PLATTSBURGH — A pilot Teacher Externship program allowed teachers to shadow staff at local businesses to learn about employment opportunities in the North Country.
North Country Regional Workforce Investment Board Executive Director Paul Grasso said they contracted with CITEC to run the program because of that organization's numerous connections with businesses and industries in the area. He said it was a valuable experience for teachers, who can be somewhat isolated from what happens at some area businesses.
"Externships are valuable in the broader concept of career exploration," Grasso said.
LIFE LESSONS
The program was a way to get the educational system more aligned with the business community, said CITEC Executive Director William Murray.
"We wanted them to see how the lesson plans they do relate to industry," he said.
He said the program fits in the Workforce Investment Board's goal to make the North Country a better place to find quality jobs.
Amy Sholtis, who teaches biology to 10th-grade students at Plattsburgh High School, spent 12 hours at CVPH Medical Center in Plattsburgh. That included time with staff involved in pathology, clerical support, phlebotomy, administration, materials coordination for the operating room, pharmacy and dialysis.
She said when her students next ask her when they will use any of the concepts she teaches, she will have a multitude of examples to give them. One of those is the importance of osmosis and diffusion in dialysis.
"It really blew me away how much I loved being there and seeing concepts I teach on a daily basis being used," Sholtis said. "It was life-affirming to see the principles I teach being used to save lives."
MAKING CONNECTIONS
Sholtis was impressed by the CVPH Motto, "We hire attitude and teach aptitude."
She plans to tell her students the hospital will bring aboard people with good soft abilities, such as people skills and punctuality, and then train them in technical skills they need.
CVPH Director of Recruitment Zaidee Laughlin said the hospital wanted to take part to show what makes a candidate appealing to them.
"It's important to have a customer-service orientation in our new hires," she said.
It's important to take care of patients on all levels, Laughlin said, both physically and emotionally.
There are many opportunities for advancement once someone starts a career at CVPH, she said. Some may require outside training, such as a nursing degree, but others can be trained in-house.
Laughlin said the program broadens a teacher's perspective. It also can help them make connections that could lead to staff doing in-class presentations.
"We would positively like to do it again," she said.
TO SPREAD THE WORD
North Country Chamber of Commerce Vice President for Economic Development Susan Matton said the chamber provided funding for the program through the New York State Department of Labor's Regional Economic Transformation Strategies Program.
The externship program was designed to help teachers gain experience about how local businesses work and how information students receive in school is used when they go to work, she said. Another intent was to spread the word about what companies are here and the jobs they offer.
And one goal was to get more students to remain in the North Country or to have more return after they complete college.
Other companies that took part include Westelcom, the Press-Republican and TwinState Voice Data Video.
Murray said feedback from the teachers and businesses will be valuable aids to improve potential future externship programs.
"The teachers had so many ideas that can be used next time," he said.
STUDENT SHADOWS
The funding deadline caused the pilot program to be a bit rushed, Murray said.
They would like to schedule a future version for summer, when more teachers could take part. Grasso said the Workforce Investment Board also plans to explore more opportunities for students to shadow staff at local businesses in order to see what skills they might need for a future career.
Murray said they need to find a different way to fund any future versions, as they can't depend on grants. One possibility might be to get funding from the businesses and schools, he said.
"We hope industry sees the benefit of getting kids interested in learning the skills they need for their future jobs," he said.
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