Teacher Externships

Preparing the next generation

TEACHER EXTERNSHIPS

Are you looking for a way to give back to your community, while also helping to build the workforce of the future?

Presented by the Maryland Chamber Foundation

Our Teacher Externship Program is a four-week program in July that bridges the gap between businesses and educators by pairing high school teachers with top Maryland businesses that can provide hands-on experience in industries related to the subjects they teach. The Chamber Foundation is turning to the state’s economic development community to help them match teachers to a related industry. Last summer, teacher externs worked at some of Maryland’s anchor businesses including BGE, KCI, Leidos, and Stanley Black & Decker.

The program will enable all externs to receive a stipend from the Foundation, and up to four continuing professional development (CPD) credits from the Maryland State Department of Education. They’ll also gain invaluable experiences and perspectives that they can share with their students—through field trips, enhanced lesson plans, and exciting classroom activities—when they return to the classroom in the fall.

 

On January 29, Whitney Harmel, Vice President, Membership and Development, Maryland Chamber Foundation, hosted a webinar where she walked through the details of the program, its benefits, and how you can get involved! Click the link below to watch the webinar now.

WEBINAR: Teacher Externships: Connecting Our Educators and Businesses

 For more information on sponsoring and hosting a teacher externship, contact Whitney Harmel at the Maryland Chamber Foundation at wharmel@mdchamber.org or call 410-269-0642, ext. 1117.

 

Teacher externships offer teachers the opportunity to gain firsthand experience working in industries related to the subjects they teach in order to enhance their curriculum and educate their students on both the hard and soft skills required to enter the workforce.

WHERE IS IT WORKING?

While many externships take similar shape, the way in which the programs are executed varies from state to state. Below are ways in which Hawaii, Iowa and Tennessee, three states with successful externships programs, have similar and differing approaches.

TENNESSEE

In Tennessee, externships are incorporated into the classroom based on how the teacher sees fit, but they must provide a presentation on what that will look like.

  • EXTERNSHIP FOCUS: Manufacturing
  • AVAILABLE FOR: K-12th grade educators
  • SUPPORTED BY: Local chambers of commerce are heavily involved and each program looks different with varying partners depending on the location. The Tennessee Chamber of Commerce is always there for help but local chambers take charge.
  • PROGRAM LENGTH: 4-10 weeks long, depending on the arrangement between a teacher and their host business
  • FUNDING PROVIDED: average is $100 per day depending on the arrangement and grant money

HAWAII

In Hawaii, teachers must plan and teach at least three lessons on skills they took away from their externship that follow industry and course standards. They also host a 500-person state career and technical education conference, where business hosts and teacher externs share their experiences.

  • EXTERNSHIP FOCUS: All disciplines
  • AVAILABLE FOR: 7th-12th grade CTE educators
  • SUPPORTED BY: Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, Connect 2 Careers Coalition, Hawaii Association of Career and Technical Education, Department of Education, State CTE Office, HSTA and Hawaii Children’s Foundation
  • PROGRAM LENGTH: 40 hours
  • FUNDING PROVIDED: $1,500 per teacher provided by the Harold K.L. Castle Foundation and Workforce Development Council

IOWA

In Iowa, teachers must develop a project or problem-based learning unit that reflects an issue related to their externship or one they specifically worked on over the summer. The host business comes in during the school year to evaluate the student projects and solutions. Teachers also receive one graduate credit through the University of Northern Iowa’s Continuing Education program.

  • EXTERNSHIP FOCUS: STEM fields
  • AVAILABLE FOR: 7th-12th grade educators
  • SUPPORTED BY: Governor’s STEM Advisory Council, Iowa Department of Natural Resources (NR) and University of Northern Iowa
  • PROGRAM LENGTH: full-time for six weeks
  • FUNDING PROVIDED: $4,800 per teacher provided by the state or by host businesses

 

 

The Maryland Chamber Foundation supports sustainable solutions that drive Maryland’s future economy including talent, education, innovation, economic diversity, infrastructure, business climate, governance, and quality of life.

 

 For more information on the Maryland Chamber Foundation, contact Whitney Harmel at the Maryland Chamber Foundation at wharmel@mdchamber.org or call 410-269-0642, ext. 1117.