Affecting Young People's Career Goals from a Different Angle

Industry to Educator Externship Program
Last week I had an opportunity to participate in the Industry to Educator Summit at the Greater Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce. This event brought together teachers and companies who participated in an externship program last year for high school teachers in Northeast Indiana. It was great to meet teachers who are making a difference in the lives of our young people.

As I was listening to the teachers and industry professionals from Raytheon, ITT, Northrop Grumen, and BAE Systems talk about their experiences, I was excited to consider the fact that this experience not only affected these teachers, it impacted the students they teach. It's wonderful to know that a program exists to connect teachers to professionals who are in careers that many of their students want to do. Call it the "bird’s eye view" of a career. I think what really struck me most was one of the teachers explaining that she now had an answer for the student who asks "when will I ever use this information?” Now she knows exactly how students will use it because of her experience last summer in the externship program.

I think the real value here is that educators get the chance to see just how important their role is in teaching young people and inspiring them to pursue careers that are related to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. These careers are Northeast Indiana’s future. If we don't have young people who are interested in pursuing them, we'll already be ten steps behind other regions.

Ask a young person why they chose a major or career and often they will tell you that they had a really great teacher in that subject during high school. Our teachers are critical to helping our young people understand their career options and providing them with the skills they need to be successful. A young person who gets engaged in a career path early, and gets experience through internships will be more likely to have then type of skills companies are looking for in their employees.

I am so happy to know that the Industry to Educator Externship program exists to provide teachers with first-hand knowledge of the types of careers and projects that are taking place right here in Northeast Indiana. If you would like more information about this great program, go to www.industry2educators.com or contact jfisher@fwchamber.org.

TECHFEST Is Coming
Make plans now to attend the first annual Northeast Indiana TechFEST on April 16th at Sweetwater Sound. This amazing event, which developed from an idea between the Fort Wayne Mayor’s Office and Atos Origin, provides Northeast Indiana High School students with the opportunity to compete in video game tournaments, a problem solving competition, an IPOD “Battle of the Bands”, a Speed Texting competition, breakout sessions with guest speakers, informational tables about area careers and colleges with STEM related majors, and much more. Young people can register at www.neitechfest.com and the cost is only $10 to participate in up to 2 games. If you have a high schooler, get them involved in this fun and interactive day!