The Minnesota State Energy Center of Excellence is excited to announce the first Minnesota Educator Externship Cohort, a collaboration between the Minnesota State Centers of Excellence for Agriculture, Energy, and Engineering & Applied Manufacturing!
Composed of 12 educators from across the state, this program strengthens connections between classrooms, career pathways, and local industries. Representing schools and colleges throughout Minnesota, educators in engineering, agriculture, computer science, and related fields engaged in professional development, strategy building, and reflection during the two-day event in St. Cloud. Participants got a head start on building relationships, exchanging ideas, and making cross-industry connections. They also visited New Flyer for a tour and an immersive look at sustainable transportation manufacturing and modern production techniques, speaking directly with employees about their careers.
Ryan Strong, Talent Acquisition & Workforce Development Specialist with NFI Group Inc., shared, “It was great to welcome educators from across Minnesota to New Flyer and give them a behind-the-scenes look at how we manufacture sustainable transportation solutions. We trust the visit provided real examples that they can bring back to their classrooms and use to spark interest in engineering, manufacturing, and the skilled trades. We value these partnerships and are proud to play a part in building the future
workforce.”
This gathering was just the beginning. Educators will now complete a 40-hour immersive externship with a local industry partner. The cohort will reconvene in August for two days of curriculum development and meet monthly throughout the school year to turn their experiences into meaningful classroom lessons, career-connected learning, and expanded opportunities for students across the state.
This program is supported in part through the Minnesota STEM Ecosystem Partnership Grant, a State of Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED)-funded workforce development initiative.
