Educator externships strengthen connections between teachers and Northeast Georgia businesses

Educator externships strengthen connections between teachers and Northeast Georgia businesses

A partnership between the Northeast Georgia Regional Commission, county development authorities, local industry, and K-12 schools is establishing and strengthening relationships between teachers and local industry through Educator Externships in such occupational areas as manufacturing, hospitality, and healthcare.

The week-long externships bring selected educators on-site at participating local businesses during the summer to job shadow and learn about the businesses and employment opportunities. The purpose of the externships is to expose educators to well-paying, high-demand job opportunities and “real time work” available in their communities. The educators take what they learn from their experiences back to their respective schools and apply it to students, parents, and fellow educators, making them aware of the job opportunities and careers available in their communities.

The program also establishes relationships that may manifest in such ways as inviting business leaders to speak to students and staff during the school year, as well as developing worksites for student work-based learning.

The program started in Newton County several years ago and was scaled to the remaining counties in the region over the past three years, with more than 200 educators participating as externs over the past three summers. The educators are paid a stipend to participate, paid for by WorkSource Northeast Georgia/NEGRC, Georgia Power, local Development Authorities, and local school systems.

~Northeast Georgia Regional Commission, Workforce Development Division
   Carol Rayburn Cofer, Director