In May, the Needham Education Foundation (NEF) invested $50,000 in seed money for the Needham Public Schools to launch an internship program at Needham High School which aligns with both the Portrait of a Needham Graduate’s core competencies and the district’s strategic goals. In year one, the program aims to build upon community and Greater Boston area partnerships to offer hands-on internships, job shadowing, and work-study opportunities for students outside the classroom, establishing a sustainable program for future generations. Building on the Needham Rockets theme, the program will be called the Liftoff Network.
The goals of the program are to: 1) Expose students to diverse fields (business, entrepreneurship, nonprofits, trades) to help guide post-secondary decisions, 2) Apply classroom learning to real-world occupational settings, 3) Expand equity and access to meaningful experiences for students across a wide range of interests, and 4) Engage the local community in developing the future workforce.
Aaron Sicotte, Needham High School Principal, said “Needham High School is an outstanding place for students to learn and grow, and we know that tremendous learning opportunities also exist beyond the school walls. Through internships, job shadowing, and work experiences in the broader Needham community, the Liftoff Network will complement students’ classroom learning with meaningful, real-world experience. These partnerships will also benefit host organizations by connecting them with students’ energy and skills. We welcome the community’s help in building the relationships needed to bring this program fully to life.”
The funding supports a part-time Internship Coordinator who will start consolidating existing opportunities and developing new partnerships with local businesses and organizations this school year. Students will register for Liftoff Network opportunities during course registration in March, with participation beginning in the 2027–2028 school year.
Katy Clayton, an NHS English teacher and the new Internship Coordinator, summed up this opportunity by saying “In an evolving economy shaped by rapid change, the Liftoff Network enables Needham students to explore careers, build professional skills, seek feedback, and become empowered, self-directed citizens. When Needham students launch with purpose, our whole community rises.”
Dan Levine and Marissa Traeger, members of the NEF Board of Directors, noted that this funding launches a new collaborative initiative with the school district, falling outside of the NEF’s normal grant funding. Past collaborative initiatives include the launch of the Greater Boston Project interdisciplinary course at NHS and equity-based professional development for the district’s teachers and administrators. With collaborative initiatives, the NEF provides the initial funding to build the foundation of a new program, making it possible for the district budget to support a program in the future.
The Liftoff Network is designed to serve students with varied career interests while creating a coordinated pathway for local employers and organizations to participate. To learn more about the program or to offer students an opportunity at your business, contact Katy Clayton, Internship Coordinator, at kathryn_clayton@needham.k12.ma.us.
Click here for Needham Local’s coverage of the funding in May 2026.