The STEM Externship program is a high-profile opportunity for teachers to gain valuable, hands-on professional experience while increasing industry awareness and involvement in STEM education.
Participating middle and high school teachers are matched to WABS business partners from a variety of industries to work on STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) projects.
For Teachers
This program enables teachers to connect their curriculum to real-world applications, which enhances student engagement and provides examples of how their learning is linked to future career options. Teachers also receive professional development from faculty at the University of Washington’s LIFE Center and The Evergreen State College to help relate their professional experiences to their curriculum with the end goal to increase student math and science achievement.
For Businesses
Businesses gain one-of-a-kind insight to the world of K-12 education, perhaps the first time they have thought about education since they were in the classroom themselves. They gain an understanding of how education has evolved as our world has shifted to a global, knowledge-based economy. They have an opportunity to connect with an educator and get involved in helping prepare their future potential employees for tomorrow’s challenges.
2011 Externship Highlights
WABS piloted this program with our first teacher cohort during the summer of 2011. We plan to expand the program in the coming year.
- 16 teachers participated in a 4-week paid summer externship at 10 different businesses to work on STEM projects.
- Teacher participants received additional professional development in July and November 2011 to complement what they had learned in the field and learn how to bring those perspectives to their classrooms.
- 100% of teachers were confident or very confident that their students will understand the workplace better because of their externship experience.
- 100% of businesses indicated that their awareness of STEM education increased as a result of the externship program.
“I have enjoyed and learned from every experience this month both on the job and at the PD.” – Teacher participant
WABS is now accepting applications for the 2012 Teacher STEM Externship Program. Click here for more information.
“Thank you for including us in the valuable experience. We really benefited as a company from the extern’s involvement in our business and we hope they got as much as we did from the experience.” – Business participant