Extern program creates ‘educator ambassadors’ with realworld field experience
For the past three years, BGE, in partnership with the Maryland Chamber Foundation, has invited vocational and technical education teachers to work side by side with its employees in a program aimed at helping them better prepare their students for possible careers in the energy field.
The Teacher Externship program was created by the Maryland Chamber Foundation to pair hands-on-learning teachers with local companies. BGE began participating in summer 2020 and has hosted externs each summer since.
“This program has allowed us to develop deeper relationships with local educators, learn more about real-time classroom opportunities and build educator ambassadors for utility careers who can speak firsthand about their experience with the utility,” Kristen Bucher, a workforce development manager with BGE’s Corporate Community Impact unit, told American Gas.
The Teacher Externship program complements BGE’s High School Internship program, which focuses on developing a talent pipeline of young adults for careers within field operations. According to Bucher, the Teacher Externship program was a natural extension.
“The Teacher Externship program provides one-to-one access to the educators who are preparing and training our future talent,” Bucher said. “We’re able to share the latest industry practices, which the educator can then take back to the classroom to enhance the curriculum.”
Katisi Henderson, a 2022 participant from Joppatowne High School in Joppatowne, Maryland, wanted to better assist her students in their career choices and post-education decisions by enhancing her understanding of the different opportunities at BGE. “I learned so much,” she said. “Knowing this information will help me to help my students and others who will come after them.”
Jenn Shaw, science department chair at Loch Raven High School in Towson, spent her time with BGE’s Environmental Group observing how the utility manages its environmental programs and assessments. “I was able to see the career opportunities that my students could have and get an idea of what skills and education would help prepare them,” she said.
Since 2016, BGE has hired 33 high school interns into full-time roles.