On September 30th, Members from Maryland NECA, DC NECA, Local 24 and Local 26 attended the 2021 Teacher Externship Celebration held by the Maryland Chamber of Commerce at the Navy-Marine Corps Stadium in Annapolis. The Maryland Chamber Foundation’s Teacher Externship Program is a four-week summer program that bridges the gap between businesses and educators by pairing high school teachers with top Maryland businesses who provide hands-on experience in industries related to the subjects they teach. Maryland teachers then bring this knowledge back to the classroom, where they can empower their students with the essential information and skills they need to begin down a lucrative career path. Teacher externs receive a stipend from the Maryland Chamber Foundation for their work, and 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.
In its third year, the Maryland Chamber Foundation Teacher Externship Program is staged to impact thousands of Maryland students in 2021 as they consider their future careers. The industry and technical knowledge teachers gain allow them to enhance their curriculum and educate their students on both the hard and soft skills required to enter the workforce and obtain a livable-wage career. Up from three participating teachers in 2020, the 25 teacher externs represent a 766% growth in the program in 2021.
Freestate Electric was also involved in this year’s class, hosting Dennis Poe, an electrical teacher at Croom Vocational High School in Prince George’s County.
For more information about the Teacher Externship Program, click here.
