Mundelein High launches new professional program

Mundelein High School has begun a new program of internships, career cells and mock interviews in partnership with representatives of local businesses and educational institutions.

The first meeting was held Oct. 30 and included about 40 school personnel and business owners and operators from the community. Tagged Mustang DOORS, or Doors Of Opportunity Relevant to Students, the program aims to bring real-world work skills and situations to students while still in high school.

Principal Anthony Kroll hosted the event and included student-created videos, students making presentations and a lengthy question-answer period about making the program relevant.

"What we do in the high school needs to have relevance to the real world and the futures of our students," Kroll explained. "This program is an opportunity for us to start making the connections between students and their future careers."

Three components make up the overall purpose of DOORS: internships, career cells and mock interviews.

Internships are available to students who wish to get a taste of a career before committing to future study after high school. This year students have already been placed in internships with a jeweler, music store, accounting firm, rehabilitation clinic and others. MHS also has a new program which supports the new 1:1 Initiative which involves every student having a laptop.

The meeting concluded with a presentation from Superintendent Kevin Myers about the new building addition that will be completed by the fall of 2016. It will have 25 new classrooms, two STEM labs, and opportunities for courses to be taught in Project Lead the Way which focuses on career education emphasizing, but not limited to, math and science curricula.

"We as a high school are a vital part of the community," Myers said. "We want our graduates to stay in or return to the community once they are trained in their chosen professions."