The Maryland Chamber Foundation’s Teacher Externship Program is a four-week summer program that builds bridges 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. Teachers also have the opportunity to earn up to 4 continuing development credits through MSDE, if they create a lesson plan post-externship and report back on results.
In its fifth year, the Maryland Chamber Foundation Teacher Externship Program is staged to impact thousands of Maryland students in 2023 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. A wide variety of industries are represented including life-sciences, construction & design, electrical & mechanical contracting, energy & utilities, engineering, and healthcare.
Teachers: Applications for educators are open through January 2, 2023. All full-time science, technology, engineering, arts, and math teachers, as well as business teachers, CTE instructors and career counselors in Maryland public high schools, are encouraged to apply. Please note that the number of Externships available is determined by the number of host companies participating. Please also note, at this time, the Teacher Externship Program is not available for elementary or middle school teachers and counselors.
Host Companies: Sponsor and host a summer externship for a high school educator in 2023! Host companies have the opportunity to engage more deeply in the workforce development process and to build connections with educators who are teaching subjects relevant to their industry.
Thank you to the Maryland Chamber of Commerce for use of this article