Maryland businesses partner with local teachers to create career pathways for students

The Maryland Chamber Foundation launched its 2022 Teacher Externship Program, an opportunity for Maryland educators to be paired with local businesses with the goal of gaining real-world learning essential to transition students into the workforce.

Teachers can apply to the program via the Maryland Chamber of Commerce website until Dec. 31.

During the summer of 2022, the program will provide teachers accepted for the program with a four-week business experience at a Maryland host company. The paid externship builds the bridge between businesses and educators, helping teachers and career counselors gain technical and career pipeline knowledge they can pass on to their students.

In its fourth year, the Maryland Chamber Foundation Teacher Externship Program is staged to affect thousands of Maryland students in 2022 as they consider their future careers. The industry and technical knowledge teachers gain allow them to enhance their curriculum and educate their students on both the hard and soft skills required to enter the workforce and obtain a livable-wage career. Up from four participating teachers in 2020, the 24 teacher externs from 10 Maryland counties represent a 500% growth in 2021.