A number of programs and initiatives nationwide have worked tirelessly this summer to help students beat “brain drain” in efforts to ensure that they return to the classrooms just as sharp — if not sharper — than they left at spring’s end. But while retention among students has become a prime concern, how are educators across the country staying in touch with the real life situations and industries that inspire their teaching?

Externships.

Through educator externships, teachers are able to work with local businesses and employers to not only strengthen their existing skills, but to also learn new ones and new information that can affect the lives of their students for years to come.

In states like Tennessee and Ohio, teacher externships have been promoted in recent years as a prime way for individuals responsible for classroom instruction to gain industry insight and exposure that can, in turn, be shared with students. Though not considered a welcome opportunity by all working in academia, many supporters and experts believe the externships can not only improve instruction, but also prepare students for the workforce.  

In South Georgia last month, educators and local businesses joined forces for an externship effort that got teachers out of the classroom and into the workplace.

Thomas County Central High School Work-Based Learning Coordinator Michelle Ausley participated in a summer educator externship in June with a local life insurance company.

“The CTAE Resource Network developed a summer externship as a professional learning opportunity to allow all educators to connect with the 21st century workplace,” Ausley said. “The summer externship was developed to create collaborative partnerships between education and business and industry.”

The goals of an educator externship, Ausley continued, are “to increase awareness and knowledge of new market trends.” She “gained valuable knowledge of the changing workplace competencies and attitudes” from the company’s benefits coordinator Helen McKelder and the company’s vice president of human resources Chris Quick.

Ausley said her most interesting discovery during the 20 hours she spent at the insurance company was the importance of its employee dress code and restriction of cell phone use.

“Educators across the state consistently stress concern of cell phones in schools, and here is a top insurance company stressing its same concern by addressing these issues within its company policy,” Ausley said.

McKelder noted that “punctuality, staying on task, and reliability” are also skills that students need to be successful in the workplace.

“I have enjoyed my experience training and working with Work-Based Learning students over the last several years,” McKelder said. “Having the Work-Based Learning teacher externship has allowed us to reinforce these areas and also see the educator’s perspective in how to more effectively impact the students.”

Quick pointed out “while knowledge-based qualifications are always important for candidates seeking employment, soft skills, such as professionalism and a solid work ethic, are invaluable.”

Ausley intends to put her externship experience to good use. She plans to create a project-based lesson that will give every Work-Based Learning student an opportunity to learn how what they experience in today’s workplace and what they are currently learning in school complement each other.

“We appreciate the values the program instills in its students and have had the opportunity to retain several students in our employment once they completed the program,” Quick said about the Work-Based Learning program. “We feel that is the ultimate testimony as to the importance of the program to the employer and the student.”

The Thomasville, Georgia Times Enterprise contributed to this story.