During the 2024–2025 academic years, the City of Goodyear, in collaboration with Agua Fria High School District and Buckeye Union High School District and three district high schools, launched a successful pilot internship program in Water Services. (Sabrina Dezso, Senior Human Resources Business Partner)

 

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There is no fiscal impact.

As part of the FY 2025–2027 Strategic Plan, the City of Goodyear has set a continuous goal to evaluate and implement best practices for streamlining the hiring process, supporting the broader objective of cultivating an innovative and high-performing organization. The high school internship program directly supports this goal by serving as an early talent pipeline initiative, providing students with exposure to public sector careers and building a foundation for future workforce development.

The City of Goodyear, in partnership with the Agua Fria Union High School District and the Buckeye Union High School District, successfully piloted a high school internship program during the 2024–2025 school year. This initiative engaged all three local high schools and was hosted by the City’s Water Services Department.

Six high school seniors were selected to participate in this inaugural program. In this pilot year, Water Services committed to an internship program which would provide students with immersive, hands-on field experience. To accommodate academic schedules and extracurricular involvement, students completed their internship hours in the early mornings before school. Throughout the program, interns contributed to operational support functions while gaining real-world insights into the essential services provided by Water Services. This initiative aligns with the broader goals of fostering workforce readiness, promoting civic engagement among youth, and strengthening community partnerships.

The pilot program yielded strong engagement from both students and staff, demonstrating a scalable model for future cohorts.