From the Plant Floor to the Classroom: Educator Externships That Engage Students 

December 10, 2026 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm ET Virtual Event
Register for Event
Date December 10, 2026 Thursday
Time 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm ET
Format Virtual Event

Part of the MI Solution Series

Join Us for an Engaging, 60-Minute Virtual Solution Series Conversation 

Students rarely choose careers they can’t picture, and some of the most influential adults guiding their career decisions are teachers, counselors and administrators. Yet many educators have never been inside a modern manufacturing facility or seen the full range of opportunities the industry offers. Educator externships change that, and because one educator can reach more than 100 students a year, the impact multiplies in every class they teach and every student they advise. 

Jen White, director of student engagement at the Manufacturing Institute, will lead a conversation with leaders of organizations running educator externships in their communities. They will share how their programs started, what it takes to run them and what changes when educators bring the experience back to school. 

What We’ll Explore 

  • What an educator externship is, who it serves and how it differs from an internship or a tour 
  • Program models, from one-day visits to multi-employer cohorts, and how to choose the right fit 
  • How preparation and a classroom deliverable turn a site visit into lessons students use 
  • How schools, districts and local conveners share the work so programs are easier to run 
  • Practical steps to launch an externship that fits your current capacity 
  • Simple ways to measure impact, from educator confidence to students reached 
  • How externships fit into a broader, year-round student engagement strategy 

Speaker

Jen White Director, Student Engagement

Ready to join us?

December 10, 2026  •  2:00 pm – 3:00 pm ET  •  Virtual

Register for Event