Alton High School Welcomes New Internship Coordinator to Support Students and Community Partners
Alton Community Unit School District #11 is expanding internship support for high school students through a grant-funded role tied to the Alton Educational Foundation and local employers.
ALTON - Alton Community Unit School District #11 has added an exciting new position to help high school students navigate the workforce.
During the Board of Education’s regular meeting on Sept. 15, 2026, the Board approved the hiring of Katie Kinder as the new internship coordinator. In this role, Kinder will work with Alton High School students and community partners to connect students with internships and support them through the experience.
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“I’m just excited to try to get as many opportunities for the students as possible,” Kinder said. “I’m hoping to get more involved with the community, try to get to know as many people as possible, so that I can have many opportunities for the students to work in the community.”
Kinder has worked in the school district’s human resources department since 2021. She once dreamed of becoming a teacher and wanted to engage with students more directly, which inspired her to apply for the internship coordinator position.
By combining her business expertise with her interest in the students, she hopes she can help them secure internships and navigate these early experiences in the professional world. Kinder shared that she didn’t know about many of the local professional possibilities when she was a high school student, so it’s important to her to connect students with these opportunities.
The internship coordinator position was developed in partnership with the Alton Educational Foundation and Executive Director Kristie Baumgartner. This grant-funded position will allow Kinder to connect students with “meaningful career experiences throughout the Alton community,” according to provided information.
“Alton has been so fortunate to have so many businesses and community organizations that want to invest in our students, and I think the position will just give us an opportunity to strengthen those relationships and just create more meaningful experiences for the students,” said Alton High School Principal Stacie Franke. “It also helps our community develop its future workforce and gives our students the chance to learn from the professionals and experience careers and remain in the community.”
Franke, Kinder and Baumgartner have all expressed their appreciation for the businesses and organizations that have employed students so far. They noted the internship program would not be possible without this community support.
Additionally, these partnerships allow students to explore local career paths that will encourage them to stay in and give back to the Riverbend region. Rene Hart, the district’s Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services, highlighted the benefits of the connections between the district and the community.
“Our community has so many businesses and organizations with knowledge and experiences to share with our students,” she said. “This position gives us someone who can continue to build those connections and create opportunities that benefit both our students and our community partners.”
Franke added that the internship program gives students the chance to explore different career paths and learn more about what they want in their future jobs. Alton High School and the district aim to support students as they make these decisions for their post-graduation lives.
“We talk a lot about wanting our students to leave Alton High School with more than a diploma,” Franke said. “We want them to have a better understanding of who they are, what they enjoy, and all the opportunities that are available to them. The coordinator is going to help us make those connections and open doors for students. We often talk about our goal of having a community of belonging and just really helping students understand what they enjoy doing and what their future has for them. It’s very exciting.”
As Kinder prepares to start the internship coordinator role on Nov. 2, 2026, she is looking forward to engaging with students and community members in new ways. She is excited to support students through these experiences.
“I am really looking forward to helping connect students with community members and for the students to get valuable experience in their chosen career fields,” she added. “I’m also excited to work with the students and support them by helping build their resumes and coaching them through workplace etiquette.”
This featured article is sponsored by the Alton Community Unit School District #11. To get your business or organization featured on www.RiverBender.com, contact us at sales@riverbender.com.
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