School-to-Career: Teacher Externships

Updated: April, 2017

July, 2014 -- No reform in education has accomplished as much and received as little recognition as School-to-Career (STC). Launched by the Federal Government in 1994, STC enhanced the high school experience for millions of young people and brought about about more positive business involvement with schools and with young people than any education reform in U.S. History. The federal law sunset in 2002 and few states took up the torch. Many of the STC partnerships and intermediary organizations have now lapsed. Great educators and business leaders across the country, however, have worked to sustain this important reform. In many cases they "re-invented" STC as a key component of high school reform. Today's Linked Learning movement in California is a great example of this re-invention, as are the practices of the Deeper Learning school networks.

April, 2017: Hawaii announces Summer 2017 Business Externships for Educators
October, 2014: Teachers in Industry : Tucson STEM Educators Gain Real-World Experience, by Gabrielle Fimbres, BizTucson, Fall 2014. Teacher Externships at Raytheon Missile Systems, Tucson, AZ.

Ignited, formerlyIndustry Initiatives for Science and Math Education, California
Leadership Initiatives for Teaching and Technology(LIFT2), Eastern Massachusetts
Houston Independent School District, TX
University of Arizona Teachers in Industry Program
Hawaii Summer Business Externships for Educators
Resources

1. Formerly IISME, Industry Initiatives for Science and Math Education

Ignited is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Silicon Valley focused on transforming STEM education. Our mission is to connect business leaders and scientists with teachers to transform the classroom experience, inspiring students to become the next generation of innovators. We were founded in 1985 by a consortium of technology companies and universities. Originally called Industry Initiatives for Science and Math Education (IISME), we have provided fellowships for educators in the SF Bay area and beyond for over three decades. Going forward as Ignited, we are expanding our programs to accomplish even more. Teachers complete a project for their sponsors and are paid $7,000 for their work. Teachers also spend time focusing on ways to transfer their Summer Fellowship experience back to their students and colleagues. Since 1985, IISME has offered 3,987 Summer Fellowships to individual teachers at 732 schools and 127 districts.

2. Leadership Initiatives for Teaching and Technology (LIFT2), MA

SGH Hosts 6th Grade Engineering Day on Vimeo.

The LIFT2 program in Eastern Massachusetts, now in its 14th year, places committed teachers into paid externships in companies in STEM fields so they can experience first-hand what careers might look like for their students. Through their job experiences, and a companion project-based learning course, these teachers develop the skills and insights to make their teaching come alive in order to inspire their students. Over the course of a year, each teacher in the LIFT2 program might influence 100 to 400 students, and over a career they may touch the lives of 5,000 to 10,000 future employees.

Extern Application Form | Information for Sponsors | FAQs
Contact: Katie Clarke, Program Director, 781-416-0980

3. Houston Independent School District

HISD Up Close-Summer Externships for Teachers from Houston ISD on Vimeo.

The HISD Career Readiness department seeks business partners for our summer Teacher Externship Week. Teacher Externships serve as a professional development vehicle for teachers of math, science, English, social studies and Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses to learn about the industry related to their campus programs. By engaging with and in industry based practices teachers are better able to craft curriculum that is meaningful and relevant. Specifically, we are looking for companies to host five to eight teachers for one week each summer. We need companies in various industries including, but not limited to; Health Science, Information Technology, Construction, Petrochemical Processing, Manufacturing, Aviation, and Logistics and Distribution.

Houston ISD Linked Learning
Linked Learning Alliance
Teachers gain real-world experience through industry externships, July 19, 2016
Externships allow educators to ‘practice what they preach: Linked Learning teachers gain first-hand knowledge to bring back to the classroom, July 21, 2014

4. Teachers in Industry

The Teachers in Industry Program integrates paid summer industry work experiences in local businesses across the southwest together with either a focused Master's of Arts in Teaching and Teacher Education or professional development credits. These activities are based in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines as well as teacher education & training. Teachers in Industry focuses on guiding teachers to effectively bring their real world experiences into classrooms while building in-depth and practical knowledge of the workplace, and is open to all Arizona STEM teachers. Apply for Teachers in Industry. Business partner information is found here.

Teachers in Industry : STEM Educators Gain Real-World Experience, by Gabrielle Fimbres, BizTucson, Fall 2014. Teacher Externships at Raytheon Missile Systems, Tucson, AZ.

5. Hawaii announces Summer 2017 Business Externship for Educators

April, 2017 - A partnership of leading Hawaii agencies, organizations, businessses, and the teachers association has announced 2 programs of summer business externships and internships for educators:

2017 Summer Externship for CTE Educators [VIEW FLYER] - Opportunity to work directly with Hawaii business leaders and learn the latest industry trends, job skills and competencies needed in the workplace. For grades 7-12 CTE educators.
2017 Summer Internship [VIEW FLYER] - Experience what goes on in local businesses so that you can help your students become "workplace ready." For K-12 educators.

These programs are part of the state's Connect to Careers — C2C coalition, an industry-led coalition for Hawai‘i's economic future to collaboratively prepare students for success in high-skill, in-demand careers at both state and regional levels. It is a business-led effort with aligned K-16 curriculum and opportunities that will be tracked for effectiveness via data and industry feedback. Partners include employers, state educational systems, funders, and workforce and economic development agencies.

6. Resources

Teacher Externship Guide, College and Career Academy Support Network, University of California, Berkeley, 2010

Many people contributed to this guide. They are: Erin Fender, Project Manager, College and Career Academy Support Network; Sandy Mittelsteadt, Educational Consultant; Sventlana Darche & June H. Lee-Bayha, Senior Research Associates, WestEd; Devi Jameson, Director of School-to-College and Career Programs, West Contra Costa School District; and Marna Lombardi, Grant Coordinator, Central Coast Career Technical Education Community Collaborative. Some of the contents of this guide were originally developed by other entities. They are: Hatcheul Tabernik and Associates for the Alameda Unified School District based on materials prepared by the West Contra Costa School District; Jobs for the Future; the U.S. Department of Education’s New American High Schools Initiative; the U.S. Department of Labor Secretary’s Commission On Achieving Necessary Skills (SCANS); and the Partnership for 21st Century Skills.

Externships and Beyond: Work-Based Learning for Teachers as a Promising Strategy for Increasing the Relevance of Secondary Education, by Ilene Kantrov, Education Development Center, Inc., 2014