Summer Work Experience Program

On June 3rd, less than a week since the end of the 2025-26 School Year, SMUHSD students and recent graduates attended a one-day employment preparation boot camp to learn workplace readiness skills, participate in job exploration, and advance their self-advocacy skills, as part of the 2026 Summer Work Experience Can Work Program.

During the boot camp, students heard from SMUHSD Vocational Specialists / Job Coaches Matthew Park and Cammy Leung; and Transition Specialist Eli Poblitz.

The summer program, established in 2020, is a partnership between the San Mateo Union High School District’s Transition Programs and the California Department of Rehabilitation.

This Summer the program supported 12 SMUHSD graduates and one rising 12th grader - students who have previously received special education services from SMUHSD.  The funding from the program is provided by the Federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act that the Department of Rehabilitation manages.   

Participants were matched to SMUHSD employer partners along the peninsula for a work-based learning opportunity for the summer that took place June - August. Students had the opportunity to work full-time and earn $18.60 per hour. 

Thank you to the following employers for partnering with us this Summer to give our students and graduates an opportunity to get meaningful work experience that will set them up for success as they choose their career paths: 

• Bel Mateo Bowl
• Mountain Mike’s Pizza (San Mateo and Millbrae)
• Orchard Supply Hardware (Millbrae)
• Ace Hardware (San Mateo)
• Walgreens (San Mateo, Burlingame, Millbrae)
• San Mateo Medical Center
• New England Lobster Market (Burlingame)
• Millbrae Library
• San Mateo Library
• Best Western Hotel (San Mateo)
• La Quinta Inn
• One Love Daycare
• B Street Boxing 
• SMUHSD Transportation Department

For more information about modeling this program in your School District or learning about being an employer with this program in the Summer of 2027, contact Matthew Park at mpark@smuhsd.org or Eli Poblitz at epoblitz@smuhsd.org.