Communications Intern
Job Title: Communications Intern
Reports to: Advancement Manager
Status: Part-time, 4-month Internship
Hourly Rate: $17-$22/hour, dependent on experience; 20-25 hrs/wk
Projected Employment Dates: August 24, 2026 - December 18, 2026
Department: Administration
Start Date: August 2026
Work Location: In-Person at School
FLSA Classification: Non-exempt
Friends Community School (FCS), founded in 1986, is a progressive, co-ed Quaker K-8 day school serving a diverse student body from the greater Washington, D.C. area. FCS’s LEED-certified building is situated on 17 acres surrounded by Greenbelt National Park, nine minutes from the University of Maryland, College Park, and thirty minutes from Washington, D.C.
Educators at FCS nurture lifelong learners, courageous risk takers, and joyous peacemakers through the expression of our commitments to Quakerism, Progressive Education, equity, and inclusion. Our progressive pedagogical approach emphasizes depth over breadth, creativity and innovation over memorization, and hands-on collaborative projects over rote schoolwork. Our curriculum engages students in the exploration of values rooted in our Quaker Heritage – simplicity, peaceful conflict resolution, integrity, community, equality/equity, and stewardship – from a range of perspectives.
Job Summary
The Communications Intern supports the school's marketing and communications efforts by helping to create engaging content that showcases school life and advances the school's mission. This position is ideal for a student or emerging communications professional interested in social media, photography, storytelling, and educational marketing. The intern will assist with managing social media channels, capturing photos and videos, and drafting and editing communications for a variety of audiences.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Social Media Management:
- Assist in planning, creating, scheduling, and publishing content across the school's social media platforms(Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn).
- Draft captions, social media posts, and short-form content aligned with the school's brand and voice.
- Monitor social media engagement and help identify opportunities to increase reach and audience engagement.
Photography and Visual Content
- Photograph school events, classroom activities, performances, athletics, and community gatherings.
- Organize, edit, and maintain digital photo libraries.
- Assist with basic video capture and editing for social media and marketing purposes.
- Ensure all visual content aligns with school photography permissions and brand standards.
Communications Support
- Draft, proofread, and edit communications for families, faculty, staff, alumni, donors, and prospective families.
- Assist in the production of newsletters, website content, event materials, and other marketing collateral.
- Support website updates and content management as needed.
- Help gather stories and highlights from across the school community.
Administrative and Project Support
- Assist with communications-related projects and special initiatives.
- Support event promotion and coverage.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Required Qualifications
- Current junior or senior undergraduate student, graduate student, or recent graduate, in Communications, Marketing, Journalism, Public Relations, English, Media Studies, or a related field.
- Completion of at least 18 credit hours of relevant coursework in communications, marketing, journalism, public relations, media production, digital content creation, graphic design, photography, or related disciplines.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Excellent attention to detail and proofreading abilities.
- Experience with social media platforms, including Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
- Ability to create clear, engaging content (newsletters, press releases, web pages, social media posts)
- Basic photography skills and familiarity with photo editing software.
- Experience with Canva, Adobe Creative Suite, or similar design tools preferred.
- Ability to work independently, manage multiple projects, and meet deadlines.
- Appreciation for and ability to represent the mission and values of an independent school community.
- Commitment to equity and inclusion.
- Openness to Quaker beliefs and practices.
Preferred Qualifications
- Photography portfolio or samples of previous work.
- Basic video editing experience.
- Familiarity with website content management systems.
- Experience creating content for organizational or brand social media accounts.
Commitment to Diversity
FCS is committed to building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive educational community and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or a person's status as a qualified candidate with a disability in administration of its educational program, admission policies, financial aid program, staff hiring, and other school-administered programs.
In order to provide equal employment and advancement opportunities to all individuals, we actively seek faculty and staff of varied backgrounds and encourage them to share their unique gifts to cultivate a rich educational experience. We strive to create a learning environment that exposes students to the value and breadth of differences, informs their perspective, and prepares them to shape the world.
To Apply
Please send a cover letter, résumé, and the names and contact information of three professional references to jobs@friendscommunityschool.org.