From meeting the governor to landing full-time careers, Sanford High School and Regional Technical Center students are turning classroom learning into real-world success through the Extended Learning Opportunities Program.
Extended Learning Opportunities (ELO’s) provide students with the chance to have meaningful learning experiences at local businesses, community organizations, or with community experts in particular fields. ELO Coordinator Sally MacDougal helps students navigate four distinct types of opportunities: internships, co-op programs which allow students to earn credit for existing jobs, job shadowing experiences, and structured extended learning opportunities that function like additional classes.
“A lot of students are excited to know that this is available to them,” MacDougal said.
The program, which spans all 25 programs offered between SHS and SRTC, is showing early results this school year. Currently, 18 students have completed their paperwork and are actively participating in various ELO opportunities, with many more applications still in progress. Over the summer, eight students continued their internships, demonstrating the program’s year-round potential and the strong relationships built between students and employers.
Several local businesses have embraced their role as educational partners for SHS and SRTC students. Rubb Building Systems has been particularly instrumental in supporting students, especially those in welding programs. SRTC junior Anderson White began working with Rubb at just 16 years old and he even got to share his experience with Governor Janet Mills when she toured the technical center last week.
“Anderson is a rock star,” MacDougal said.
The program's impact on career outcomes is already becoming evident. Several welding students from the Regional Technical Center have transitioned seamlessly from classroom learning to full-time employment, often with the same companies where they completed their ELOs. Plumbing students have similarly moved from their technical center programs into professional positions.
Current opportunities showcase the program's diversity. Students are pursuing nursing experience at Goodall Hospital, exploring education through hands-on teaching experience, and gaining library science exposure across multiple school districts. SHS student Rory White completed a summer staff writer position with the Sanford Springvale News and is continuing that work through an internship this school year.
Understanding that not every placement is perfect from the start, the program builds in checkpoints at each semester to evaluate whether students and employers are a good fit. This approach ensures students get the most from their experience while maintaining positive relationships with community partners.
“If it is a good fit, we continue with it,” MacDougal said. “If it's not, we'll look for another business or let the student settle where they need to be in their classes."
We will soon be highlighting individual student ELO's in future editions of the 'Sanford Spotlight' District Newsletter.