FOCUS Data Intern Experience
FOCUS's Lindsay Templeton sat down with Victoria Marcavage, the 2014-2015 Data Intern at Elsie Whitlow Stokes Community Freedom PCS, to ask her about her experience.
FOCUS: What have you done at your internship?
VM: At my internship I have worked on multiple projects which impact individual students up through the entire school. For example, I have generated classroom-level analyses of assessment data and have given the reports to the teachers. This allows them to see the strengths and weakness of their class and individual students. I conduct analyses of assessment data and create illustrative reports which helps showcase the information in different ways. I help my supervisor, Julia Senerchia, in maintaining the student information system in FileMaker Pro. I have also gone with Julia to briefings at government agencies, like OSSE. After these meetings I report back to administration at Stokes. Every day is something new.
FOCUS: How do you feel you have helped at your school?
VM: I feel that I have helped the teachers with the data side of their everyday work. They can now hand me a stack of tests and I can generate classroom reports and give them feedback on each student. These reports let the teachers know what each individual is good at and what needs work. My working on the data side allows them to focus on what they are there to do, teach the student.
FOCUS: What have you learned in this internship?
VM: While interning for FOCUS at E.W. Stokes, I have learned a lot about charter schools. I am now a huge advocate for charter schools and the education students receive who attend them. I have also learned how to successfully create reports which people can look at and immediately see what the report is trying to show. My internship also helped me enhance my skills in Excel and FileMaker. It has also taught me the important relationship that exists between a student, teacher, school administration, special interest advocate (like FOCUS), and the government. I learned that I love working in a school environment and I appreciate that I was given responsibility which helped E.W. Stokes and my own personal growth.
FOCUS: What has been your favorite part of the internship?
VM: My favorite part of the internship is going into work and learning something new every day. Julia and the staff at Stokes are excellent mentors. I also love that I can go into Stokes and know that there is a lot that I can do to help make the lives of the staff easier. The teachers and administration have so much to do and even the littlest thing I can do to help them out is so appreciated.
FOCUS: What made you want to come back for a second year?
VM: I can honestly say I love going to work every day. When I saw that there was an opportunity to intern at EW Stokes for a second year, I had to re-apply. I love the staff, students, and community at EW Stokes. My supervisor, Julia, has had such a positive impact on my life and has taught me so much. I feel as if I am a part of their school community by attending events such as the Spanish vs. French basketball game and the pancake breakfast.