The Addie Kinsinger Leadership Development Internship Program is designed to identify individuals with the significant potential to provide future leadership for AECT and in the broader field. The program is open to current graduate students and new professionals in K-20 education and industry. The application process places a heavy emphasis on past and current leadership experiences with a specific focus on personal goals for growth within AECT and the professional field.
The Addie Kinsinger Leadership Development Internship Program, in conjunction with the Leadership Development Committee of AECT, oversees the leadership development intern program in cooperation with the AECT Awards Committee and the AECT Foundation. It strives to enhance the involvement of graduate students and new professionals in AECT. The committee studies and recommends to the AECT Board of Directors new leadership development strategies that are designed to meet the changing needs of the Association, the members, and the field.
At the convention, all interns are expected to participate fully in a coordinated program of activities, including leadership development sessions, exclusive events with leaders from the association and the field, and selected association governance events. In addition, interns will perform hands-on tasks, assisting association and foundation leadership during the first timer’s session, general sessions, and the membership meeting that provide a behind-the-scenes view of convention operations. As a follow-up to the convention experience, each intern will participate as a member of the AECT Leadership Development Committee during the year leading up to and including the 2024 convention.
All interns receive complimentary convention registration, hotel lodging, and a cash award. In addition to serving on the AECT Leadership Development Committee during the year following their internship, the selected intern class will work together on a group project that may be presented at the next annual AECT International Convention. The intern class project is designed upon the premise of addressing an organizational need within the association. Interns are encouraged to request financial support for transportation and meal/incidental expenses from their institutions or state affiliate organizations.
All 2024 interns will be expected to arrive at the convention, which will be held in Kansas City, MO, by Friday afternoon, October 18, 2024, and to stay until 12:00PM Thursday October 24, 2024.
Strohbehn, Cochran, and Harris Leadership Development Internship Application
The Strohbehn Internship will be awarded to a graduate student who displays exemplary leadership potential and dedication to AECT and the field. The Cochran Internship will be awarded to graduate students and/or new professionals who display outstanding leadership potential and dedication to AECT and the field. The Harris Internship will be awarded to a graduate student who demonstrates exemplary leadership potential with a focus on diversity and transformational leadership. Upon submitting an application, individual eligibility for the Strohbehn, Cochran, or Harris Internships will be determined by the Internship Selection Committee. You do not need to submit multiple applications.
Deadline
The online application form will open at 12:01 AM Eastern Time (UTC-4) on Monday, April 1, 2024, and close at 11:59 PM Eastern Time (UTC-4) on Monday, June 3, 2024. All application materials, including sponsor letter, must be submitted by the deadline date. Applications will be considered complete when the application packet consists of a completed online application form, resume/CV file (PDF), and an AECT member sponsor letter (PDF).
Intern Mentoring
After evaluating each intern’s personal experience and professional development goals, the Leadership Development Committee will match the intern with a current AECT leader. The leaders will serve as a mentor, identifying organizational and professional activities in which to involve the intern over the course of the next year. Activities include, but are not limited to, division, affiliate, committee, and/or executive meetings, annual convention planning, and scholarly endeavors. Each experience will vary by the mentor assigned. This mentoring is intended to deepen the experience and provide further leadership development.
Eligibility
Applicants for the Leadership Internship Program must be either a current graduate student OR a new professional in the field. Students can be enrolled either full or part-time in an accredited university program related to the field and must remain in good academic standing throughout the 2023-2024 academic year. New professionals must be within the first three years of beginning their career.
Applicants who are not already members of AECT may join prior to submitting their application. However, strong applicants will have attended at least one AECT convention and have already begun seeking leadership roles within AECT.
Upon submitting an application, individual eligibility for either the Strohbehn, Cochran, or Harris Internships will be determined by the Internship Selection Committee. You do not need to submit multiple applications. Applicants interested in consideration for the Phillip Harris Transformational Leadership Internship will be asked to answer an additional question related to diversity leadership.
Sponsor*
The AECT Addie Kinsinger Leadership Development Internship Program is designed to encourage and identify future leadership in AECT. As an AECT member, you may recognize these leadership attributes in a graduate student or early professional and are encouraged to sponsor one (1) applicant for the program each year. Sponsors will not be allowed to sponsor more than one applicant under any circumstances. A sponsor should know the intern applicant in a supervisory capacity and not be a familial relation.
If you would like to sponsor an applicant, please provide them with your contact information to enter into the application. If you have been asked to sponsor an applicant, please wait for the application system to notify you with the instructions on how to submit a sponsorship letter. Sponsor letters must be submitted no later than 11:59 PM Eastern Time (UTC-4) on Monday, June 3, 2024.
You must be a current member of AECT in order to sponsor an applicant, and your letter should address the following questions:
- How long have you known the applicant and in what capacity?
- Why do you think this applicant has strong leadership potential within AECT?
- How would AECT benefit in the future from having this person go through the Leadership Internship Program?
*Note that applicants are only allowed one sponsor and, therefore, one sponsorship letter. If an institution or organization wishes to collectively sponsor an applicant, the letter should originate from a current AECT member and indicate the support within the letter.
Application Questions
The following questions must be answered in the online application in order for your submission to be processed for consideration. You may want to draft your responses prior to entering the online application form. Each response should consist of 300-500 words and provide specific examples when applicable.
1. Describe how you have been active in AECT thus far. What leadership roles have you held?
2. What are your future career goals and professional aspirations?
3. What is your leadership experience outside of AECT? Please provide specific examples.
4. If selected, what do you hope to learn or achieve through the leadership internship experience?
5. AECT Leadership Interns are expected to play a role in future AECT leadership activities. If selected, how would you be willing to commit to playing such a role? Where do you see yourself in future AECT leadership activities?
6. Would you like to self-identify as a member of a historically under-represented group, or as an individual whose research, leadership, or advocacy specifically represents the needs of such a group? Examples of these groups may include, but are not limited to, minorities related to race or ethnicity, disability, gender, veteran status. (Note: This question is used to determine eligibility for the Phillip Harris Transformational Leadership Intern. If you select “No” you will still be eligible for the other internships in the Addie Kinsinger Leadership Development Internship Program.). If you answer "yes", please describe your membership in, research of, advocacy for, or leadership within a historically under-served group(s). What are your future goals for diversity leadership?
Evaluation Criteria
Evidence of existing leadership or activity within AECT (divisions, committees, events, publications, other service activities)
Exceeds Expectations: Applicant provides examples with detailed descriptions of leadership activities within divisions, committees, and/or other AECT-related programs.
Meets Expectations: Applicant provides a list of leadership activities without detailed descriptions OR applicant provides a list and details of supporting activities within divisions, committees, and/or other AECT-related programs.
Needs Development: Applicant lacks a list of leadership activities, or has a list of supporting activities with AECT but lacks details.
Future goals or planned activities in IDT or related fields align with leadership development.
Exceeds Expectations: Applicant establishes specific career goals within IDT or related fields; applicant provides evidence of how goals align with leadership development.
Meets Expectations: Applicant establishes career goals within IDT or related fields; explanation may lack evidence for how goals align with leadership development.
Needs Development: Applicant establishes broad career goals that may fall outside of IDT or related fields; explanation shows limited alignment with leadership development.
Evidence of existing leadership or activity in IDT or related fields outside of AECT
Exceeds Expectations: Applicant provides examples with detailed descriptions of leadership activities within divisions, committees outside of AECT.
Meets Expectations: Applicant provides a list of leadership activities without detailed description OR applicant provides a list and details of supporting activities outside of AECT.
Needs Development: Applicant lacks a list of leadership activities, or has a list of supporting activities outside of AECT but lacks details.
Articulates goals for internship experience
Exceeds Expectations: Applicant establishes specific goals for the internship experience; applicant details how these goals promote personal/professional growth.
Meets Expectations: Applicant establishes goals for the internship experience; explanation outlines how these goals promote personal/professional growth
Needs Development: Applicant establishes broad goals for the internship experience; explanation lacks connections to personal/professional growth.
Articulates goals for future leadership within AECT
Exceeds Expectations: Applicant clearly states the goals and action plan for future leadership within AECT. The goals are realistic and appropriate for the applicant’s professional experience.
Meets Expectations: Applicant states the goals for future leadership within AECT, but lacks a detailed action plan. The goals are somewhat realistic and appropriate for the applicant’s professional experience.
Needs Development: Applicant either states in broad terms or lacks a statement of the goals and action plan for future leadership within AECT. The goals may be unrealistic or not appropriate given the applicant’s professional experience.
Articulates goals for diversity leadership (for Harris Internship consideration only)
Exceeds Expectations: Applicant clearly states the goals and action plan for diversity leadership. The goals are realistic and appropriate for the applicant’s professional experience.
Meets Expectations: Applicant states the goals for future diversity leadership, but lacks a detailed action plan. The goals are somewhat realistic and appropriate for the applicant’s professional experience.
Needs Development: Applicant either states in broad terms or lacks a statement of the goals and action plan for diversity leadership. The goals may be unrealistic or not appropriate given the applicant’s professional experience.
Sponsor Letter
Exceeds Expectations: Sponsor provides detailed examples of both the applicant’s leadership potential as well as benefits the applicant will provide to AECT.
Meets Expectations: Sponsor provides examples of both the applicant’s leadership potential as well as benefits the applicant will provide to AECT; examples may lack detail.
Needs Development: Sponsor does not provide examples of both the applicant’s leadership potential and potential benefits provided to AECT.
Resume/CV strength
Resume/CV shows evidence of leadership that supports the responses provided in the applicant statements and sponsor letter. (Yes/No)
Professionalism
Meets Expectations: The professionalism in applicant responses and CV is evidenced by clear, concise writing, and when relevant uses a consistent (e.g. APA) style. Grammar, word choice, and spelling contribute to the overall message. There may be some minor errors that do not detract from the overall message.
Needs Development: Applicant’s writing lacks clarity, brevity, OR a consistent (e.g. APA) style. IN ADDITION, poor grammar, word choice, and/or spelling detract from the overall message.
Information Sessions
The Coordinator of the AECT Leadership Development Internship Program will host informational sessions for potential AECT intern candidates. These 30-60-minute sessions will be planned throughout the application period to provide information about the 2023 AECT Leadership Development Internship Program. Specific details about the application materials, process, and deadlines will be reviewed. Attendees are encouraged to ask questions. Past sessions from previous years were recorded and recording links are now available.
Inquiries
A former intern, who is now a member of the AECT Leadership Development Committee, serves as the Leadership Internship Program Coordinator. All application materials should be submitted via the online application form linked on the AECT Leadership Development Internship page. Other correspondence concerning the Leadership Internship Program can be directed to the Leadership Internship Program Coordinator, Nate Turcotte, at nturcotte@fgcu.edu.