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Work! As Learning: Teens in Newport work as interns

By JODY UNDERWOOD
Eagle Times Correspondent
Editor’s Note: The author of this article helped set up Micah Studios before they opened but hasn’t been involved with them since.

NEWPORT, N.H. — Micah Studios in Newport employs four teens in paid internships through a New Hampshire Department of Education wage match program called Work! As Learning.

The program is open to youth interested in gaining work experience in an area of interest to them, whether they are homeschooled or attend school. Public school students can also earn high school credit through the program.

Two of Micah’s interns agreed to be interviewed. One is Justin Lord. He is 15 and a sophomore at Newport High School. He met the Micah Guides through a local 4-H program and started volunteering for them at Micah. Work! As Learning allowed him to transition to a paid assistant office manager position. He’s responsible for organizing the facility at the end of the day and entertaining the kids. Justin works 5 to 7 hours a week, coming to Micah after school each day. He writes a weekly newsletter for Micah and is learning about budgeting and accounting as he helps with other projects.

Lord said he likes everything about his job including the work environment and his coworkers. He also likes that he’s respected for the work he does. He said he’s learned organizational skills, like time management, and also how to socialize. He said he learns a lot more practical things at Micah than he does in school. Justin previously earned a Presidential Service Award for doing 100 hours of community service.

The second intern is Maximus Rothbart. He is 15 and homeschooled. His mom, Jessica Rothbart, is one of the Guides at Micah. Maximus decided to intern so he could earn money and is now Micah’s property manager. He cleans and maintains the facility, including shoveling the walks outside. Through this opportunity, he’s also learned about bank accounts and managing his money.

Maximus takes an automotive class at Newport’s Sugar River Valley Regional Technical Center. After that, he goes home to work on math and reading. He works at Micah two days a week, putting in about 4 to 6 hours.

He likes his job at Micah. The work is structured, he’s learned how to clean things really well, feels listened to and likes that he gets to meet different people. As for what he’ll do after high school, he’d like to be a welder and is taking welding classes at the tech school. He was proud to say that he can now afford to buy the equipment he’ll need to weld.

According to Stacey Hammerlind, Micah’s other Guide, all the interns have said that this experience has provided them with practical, social and creative skills, including time management and communication. It also helped them discover what kind of work or career appeals to them and what kind of work does not. They also serve as incredible role models to the young students of Micah, who see them working hard, taking pride in what they do and interacting with the younger kids in a positive and supportive way.

Work! As Learning is a partnership between the NH Department of Education (NHED) and Awato, based in Manchester, New Hampshire, which was designed to provide hands-on authentic work experiences to about 1,000 students. Using COVID-relief funds, it began in the winter of 2021 and will end Sept. 30, 2024. NHED reimburses New Hampshire-certified employers for 50% of learner wages paid up to $15 an hour for a maximum of $3,600. To date, according to NHED, about 132 students have participated in this program.

Micah Studios has been part of Work! As Learning program since November 2023, after opening its doors in September 2023. They currently have 11 learners ranging from 7 to 15 years old. There are two adult Guides who support the kids in their self-directed education. Micah would have more kids in this Work! As Learning program if there were more funding available.

If any Newport businesses are interested in this program, more information can be found at education.nh.gov/partners/education-outside-classroom/work-based-learning or by reaching out to Colton Briggs at [email protected].

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