Key considerations
- Teacher externships often take place in the summer months, during school break.
- Most companies pay wages and unemployment taxes and carry workers' compensation insurance for teacher externs.
- Meet with educators prior to the externship. Outline expectations (yours and theirs) and establish guidelines for ensuring they're met.
- Identify an employee who will serve as a mentor or supervisor.
- Guide externs not only in carrying out specific projects but also in understanding underlying goals and principles, such as lean processes, total quality management, and continuous improvement.
Learn about student internships, mentoring, job shadowing, and company visits. Return to Business and Education Partnerships.
What are teacher externships?
Externships allow educators to observe and participate in the workplace and gain valuable insights into the academic, technical, and interpersonal skills required. That experience helps them make their lessons and curricula richer, more relevant, and ultimately more meaningful.
Teachers prepare young people to become productive members of the workforce and community. Invite them to learn more about the real-life applications of what they teach by offering externships at your company.
Time commitment: typically 1-6 weeks
Grade level: teachers of grades 7 and up
Benefits to you
- Externs work on specific assignments and bring a fresh perspective to your workplace.
- Mentors at your company develop important leadership and management skills.
- The knowledge you share helps transform classroom teaching in a way that better prepares tomorrow's workforce.
Externships of this type are particularly relevant for teachers of grades 7-12, who teach discrete subjects and whose students are engaged in career explorations and interest surveys. Any educator, however, can benefit from the experience.
