishes to express our appreciation to those host partners:

Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital
(Pharmacy)

Advocate Sherman Hospital
(Medical Assisting, Medical Rotation, Medical Scholars & Pharmacy)

Athletico
Bartlett and Schaumburg Clinics
(Physical Therapy)

Diamond Physical Therapy
(Physical Therapy)

Ecker Center
(Behavioral Health)

Family Services Association of Greater Elgin
(Behavioral Health)

Luna Behavioral Health Center
(Behavioral Health)

Northern Illinois Medical Scholars Program
(Physician Mentorship, Clinical Shadowing and Laboratory Experiences)

OrthoIllinois
Algonquin Clinic
(Physical Therapy)

Streamwood Behavioral Healthcare System
(Behavioral Health)

VNA Healthcare
(Medical Assisting, Medical Rotation & Public Health)

Well Child Center
(Dentistry, Nutrition, and Public Health)

Advocate Sherman Hospital Pharmacy Technician interns

Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital and Advocate Sherman Hospital open their doors for nine students to receive “hands on” experience partnering with Talent First to prepare students while in high school to work as pharmacy technicians.

Advocate Sherman Hospital Medical Rotation Interns

Advocate Sherman Hospital sponsors ten Medical Rotation interns introducing future medical professionals to over a dozen different hospital specialties.

Advocate Sherman Hospital Medical Assisting interns

Advocate Sherman’s Outpatient Clinics demonstrate their critical role in providing quality, healthcare services to further help develop the region’s future medical professionals.

Athletico hires three students from Central, St. Charles East, and South Elgin high schools to begin employment as rehab aides in preparation for the physical and occupational therapy professions.

Ecker Center pilots the first behavioral health internships partnering with Family Services Association of Greater Elgin, Luna Behavioral Health Center, and Streamwood Behavioral Healthcare System.

teen mental health first aid certifications (tMHFA)

Elgin Neighborhood Network partners with Elgin Township, Kenneth Young Center, and School District U-46 to offer teen mental health first aid certifications (tMHFA) to the region’s healthcare interns, students representing School Districts 300, 301, 303, and U-46.

Advocate Sherman Hospital- Medical Scholars interns

Northern Illinois Medical Scholars Program championed and mentored by Dr. Jamilah Okoe, Dr. Irene Wu, and Dr. Justin Macariola-Coad, practicing physicians affiliated with Advocate Sherman Hospital, select six students from Elgin, Hampshire, Jacobs, St, Charles East, and South Elgin high schoolsfor this prestigious internship program.

VNA Healthcare introduces future medical professionals to the role of community health in clinical settings, critical to providing equitable healthcare services for the greater Elgin area.

Well Child Center hosted ten interns linking the importance of nutrition to the fields of dentistry and public health stimulating career interests in these three industry sectors while providing each student with individualized mentoring and career planning.

What a Difference a Week Makes!

June 28, 2026

Investing in youth…
Preparing the future workforce.

Inaugural drone internship is a hit, hosted by Central School District 301.

First Responder interns meet and train with the City of Elgin SWAT team.

Ecker Center partnering with Alignment and the Elgin Neighborhood Network launches the first behavioral health internship program.

Culinary students prepare for guests at Village of Bartlett’s Bartlett Hills, experimenting with culinary and hospitality professions.

Automotive students from School Districts U-46 and 300 experience careers in heavy equipment maintenance at West Side Tractor.

ABC Toon Town helps students experience early education professions partnering together and building the future teacher pipeline.

Future First Responder interns are welcomed at the Hanover Park Fire Department summer internship in its third year.

Hanover Township introduces students to human services professions specializing in aging services.

For over five years Elgin Sweeper continues to partner, preparing high school interns for critical roles in manufacturing.

Future pharmacists work with professional pharmacists in the classroom, visit Midwestern University School of Pharmacy, and shadow in the pharmacies of Advocate Good Shepherd and Advocate Sherman hospitals.

Partnering with Bartlett Police, Hanover Park Fire, and Hanover Township prepares First Responder interns for emergency services.

Students interested in architectural and design careers visit Judson University’s Department of Architecture.

The First 12 Days of Internships

June 19, 2026

Bartlett Police Department interns search and seize.

First-time host Bennigan’s hires intern after 60 hours!

Baird & Warner interns apply marketing best-practices to the real estate industry.

Northern Illinois Medical Scholars shadow operating room procedures hosted by Advocate Sherman physicians.

Hoffer Plastics equips interns with engineering and manufacturing experience.

AI internship equips the future workforce with projects sponsored by Explore Elgin, Industrial Treasures, Lakeview Precision Machining and St. Charles American Legion.

ECC’s Dental Assisting Program works with Well Child Center’s interns to keep those smiles bright!

Precious Angels interns help children soar as they learn and play.

Hampton Lenzini & Renwick internship launches its 7th year.

Elgin Fire Department’s future First Responder recruits train hard and swing with a purpose!

Rosati’s corporate internship program prepares future restaurant entrepeneurs.

alignment 12 lakeview precision machining

Lakeview Precision interns get turn-key machining and problem-solving experience.

Alignment continues to benefit from the Seigle Foundation’s steadfast support

June 12, 2026

Alignment Collaborative's Nancy Coleman with Robin and Mark Seigle at job fair 2026

Alignment continues to receive the steadfast support of the Seigle Foundation with an annual grant award of $47,250 to prepare our youth for future personal and career success. This generous funding will allow Alignment to continue expanding its work-based learning initiatives for middle and high school students throughout the U-46, 300, 301 and 303 school districts serving 11 high schools in the region.

The Seigle Foundation is all about time and talent investment ensuring all students from early education to graduation have the necessary resources to build a solid educational foundation. You often see Mark and Robin Seigle surrounded by more than 2,000 8^th grade students at the annual U-46 Explore event in October serving the nine U-46 middle schools. By March, you see the Seigle’s joining over 85 business partners at the annual job fair jointly coordinated with Northern Kane County Region 110, our four school districts, and Alignment followed by supporting the placement of more than 300 high school students in paid internships for the summer. The Seigle’s human and financial investments are critical to the success of these students, their families, our schools, and the future strength of our region’s workforce.