CDLE is Actively Seeking STEM Business Partners for a New Teacher Externship Program
Take an active role in shaping the future of education and workforce development in Colorado! With the enactment of Colorado House Bill 23-1198, the Department of Labor and Employment is launching a K-12 Teacher Externship Program focused on Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations. As an employer, you have the opportunity to directly impact the educational landscape by hosting one or more K-12 teacher externs starting in June 2024. Share your industry expertise, provide valuable insights, and help educators integrate real-world applications into their teaching. Your participation will not only enrich the learning experience for teachers but also inspire the next generation of STEM professionals.
What are Teacher Externships?
Externships are work-based learning opportunities for teachers that provide extended exposure to industry and the types of careers their students may pursue. Businesses identify a specific project or problem as the externship focus, and then select a highly skilled teacher(s) to work in that area. These hands-on learning experiences help teachers enrich their classroom pedagogy by using real-world applications of the academic content they teach, and teaching skills that meet current industry standards. The typical externship will take place at the business site for one to six weeks in the summer, but the timing and duration of each externship can be customized to meet your needs.
What Value can Teacher Externships Add to Your Business?
Teachers bring unique skill sets and fresh perspectives to the workplace, and they are excellent contributors! Externships add valuable capacity to your business for project or problem solving work. By establishing positive relationships with teachers in STEM fields, you increase your community involvement and create positive PR opportunities for your business. Externships can be an excellent workforce development pipeline strategy when teachers share what they have learned during the externship with their students, thereby igniting students' interest in pursuing STEM-focused careers.
We Want to Hear From You!
Take the first step by expressing your interest through the questions below. Your input will play a vital role in the successful implementation and future expansion of this innovative program. Join us in building a bridge between education and industry, shaping a brighter future for Colorado's students and workforce! This form should take no more than 5 minutes to complete.
