Battalion Chief Joey Meins with student Rylan Gustafson.
KINGMAN – The City of Kingman recently welcomed students from Kingman Academy of Learning’s (KAOL) Dual Government class for a hands-on Job Shadow Day, offering a behind-the-scenes look at local government in action. Students were placed across several City departments, including Public Works, Police, Fire, Tourism, Engineering, Kingman Municipal Court, and Communications & Marketing, where they explored a wide range of public service careers.
At the Kingman Municipal Court, KAOL student Samantha McCarthy, gained a realistic understanding of courtroom operations and daily procedures. “We always enjoy having students from KAOL visit the court,” said Kingman Magistrate Jeffery Singer. “It gives them a first-hand look at how the court operates and shows them that what they see on TV doesn’t always match day-to-day reality.”
In Engineering, student, Sophia Johnson, visited active project sites, including the Industrial Park Road Improvement Project and the Grace Neal Trunk Sewer Project. She was able to observe fieldwork, attended a status meeting, and learn how projects are managed from both technical and financial perspectives. Rylan Gustafson, a senior at KAOL High School, spent the day with the Fire Department, gaining insight into emergency response and operations.
Students also participated in community-facing experiences through the City’s Tourism Department, assisting with downtown event preparations and joining a discussion with visiting Canadian tour operators. The tour operators noted the value of Kingman’s investment in student experiences as part of its workforce development efforts.
In the Communications & Marketing Department, student Christian Pierce worked alongside staff to develop social media content, including an Instagram reel promoting the City’s new app, KingmanAZConnect, and messaging to help residents sign up for notifications.
“We were thrilled to partner with Kingman Academy to give students a real-world glimpse into public service,” said City Manager Tim Walsh. “Programs like this not only educate but also inspire the next generation of civic leaders.”
