As summer bond marketing interns in Construction Services/Bond Office, this select group of students do everything from developing marketing campaigns and social media content to helping plan events and interviewing stakeholders.
“They help bridge the past and future by supporting messaging that honors the legacy of historic campuses while promoting the modern upgrades made possible through the bond program,” said Adam Bennett, bond marketing director. “By helping to document and share stories of schools undergoing renovation or reconstruction, especially those with historic significance, they play a part in preserving institutional memory while celebrating the new opportunities these upgrades bring.”
More than summer interns, these students serve as ambassadors, whose work brings awareness to the Construction Services/Bond Office, Bennett said.
“Their work enhances transparency and engagement—critical components in ensuring community support for ongoing investment in public education,” he said.
Sage D., a rising senior at W.T. White High School, is one of them.
“When signing up for interviews, I picked anything that had a description that I knew I would enjoy and fit in with, and one of those ended up being bond marketing,” he said. “When I thought about bond, I thought, ‘Oh, it’s going to be like construction and trying to find contractors,’ and I was partly correct.”
Sage and his fellow interns manage multiple projects as they build campaigns and other outreach efforts for various bond projects, including an annual report for the district’s eight new schools.
“This internship provides valuable real-world experience in marketing, communications, public relations, and civic engagement,” Bennett said. “They develop skills in project management, content creation, and community storytelling, which can translate into a wide range of future career opportunities.”
A creative at heart, Sage said a highlight of his internship is getting the chance to hone his graphic design skills by creating flyers and other collateral for the bond projects. But his favorite part of his time in the department is the people he’s met along the way, and the supervisors who make him feel seen and valued.
“It was an instant bond. They genuinely care, and the energy they release can be felt,” he said. “There aren’t really any words that can describe it; you’d have to experience it yourself.”
For Bennett, those relationships are built on the tangible and meaningful work the team gets to do every day.
“Whether it’s seeing a new school open its doors for the first time or hearing a student talk about how a modern lab space has changed their learning experience, interns get to see the results of their contributions reflected in real community transformation,” he said. “There’s a deep sense of pride in knowing that their storytelling helps families feel more connected to their schools and more confident in the future of Dallas ISD.”
As the bond marketing internship grows, Bennett hopes to one day partner with industry professionals for mentorship opportunities and give interns a chance to present their work to district leaders.
“Ultimately, we want every intern to leave with the skills, confidence, and inspiration to continue using their voice to uplift their community, inside and beyond the classroom,” he said.
