CDE Field Trips - 4/11/25: Apprenticeship Program at Eagle County School District

High school students in Eagle County are getting a head start on their careers—while still earning class credit—thanks to a growing apprenticeship program backed by local schools and businesses.

The Eagle County School District currently supports 33 apprentices, 23 of whom are still in high school. These students are placed with employers across the valley, from Vail Health and Eagle County Airport to local preschools and banks. The program partners with CareerWise Eagle County and Vail Valley Partnership, the region’s chamber of commerce.

Recruitment begins during students’ junior year, followed by interviews and a summer boot camp before they begin working. “We’ve seen students thrive who hadn’t found their place in school,” said Christy Beidel, workforce manager at Vail Valley Partnership. “This program helps them discover what they’re capable of.”

Students work full-time during the summer between their junior and senior years and part-time during the school year, earning elective credit. Each placement includes professional development, mentorship, and around 2,000 hours of on-the-job training.

“It’s a way for students to earn a livable wage, gain work experience, and explore potential careers, all while still in school,” said Shannon Grant, the district’s director of post-secondary learning and career readiness.

The program began about nine years ago after a group of Colorado educators and business leaders visited Switzerland to study its apprenticeship model. Eagle County became Colorado’s first rural district to implement the model through CareerWise Colorado.

“High cost of living and workforce shortages made it clear we needed to invest in homegrown talent,” Beidel said. “Our youth already live here, they’re eager to learn, and they’re becoming a vital part of the local economy.”

Over the years, the apprenticeship program has led to many powerful success stories. “Some of them have been homeless, that now have bought their first home, have their first job just two to three years later after starting their internship program,” Beidel said.

Others have accepted job offers from their host companies and enrolled in college with new confidence and a clearer sense of direction. Many apprentices credit the program with teaching them how to communicate professionally, manage their time, and take initiative on the job. 

Some students decide not to pursue the career they’ve explored. It’s just as meaningful when students realize a career isn’t the right fit, because it helps them avoid investing time and money in a degree they may not truly want, Grant said.

“They walk away with confidence,” Grant said. “Whether they stay on that path or pivot, they’ve learned they’re capable—and that’s going to carry them forward.”