La Joya ISD interns job-shadow Palm View planning department to explore permitting and careers

A La Joya ISD staff member said the district brought 13 work-based learning summer interns to the City of Palm View to observe day-to-day operations in the planning department and learn about career opportunities. "We're happy this morning that we're here at the city of Palm View. They've opened the doors to let 13 of our work-based learning summer interns for La Joya ISD come and job shadow kind of the day-to-day operations of what they do here in the planning department," the staff member said.

The visit is intended to give students a view of the permitting process from both private and public perspectives and to introduce them to a range of related careers. A La Joya ISD staff member described planned activities that include exposure to roles such as project manager, contractors, plan reviewers, building inspectors, the planning and zoning director, GIS administrator and clerks, and said staff hope the experience will show students "the different career opportunities that are available not just in the public sector regarding planning and zoning, but also some of the private positions as well".

A student intern described the visit as hands-on preparation for a future technical career: "This give me experience so when I graduate so I could go to engineering field," the student said. La Joya ISD staff framed the event as part of their career and technical education (CTE) work to engage students, promote CTE programs and offer industry-based certifications aligned with industry standards to prepare students for the workforce.

Organizers thanked the district's partners and city officials for supporting the program. A La Joya ISD staff member offered "a big shout out and thank you to everybody" involved, including La Joya ISD leadership, the mayor and the planning and zoning director, and said the district values opportunities to introduce students to public-service roles.

The event was presented as a one-day, hands-on job-shadowing opportunity; no formal vote, action or funding decision was reported on the record.