Welcome to part four of our rural CTE series. In part three, we learned about statewide CTE strategies from South Dakota CTE Director Laura Scheibe. In today’s blog, we hear from John Wittler, Executive Director of Ogallala Commons. Ogallala Commons is a nonprofit focused on revitalizing High Plains communities in Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas, Texas, New Mexico, and Oklahoma through internships and local partnerships. Wittler is the president of the local school board, business owner, and the past president of the Colorado Association of School Boards.
John Wittler. Photo courtesy of Ogallala Commons
Q: What makes Ogallala Commons’ approach to internships distinct, particularly in rural areas?
A: The program is designed to address the outmigration of young people, which is a detriment to the community. Internships are designed to expose young people to assets and opportunities in the community, and to invite them back after they leave to attend college or work. The program aims to reverse the narrative that success means “leaving and not coming back.”
We’ve got strong partnerships with local schools, communities, and businesses. Ogallala Commons acts as a go-between, supporting schools and local businesses and providing a framework for the program so partners aren’t building everything from scratch.
We offer stipends for students who complete their internships. It’s not a prescriptive model — the internships are open to both high school and college students, and each one is designed to fit the needs of the intern and the community partner.
Q: How do you identify or match interns with host communities or organizations?
A: We work with willing partners. Internships are not necessarily focused on learning technical job skills. They can learn leadership, communication, and build professional relationships wherever they go. So, the focus is not on matching an intern to a specific job, but rather on matching them to a place where they can learn and grow. The exception is when college internships require a specific location (e.g., a vet clinic).
Q: Aside from the stipend, what kinds of mentorship structures and community support do interns receive?
A: Interns complete required reflective activities focused on communication, leadership, and professional relationships. They then give a public presentation to employers and the community at the end of the program. There’s also an online professional development program covering financial literacy and employability skills, as well as a professional development conference for interns.
As for the partner, Ogallala Commons supports them in building a work plan, defining what the partner will provide and what the intern will do.
Q: What kinds of barriers—do rural interns typically face, and what solutions have you found?
A: Small rural communities don’t always have a one-to-one match for the job a student is interested in. If the student is interested in marine biology, the High Plains can’t provide that. But, by breaking down the various aspects of the job and finding related ideas, you can find a match. A large animal veterinarian — which can be found in small rural communities — can provide a strong background for the student interested in marine biology, especially in ways to think about body systems, interactions with the environment, medical techniques, and a scientific approach to problem-solving. There is a lot of room between doing nothing and complete alignment!
Q: Have you seen interns stay in or return to rural communities after their internships? What factors seem to influence this?
A: This is a larger community issue with many factors in play. An internship program alone cannot solve the outmigration of young people. However, there is a community in Texas that has invested 15 years in providing internships and has reported a notable increase in number of students staying and returning. The next step is to study this more formally by collecting and analyzing data.
Q: Can you share a story or example of a particularly impactful internship or intern success?
A: One student was interested in exploring a health career and did multiple internships throughout high school and college at the local hospital. The student is now at Harvard Medical School and has expressed an interest in returning to the area.
Q: If a rural district or community is just beginning to consider a workforce or internship program, what’s the most important piece of advice you would offer?
A: Build a coalition of the willing. The community must be involved in order for a program to be successful. If the community gets behind it, funding follows — not only from local donors, but it also opens up additional funding sources available to a community and not a school. Find a champion within the community outside of the school. Non-education people must be involved for success in building a program. Look outside the school box for funding and resources, including partners, state programs, school funding, and grant funding.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Read the rest of our rural CTE series or our additional blogs about employability skills.
