Elevate Rapid City recently hosted a Teacher Industry Day. The intent was to connect businesses with educators in an effort to strengthen workforce development. Nearly 30 Career and Technical Education (CTE) teachers from Rapid City Area Schools participated. Throughout the day they gained firsthand experience with Black Hills Energy and Phase Technologies. They explored career pathways and learned about industry skills to better inform their students.
“Teacher externships help bridge the gap between education and industry, allowing educators firsthand experience in a business,” said Bobbie Jo Donovan, college & career readiness manager for RCAS. “When businesses engage in teacher externships, they are investing in the future workforce. They do this by sharing trends and insights with educators, help align classroom instruction with real-world skills, and ensures students are better prepared to meet the demands within industry and help close the skills gap.”
3 Ways Businesses Benefit from Teacher Externships:
- Workforce Development – Teachers bring industry knowledge back to the classroom, helping students develop skills that align with current business needs. This creates a stronger talent pool for local employers.
- Talent Pipeline – Engaging with educators introduces your company to future job candidates. Teachers share career insights with students, increasing awareness of opportunities in your industry and in your organization.
- Community Engagement – Supporting education strengthens relationships with local schools and positions your company as an industry leader invested in workforce growth.
Ready to try this for your business? Consider hosting a teacher this summer for an externship. It would be a 2-5 day commitment that allows a teacher to learn more about your industry and how they can prepare students for future careers.
If you’re interested or would like more information, please reach out to Reese Niu .