When students are given the chance to explore how the technology around them works, something powerful happens: curiosity turns into confidence, and possibility turns into a pathway.
Through the MyTech (Ed Tech Apprenticeship) Program, Denver Public Schools students are gaining hands-on experience with technology while developing problem-solving skills, collaboration, and real-world job readiness. With support from the Denver Public Schools Foundation, MyTech provides meaningful learning experiences at every stage, from early exposure in elementary classrooms to paid internships and apprenticeships in high school.
Throughout the year, students are able to participate in various on-site field trips and a STEAM Expo experience at CSU Spur, where they engage directly with the tools, systems, and people behind the technology they use every day. These hands-on opportunities help students see beyond the screen and begin to imagine themselves in careers they may not have previously considered.
Recently, the Denver Public Schools Foundation team had the opportunity to visit one of these field trips at Creative Challenge Community School (C3) to see MyTech in action. Students were collaborating, asking questions, and proudly explaining how devices function. What stood out most was not just what they were learning but how confidently they were stepping into the role of problem-solvers.
For elementary students, MyTech offers an early understanding of how technology works and who keeps it running. DPS educators see firsthand how impactful this exposure can be at a formative age. “What this program offers to elementary students is a window to a possible career path,” shared Sarah Gilbert, fourth-grade educator at Creative Challenge Community School. “My job at this grade level is to give kids the opportunity to wonder about the world around them, so hopefully having an experience like this, they may start asking questions like, ‘Who fixes this when it’s broken?’ Maybe they’ve discovered a career they’re interested in or sparked curiosity in a new way.”
Fourth grade is an especially important time for building digital literacy as students begin using technology more regularly in their learning. As Austin Rand, fourth-grade educator at Creative Challenge Community School, shared, “Students are getting more excited about the inner workings of their devices and how to take better care of them.” By bringing MyTech directly into classrooms, students begin to see themselves not just as users of technology, but as capable contributors who understand how it works.
As students move into high school, MyTech expands into a structured, career-focused opportunity. At George Washington High School and West High School, students can participate in paid internships and apprenticeships where they earn high school credit while troubleshooting and repairing technology that supports daily learning across their schools. With support from the Denver Public Schools Foundation, every student who completes a term in the program also receives a take-home toolkit, including uniform polos, headphones, an anti-static and magnetic work mat, a USB thumb drive, and other essential hands-on equipment to continue practicing their skills. These experiences help ensure students feel prepared and ready to take their next steps. “The support provided gives us the opportunity not only to provide students with the resources they need to be treated as fellow employees,” shared Bryan Roos, DPS Intern & Apprentice Coordinator, “but to invest in their future through resume workshops, interview preparation, workplace culture experience, confidence building, and physical tools they can keep with them.”
The DPS Foundation has supported the growth of the MyTech program since 2004, helping ensure DPS students have access to the tools, resources, and experiences they need to thrive. “Having the Denver Public Schools Foundation support our program year after year has been a much welcomed boon for the program’s continued expansion and development,” shared Bryan Roos, DPS Intern & Apprentice Coordinator.
With support from the Denver Public Schools Foundation and in partnership with DPS educators, donors, and community members, this work ensures DPS students have the resources they need to reach their full potential.
To help sustain and grow programs like MyTech, consider making a gift and supporting opportunities that expand access and open doors for students across Denver Public Schools by visiting: https://dpsfoundation.org/what-we-support/educators/a-to-z-fund/
