The Teacher/Counselor Externship Program
Program With A Purpose
The Teacher/Counselor Externship Program is a partnership between local school districts and businesses in Lenawee County designed to help high school educators and counselors engage directly with local companies and learn how classroom content and learning strategies are applied in the workplace. Armed with the information gained through the program, teachers and counselors will also be able to speak from firsthand experience as they advise students on their career goals.
What is an externship?
Externships are temporary job training programs and learning opportunities that allow participants to get a glimpse at a workplace by shadowing employees, observing an organization, and/or volunteering.
This externship allows teachers and counselors to gain a greater understanding of local career opportunities and the soft and hard skills their students will need in order to succeed.
How does it work?
Eligible teachers/counselors are matched with a local business or company for a paid, 2-week summer period where they will gain an understanding of the employability skills and competencies essential for success in the workplace by participating in meetings, projects, skill development opportunities, and more.
[This program] has allowed more detailed insight to provide links between the high-demand industry skills and knowledge taught in the classroom so that I can better prepare future industry professionals.
The Career Technical Education pathway to success is going to require a mindset change for teachers, parents, students, and society.
You don’t need a 4-year or even a 2-year degree to get a good-paying job.
Soft skills are more important to being successful than “industry-specific skills”.
Benefits to Educators
- Learn how to effectively design and implement classroom activities, projects, and learning opportunities that will add workplace relevance and meaning to a student’s overall classroom learning experience
- Increase awareness of available career opportunities and skills needed for success
- Increased ability to explain the value of what students are learning
- Build professional relationships with employers and become ambassadors for work-based learning programs
Benefits to Employers
- Increase awareness of industry-specific career opportunities amongst future workforce
- Help prepare the future workforce by introducing applicable skills into local curriculum
- Develop connections with schools that can lead to future work-based learning partnerships
- Receive fresh perspectives to challenges in the workplace from externs
The Goal of The Teacher/Counselor Externship Program
The short term goal of the Teacher/Counselor Externship Program is to increase a teacher’s ability to connect theory and practice and bring an understanding of workplace policies and practices back to the classroom. For counselors, this expanded knowledge will be of benefit when advising students on available career opportunities.
While this externship program directly involves educators and business partners, the program is ultimately intended to benefit students through their firsthand experience by integrating necessary and relevant skills into students’ cirriculum, offering a wider scope of career and educational opportunities, and strengthening the talent pipeline in Lenawee County for years to come.
Apply Today
Visit www.lisd.us/externship and fill out the form to apply.
Contact: Lenawee Now 5285 W. 223, Adrian, MI 49221 517-265-5141 Lenaweenow.org
Contact: Lenawee Intermediate School District 4107 N. Adrian Hwy., Adrian, MI 49221 (517) 265-2119 www.lisd.us