Educators Become Students During Four-Day Summer Externship
This summer, seven passionate educators from Davie County Schools traded classrooms for conference rooms, factory floors, and treatment plants as they explored the inner workings of local businesses. Their goal: to better understand the skills, knowledge, and work ethic required in today’s job market so they can better prepare their students for successful futures.
Over four days, the teachers toured a wide range of organizations, including Atrium Wake Forest Baptist Health-Davie Medical Center, Cognition Davie, Davidson-Davie Community College, Gildan, Hayward Pool (manufacturing and distribution centers), Palltronics, Quail Ridge Confections, REEB, Davie County Register of Deeds, Davie County Sheriff’s Office, 911 Call Center, and Davie County water treatment plants.
These hands-on visits gave educators a behind-the-scenes look at the daily operations, career paths, and workplace expectations of various industries. “This experience will help me lead kids into careers they may not have thought of before and share with students what skills they need to hone to be successful later on at a job,” said Stephanie Morris, middle school career development coordinator.
Strengthening the Link Between Education and Economic Development
The externship program is the result of a powerful partnership between Davie County Schools, the Davie County Economic Development Commission (DCEDC), Davie CONNECT, and local businesses. Launched in 2014 with funding from the Mebane Charitable Foundation, the initiative was part of DCEDC’s five-year economic growth strategy, Together We Are Davie, and has continued with the Commission’s support ever since.
Brittani Steger
Carolyn McManamy, director of Davie CONNECT, emphasized the value of this collaboration:
“The summer externship allows educators to see firsthand the relevance of the curriculum they teach and how it applies in real-world settings. The relationships built with our business community through these externships are invaluable.”
DCEDC President Terry Bralley added, “Each summer, teachers learn from industry leaders about available job opportunities and the educational requirements for each role. This has significantly increased awareness and built relationships between local industries and our educators, students, and families.”
Teachers Reflect on What They Learned and What They’ll Take Back to the Classroom
This year’s externship participants included Davie High teachers Lauren Hatley, Career and Technical Education (CTE); Sandra Hinkle, CTE; Joy Howard, math; Angela Stage; and Brittani Steger, CTE. Program organizers Carolyn McManamy, director of Davie CONNECT; Alyse Wooldridge, career development coordinator at DCHS; and Stephanie Morris, middle school career development coordinator, were also present.
Each educator walked away with renewed enthusiasm and practical knowledge to share with students.
Joy Howard, a math teacher, joined the program after being inspired by last year’s participants on social media. “My favorite part was the side-by-side look at the old Cooleemee water plant and the new plant under construction. I’ve worked with the County utility department through their former engineer during summers, and I’m excited about the improvements this will bring to the department and community. It will be very valuable in my classroom to be able to share the skills and work ethic that we consistently heard about over the course of the week. I’m sure many of our students are not aware of the number of opportunities available right in our backyard.”
Lauren Hatley, a CTE teacher new to the area, sought to learn more about the county and found the experience to be eye-opening. “I really enjoyed the tour at Gildan. This externship experience allowed me to make connections that will help me provide field trips and internship opportunities for my students.”
Morris, who helps students explore career paths daily, shared how the externship deepened her understanding. “One of my favorite parts of my job is seeing how what we do in schools translates to students’ futures. The externships allow us to see what our local businesses need and forge partnerships that will help our whole economy prosper.”
Local Businesses Champion Career Awareness
For local businesses, the externship program is a valuable opportunity to educate teachers about the skills required by their workforce and to make students aware of diverse local job opportunities. This commitment to education and community development is evident in the words of industry leaders.
Johnny Lambert, utilities director for Davie County Public Utilities, reflected, “It was an absolute pleasure to host the teacher externship tour and showcase the incredible transformation taking place at our water treatment facilities. The dedication and interest of the participants were truly inspiring. This experience highlighted the importance of collaboration and knowledge sharing in building a brighter future for Davie County.”
Jay Kimura, owner of Quail Ridge Confections, echoed this sentiment: “I think the Teachers Externship tours are one of the best ways for teachers to understand what industries we have in Davie County. This gives them the on-site knowledge that they can share with students, showing them that there are jobs in the county that may suit their interests.”
Cameron Shirley, associate vice president, Davie Campuses & Strategic Initiatives at Davidson-Davie Community College, also found value in the experience. “The externship experience was a great opportunity for the college to connect with business and industry in Davie County. As someone new to the Davie Campus, this helps me get to know local industry and begin to identify new partnership opportunities.”
Alyse Wooldridge, career development coordinator at Davie High, expressed her gratitude to the businesses that made the program possible. “I deeply appreciate these business partners for taking the time to showcase their facilities and provide tours, presentations, and overviews of their work environments. Their staff did an incredible job, and we’re very thankful for their hospitality!”
She also extended an invitation to other businesses. “Our school district would love for any business or industry partners interested in participating next summer to contact us. We have multiple events throughout the school year to increase career awareness for our students.”
A Win-Win for Students, Schools, and the Local Economy
By stepping into the shoes of industry professionals, Davie County educators are better prepared to guide students toward meaningful careers—and help build a stronger, more connected local workforce in the process. This annual externship continues to prove that when schools and businesses collaborate, everyone benefits.