Throughout the past year, our educator externships, often referred to as teacher boot camps, have been a standout highlight for us. We made a deliberate choice to market these events as 'educator externships' rather than 'teacher boot camps' to ensure inclusivity. While teachers formed the majority of our participants, we were delighted to welcome principals, administrators, and even school counselors into our sessions. This diverse mix of educators enriched our discussions by bringing different perspectives and insights to the table.

The learning objectives for our offered programs, which include 1-day, 2-day, and 5-day educator externships, encompass several key areas: 

Learning Objectives:

1. Determine the knowledge, skills, and characteristics students need to excel in the future workplace.

2. Understand the current and anticipated job market dynamics, including identifying declining and growing job sectors.

3. Recognize the educational and training requirements for various professions.

4. Identify innovative career paths for students based on their aptitudes and interests.

For a detailed schedule of our five-day externship, please visit our LorainCountyBAC.org website. In the 2022-23 school year, we hosted a two-day educator externship on November 29th and 30th, 2022, and a five-day program on June 12-15 & 26th, 2023. Our five-day program featured visits to high-demand sectors, with each day focusing on a specific theme:

Schedule (June 12 - 16th)

Monday: Overview of Course, The WHY, and the Lorain County JVS Oh My!

Tuesday: Lotsa Tech Tuesday Tours

Wednesday: No Toes for Tours in Manufacturing Wednesday

Thursday: For the Love of Your Health Thursday & LCCC Campus Tour

Friday: Take the Day off Friday (Procrastinate till Next Week) or Getter Done Presentation Prep

ABOUT THE EXTERNSHIP

Our educator externships commenced with the screening of Lt. Governor Jon Husted's Teacher Bootcamp video. Following that, we delved into the 'WHY' behind our training and the crucial role schools play in preparing students for a rapidly evolving workplace. Our presentation provided an overview of the Lorain County BAC and our mission, helping educators grasp our primary directives.

During the externship visits to various businesses, educators engaged in reflective exercises using a provided reflection sheet, encouraging them to ask pertinent questions and contemplate specific concepts as they interacted with the business environment. The culmination of our program was a 20-30 minute presentation where educators shared their findings and outlined how they intended to implement their newfound insights into their instruction or roles within their respective schools."

Recognizing our Businesses

At the beginning or our final day, we recognized each business by presenting them with a certificate of recognition.  Our eduators wrote on each certificate how the experiences impacted them, and we placed the certificates in a frame so they could be displayed by the businesses.  Below is one sample of what was writting to recognize the Cleveland Clinic Avon Hospital.  

Teacher Findings Sample