WEATHERFORD - In its annual “extern” program, the Weatherford College Tech Prep Consortium provides teachers professional development by placing them in businesses, pairing them with an employee or associate for hands-on learning experiences. Teachers acquire current business and industry knowledge in their teaching fields, learn innovative teaching methods and develop integrated, academic and technical curricula to better help their students prepare for the 21st century marketplace.

“This is a great opportunity for teachers to experience the world of business in an effort to help their students prepare for successful careers,” said Dr. David Russell, project manager of the WC Extern Program. “This program is certainly an important teacher professional development activity, but its impact on the future careers of students is almost inestimable since each teacher influences over one hundred students each year.”

Debbie Fields, a teacher from Azle High School, worked with Mattie Parker, chief of staff to State Representative Phil King.

“I was introduced to a whole new world from a legal and political standpoint,” Fields said. “This experience helped me to understand how important it is to reach out and network with the community. I will bring several things back to the classroom, such as teaching my students how to research their political choices, participate more, and get involved with the community. I will show them how to use their voice, and above all, put their words into action.”

“Teachers can leave the Extern Program with a refreshed perspective and ideas for the classroom that brings a renewed sense of real world application to their students,” commented Parker. “The most important element is to give students real insight into the importance of their education and how they can apply what they learn to their career of choice in the future.”

David Lamb, a social studies and government teacher from Springtown High School, was an extern with Kit Marshall, Aledo mayor and liaison for the Parker County Office of Emergency Management in Parker County Judge Mark Riley’s office.

“I believe the Extern Program to be extremely valuable to the teachers, because it takes the book learning and puts it through the rigor of the real world, the business world and the governmental world,” observed Marshall. “While classroom learning is very important, real world experiences help with the practical application of what the teacher teaches. Anything short of that can create a true disconnect.”

Lamb will help his students connect with the real world of litigation through a lesson plan he developed on “How to use Small Claims Court” as a result of his experience with Marshall and Judge Riley.

Carol Marrs, an art teacher at Decatur High School, learned the importance of integrating her artistry with the world of journalism at the offices of newspaper Wise County Messenger.

“I followed an ad through the many checks and proofs, and I even built an ad step-by-step,” said Marrs. “This work experience will allow my teaching to integrate art design, writing and technical skills. I’ll team with the computer teacher and journalism teacher to help my students create ads for the newspaper or yearbook from local businesses. I can also explain how much business also values such soft skills as attendance and promptness.”

The Extern Program also introduces teachers to a variety of other high demand, highly technical, and emerging careers through tours of businesses in the fast-growing Texas STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) sectors. This year, the teachers toured Grainger Distribution, Bell Helicopter and D/FW Airport.