Princeton High School students can work alongside a mural artist during the school day through a new pre-apprenticeship program in art, design, audio and communications.

Princeton City Schools announced the North Star Design Team on Monday, Sept. 21, calling it part of a broader Arts, Audio, and Communications Pre-Apprenticeship pathway run with Cincinnati-based nonprofit LEAD Training. Students interested in the program can contact Lindsay Holliday at [email protected].

Students in the program will work alongside a mural artist and explore murals throughout downtown, connecting classroom learning to professional creative work. Most project assignments happen during Viking Bell, the school's flexible scheduling block, so participants don't have to sacrifice after-school time.

Beyond the mural work, the pathway includes site visits, job shadowing, work-based learning and employer-hosted experiences. Students also complete LEAD Training workshops covering resume building, job applications, interview techniques and soft skills. Each participant receives individualized career coaching.

The program feeds into two credentials. Students can earn points toward their Graduation Industry Credential Seals for College/Career Readiness. They also work toward the OhioMeansJobs Readiness Seal, a state designation that appears on Ohio high school diplomas and transcripts.

Optional industry-recognized credentials include Adobe Certified Professional certifications in Photoshop, Premiere Pro, and Content Creation & Marketing Using Adobe Express. Students can also connect the pathway with existing Princeton High coursework such as Digital Art 1 or 2, Photography, and AP Photo/Digital Art.

LEAD Training, founded in 2018 by former educator Riley O'Grady, partnered with 30 schools across Greater Cincinnati as of August. The nonprofit served more than 3,000 students in 2025. "Development of employability skills is also critical to instilling a sense of confidence and readiness for the work world," O'Grady said in a Sept. 2 announcement of LEAD's 2026-27 school partnerships.

Maria Rios, who has a background in social work, joined the Princeton Innovation Center through LEAD to focus on life-career readiness, according to a district staff spotlight.

The district has not announced an enrollment deadline or grade-level restrictions for the North Star Design Team.