My internship experience at Castle Rock Middle School under the mentorship of Cassi Weatherly provided me with meaningful insight into educational leadership, school culture, collaboration, and instructional support within a middle school environment. Through this fieldwork experience, I observed and participated in the daily operations of a functioning school community while connecting the concepts from my Learning Design and Technology program to authentic educational practice. This experience strengthened my understanding of how learning theories are applied in real educational settings and reinforced my passion for working in education.
One of the most impactful parts of my internship was seeing a genuinely positive school culture in action. Castle Rock Middle School demonstrated an environment where staff members supported one another, students were treated with respect, and collaboration was prioritized. The atmosphere of the school reflected strong leadership and intentional relationship-building among educators and students alike. Throughout my time there, I observed how communication, consistency, and encouragement contributed directly to student success and teacher morale.
Working alongside Cassi Weatherly, especially through Professional Learning Specialist (PLS) meetings and daily school activities, allowed me to develop professional skills in communication, collaboration, and instructional support. I had opportunities to observe how educators worked together to problem-solve, share ideas, and support student achievement. Watching teachers and staff collaborate highlighted the importance of teamwork and adaptability within educational settings. This experience also gave me a greater appreciation for the behind-the-scenes planning and coordination necessary to create effective learning experiences for students.
One of the most meaningful projects I completed during my internship was creating an Articulate course focused on unpacking standards. This project allowed me to apply instructional design principles in a real-world educational setting while creating a resource that could support educators in understanding standards more clearly and effectively. Developing the course required organization, communication, planning, and attention to user experience. Through this process, I strengthened my skills in instructional technology, course design, and educational communication while also seeing how learning design can directly support teachers and student learning outcomes.
My internship experience strongly connected to several learning theories discussed throughout my graduate program, particularly social constructivism, situated learning theory, and experiential learning theory.
Social constructivism emphasizes that learning occurs through collaboration, interaction, and shared experiences. During my internship, I observed this theory in practice daily. Teachers, administrators, and support staff consistently collaborated to solve problems, share ideas, and improve student outcomes. PLS meetings especially reflected social constructivist principles because educators learned from one another through discussion and reflection. Rather than working independently, staff members built knowledge collectively. I also observed how positive relationships between staff and students created an environment where students felt comfortable participating and engaging in their learning. This experience reinforced my understanding that education is deeply relational and that meaningful learning develops through collaboration and support.
My experience also reflected situated learning theory, which explains that learning occurs within authentic contexts and through participation in real-world environments. Instead of simply reading about educational leadership or school culture, I was able to observe these concepts unfolding in real time. Attending meetings, observing instructional practices, interacting with educators, and developing the Articulate course allowed me to actively participate within a professional educational community. Being immersed in the school setting helped me develop practical understanding that could not be replicated through coursework alone.
Experiential learning theory was also highly relevant to my internship experience. Much of my growth came from direct participation, reflection, and application. Each day presented opportunities to observe, engage, reflect, and apply new knowledge. Whether I was observing school culture, discussing challenges with staff members, or designing the standards course, I continuously connected my experiences back to concepts learned in my graduate studies. Reflection became an important part of my professional development as I considered how leadership styles, communication methods, and collaboration influenced both educators and students.
This internship significantly contributed to my personal and professional growth. One of the most important lessons I learned was the value of positive school culture and collaborative leadership. Castle Rock Middle School demonstrated how supportive relationships among staff can create an environment where both educators and students thrive. I also became more confident in my communication and collaboration skills and gained a stronger understanding of how educational systems function beyond the classroom itself.
Additionally, this experience strengthened my confidence as I prepare to enter the field of education. As I complete my master’s degree and pursue alternative licensure, this internship confirmed that working in schools is the right path for me. Seeing passionate educators work together toward shared goals reinforced my desire to contribute positively to school communities in the future.
My internship at Castle Rock Middle School was an incredibly valuable and rewarding experience. Working under the mentorship of Cassi Weatherly allowed me to gain practical insight into educational leadership, instructional design, collaboration, and school culture while connecting academic theory to real-world practice. The most meaningful aspect of this experience was witnessing a truly positive school culture where educators supported one another and prioritized student success. This fieldwork experience strengthened my professional confidence, communication skills, and understanding of learning theories in practice, and it confirmed my passion for contributing to supportive and collaborative educational communities.
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