Amsterdam High School students are stepping into the workforce through the district’s Work-Based Learning (WBL) program, which gives them the opportunity to gain hands-on experience and develop employability skills while exploring potential career paths.
Recent WBL activities have included students assisting at Barkley Elementary, learning about manufacturing during a tour of Mohawk Lifts, and volunteering at the Montgomery County SPCA’s Cat Adoption Center. Others have begun job placements at Super Shoes and Ashley Furniture, where they are learning valuable workplace and communication skills.
“Work-based learning helps me with the things I need to know when I have a job,” said senior Jexiarilys Figueroa-Morales. “At Super Shoes, I work on my communication skills and help the staff make the store look nice.”
“I go to the SPCA on Thursdays and I learn how to work with the other students to make the Cat Adoption Center clean for all the cats and kittens,” added senior Alynna Rivera.
According to Ashley Weil, Shelter Manager at the Montgomery County SPCA, the partnership benefits both students and animals. “Our partnership with Amsterdam High School volunteers working in the cat room provides a meaningful experience for both the students and the animals,” she said. “The cats receive valuable socialization and enrichment, while students learn responsibility, empathy, and the impact of even small acts of kindness.”
The Greater Amsterdam School District’s WBL program was developed to give students real-world experience in a supervised job environment. The goal is to increase students’ job readiness, independence, and employability skills by partnering with community businesses that provide on-site learning opportunities.
Employers participating in the program provide supervised placements where students gain credit by completing at least 54 hours of work experience. These opportunities not only help students build confidence but also prepare them for success after graduation.
Student helping at the SPCA Cat Adoption Center
Student cleaning and shining shoes at Super Shoes
Students building their work skills assisting at Ashley Furniture!