LEADING BY his own example struck Duane (D.T.) Magee as a worthy avenue to traverse when he resurrected the school-to-work program during his first year as superintendent in Iowa’s Norwalk Community School District. So Magee created a yearlong internship in the superintendency for a Norwalk high schooler and enticed Noah Percy, president of the student council, to serve as his first intern.

As you’ll read in the twin accounts of this unusual program, Magee constructed a meaningful, credit-bearing experience for the high school senior, giving him opportunities to develop skills in legislative advocacy, marketing and communications, and public service. Percy also gained the most distinctive perspective of the all-encompassing role of the superintendent over nine months.

Magee held out high expectations for his intern that included joint reading of leadership books, a day of legislator meetings at the state’s capital, two presentations to the school board and a final reflective paper. The superintendent is welcoming his third intern in Norwalk this fall.

Magee says he’s willing to chat with fellow superintendents who might be intrigued enough to set up their own formal internship.