Wawasee High School senior Kourtney Flannery is serving an early childhood development internship at Teen Parents Succeeding in Syracuse. The internship is through Wawasee High School’s Professional Career Internship Program.

Under the supervision of Trish Miller, coordinator of the high school’s Work-Based Programs, and TPS Lead Caregiver Margaret Grady, Kourtney will focus on Creative Curriculum for Infants and Toddlers and setting up the play area with learning stations that emphasize literacy, mathematics, science, social studies, the arts, technology, and process skills.

After high school, Kourtney says she plans to go to college to study children development and prepare for a career working with children. “This will be a good learning experience,” explained Kourtney. “I’m learning how to handle the children.  I have fun with them.”

The 17-year-old lives in Milford with her mother and brother and serves 10 hours a week at TPS. In addition to working with children, she also enjoys reading and baking. “We welcome Kourtney to TPS. We’re fortunate to have her helping us this trimester,” said TPS Executive Director Janet Weirick.

Founded in 1991, Teen Parents Succeeding is a non-profit support organization that helps teenage parents in the Wawasee School District stay in school and complete their education. In addition to other support services, TPS operates a licensed childcare facility that provides low cost childcare to student parents while they attend school and work.

More information on TPS can be obtained online at www.teenparentssucceeding.org or by calling 574-457-3541.