The Teachers@Work Program offers a unique professional development opportunity connecting the classroom to the workplace. Teachers are provided time to spend in a workplace for hands-on learning that transfers to student learning.
Through this program teachers engage with local businesses to learn skill requirements and career opportunities to enrich and strengthen their teaching and bring relevance to students’ learning.
Application Deadline: March 28, 2025
Program Run Date: Summer 2025
Orientation and Meet and Greet: June 10, 2025 Time: TBA
2024 Teacher Presentations: November 21st, 2025 @ 7:30am
Agreements for a Successful Teachers@Work Experience
The following information is meant to serve as a starting point to develop a clear understanding of expectations, roles, and responsibilities for each party involved.
Teacher/Educator
- Spend a total of 32 hours in the workplace at a minimum.
- Attend the Twin Counties Education and Business Leaders Summit TBA
- Attend the Meet and Greet Breakfast/Orientation Session and complete the Employer-Teacher Work Plan and Point of Contact for the Hosting Employer.
- Complete informational interviews with the key people.
- Maintain a reflective journal/notes.
- Develop at least one Project-Based Learning lesson plan/unit based on the experience using the standards for your subject matter (CTE or State Content Standards).
- Develop a summary, PowerPoint presentation, or other professional development tool based on your experience that can be shared with colleagues.
- Develop a presentation based on your experience, including students’ projects, that will be shared at the STEP Board of Directors/Workforce Readiness Coalition meeting on November 22, 2024, at 7:30 a.m.
- Complete an evaluation of the experience provided by STEP.
- Write a thank-you note to the externship host.
- Follow the rules and regulations of your employer (the school district) and host.
- Be punctual and appropriately dressed.
- Notify STEP of any problems that arise out of the externship.
The host site agrees to develop a teacher externship that will:
- Provide a point of contact for the teacher
- Attend the Meet and Greet Luncheon and complete the Employer Teacher Extern Work Plan along with the teacher extern
- Impart knowledge of career opportunities, organizational issues, hiring trends, and skills required for work in the industry by providing teachers the opportunity to conduct informational interviews, shadow employees, make observations, and collect appropriate materials
- Allow the teacher to make observations and perform tasks that will enhance understanding and skills in specific areas related to their teaching
- Report to the district and/or principal any problems or concerns that may arise during the Teachers@Work experience by calling the school administrator.
- Maintain an adequate and safe training station and tools, which meet state and federal health and safety rules and regulations.
- Inform the teacher-educator of all applicable rules, regulations, and safety precautions established by federal or state law, regulation, or by the employer-host.
- Pay a $1000 stipend
- Complete an evaluation of the externship program (to be provided by STEP)
STEP
- Provide a point of contact for the teacher.
- Contact business/industry/community partners to set up the experience.
- Attend to any problems that affect or arise out of Teachers@Work.
- Provide an evaluation tool for feedback from participants (teachers and hosts)
STEP is pleased to offer educators in the Twin Counties the opportunity to participate in Teachers@Work, a professional development experience that integrates project-based learning, teacher leadership, and career awareness.
There will be a "Meet and Greet" on June 10th for the participants in the program.
Participants will complete a 5-day Learning Externship: SUMMER 2025
- Summer Day 1: Orientation and Immersion in a local workplace
- Summer Day 2: Immersion in a local workplace
- Summer Day 3: Immersion in a local workplace
- Summer Day 4: Immersion in a local workplace
- Summer Day 5: Unit/Lesson Planning Work Session at STEP Offices
During the 2025-26 School Year, participants are required to:
1. Participate in the 40-hour summer externship,
2. Develop and implement a Project-Based Learning lesson/unit,
3. Share their experience and lesson plan with co-workers at a faculty meeting, and
4. Present outcomes to the STEP Board of Directors and their hosting partners. (November 21, 2025)
Summer Extern participants receive
$1000 stipend + 4 CEU Credits upon completion of the above requirements!
EACH PROSPECTIVE PARTICIPANTS MUST HAVE HIS/HER PRINCIPAL WRITE AND SUBMIT A LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION TO vedmonson@step-patnership.org BY THE APPLICATION DEADLINE OF March 28, 2025.
Complete all sections of this application; incomplete applications will not be considered.
There will be a "Meet and Greet" on June 10th for the participants in the program.
Participants will complete a 5-day Learning Externship: Summer 2025
- Summer Day 1: Orientation and Immersion in a local workplace
- Summer Day 2: Immersion in a local workplace
- Summer Day 3: Immersion in a local workplace
- Summer Day 4: Immersion in a local workplace
- Summer Day 5: Unit/Lesson Planning Work Session at STEP Offices
During the 2025-26 School Year, participants are required to:
1. Develop and implement a Project-Based Learning lesson/unit,
2. Share their experience and lesson plan with co-workers at a faculty meeting, and
3. Present outcomes to the STEP Board of Directors and their hosting partners. (November 2024)
Summer Extern participants receive
$1000 stipend + 4 CEU Credits upon completion of the above requirements!
EACH PROSPECTIVE PARTICIPANTS MUST HAVE HIS/HER PRINCIPAL WRITE AND SUBMIT A LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION TO vedmonson@step-patnership.org BY THE APPLICATION DEADLINE OF March 28, 2024.
Complete all sections of this application; incomplete applications will not be considered.
