Four-Day Externship Connects Classrooms with Local Careers
This summer, four Davie County High School teachers traded their classrooms for manufacturing plants, healthcare facilities, emergency services, and local businesses during a four-day Teacher Externship designed to strengthen the connection between education and the workforce.
The experience gave educators a firsthand look at the careers available throughout Davie County, the skills employers value most, and the opportunities awaiting students after graduation.
The externship included behind-the-scenes visits to Atrium Wake Forest Baptist Health-Davie Medical Center, Davidson-Davie Community College‘s main campus in Thomasville, DEX Heavy Duty Parts, Dunlop Aircraft Tyres, REEB, Restaurant 101, SBA Home North Carolina, Special Event Services (SES), The Station, the Davie County Sheriff’s Office, Davie County EMS, and the Davie County 911 Call Center.
Participating teachers included Seth James, automotive technology; Annette Jenkins, Exceptional Children Occupational Course of Study; April Lassiter, drafting and architecture; and Will Marrs, drafting. They were joined by Carolyn McManamy, director of Davie CONNECT; Alyse Wooldridge, career development coordinator at Davie County High School; and Stephanie Morris, middle school career development coordinator.
Learning What Employers Need Most
Although each workplace offered unique career opportunities, one message remained consistent throughout the week: employers are looking for dependable employees with strong work habits.
Stephanie Morris said she was struck by how similar the challenges facing businesses are to those seen in schools.
“The Teacher Externship Program helps teachers create meaningful connections between what we teach in the classroom and the needs of our local businesses,” Morris said.
“One of the most eye-opening things I learned was that businesses are facing many of the same challenges we see in schools—attendance, cell phone usage, and the need for strong work ethic skills. I also saw how much companies focus on building a positive workplace culture to attract and keep employees.”
She plans to use those lessons by helping middle school students develop workplace readiness skills earlier and incorporating what local employers identified as their most important expectations into Career Development Month activities.
Bringing Real-World Expectations into the Classroom
For Will Marrs, the externship reinforced that successful careers require much more than technical ability.
“This experience opened my eyes to how many opportunities exist right here in Davie County,” Marrs said. “One thing that continues to stand out from my externship experiences is hearing what employers value most—employees who show up, arrive on time, and demonstrate responsibility.”
Marrs plans to incorporate business attendance policies, professional communication, and email etiquette into his classroom so students better understand workplace expectations before they graduate.
“The products and services created right here in our own backyard connect Davie County to the world,” he said.
Automotive technology teacher Seth James was equally impressed by the support local companies provide their employees while balancing workforce challenges.
“The externship gave me a real-world perspective on our local businesses and the careers we can help prepare students for,” James said. “What surprised me most was seeing how much effort companies put into supporting their employees while still facing challenges with attendance, reliability, and workplace expectations.”
James plans to adjust his classroom performance system to mirror workplace expectations and to create a “Know Your County Careers” research project to introduce students to local career opportunities.
Helping Students See Their Future Close to Home
April Lassiter discovered that students have more career options in Davie County than many realize.
“The Teacher Externship was a great opportunity to see the incredible career paths Davie County students can pursue without having to leave their community,” Lassiter said. “There truly is something for almost every student right here in Davie County.”
She plans to invite more local professionals into her classroom, expand discussions about workplace expectations, and emphasize teamwork and accountability through collaborative projects.
Annette Jenkins said one lesson stood above the rest.
“One of the most eye-opening takeaways from the externship was hearing that every manufacturing plant we visited was struggling with employee attendance,” Jenkins said. “It made me reflect on education and the importance of helping students develop strong habits, reliability, and a good work ethic before they enter the workforce.”
Jenkins plans to implement a weekly attendance and participation grading system, increase business tours for Occupational Course of Study students, and have students research local employers before visiting them.
Building Stronger School-Business Partnerships
The externship also provided an opportunity for local employers to strengthen relationships with educators.
“We at SES love the community that we are a part of,” said Beau Alexander, general manager of Special Event Services. “We greatly appreciate the opportunity to share our 40-year story with everyone who may not know us and what we do here at SES. Anytime we have the opportunity to pass along information about us, we always jump on it in hopes of educating anyone and all about the opportunities that exist in the industry we all love.”
At SBA Home North Carolina, Human Resources Coordinator Cierra Davis said opening the company’s doors helps teachers better understand today’s advanced manufacturing environment.
“We wanted teachers to experience firsthand what modern manufacturing looks like today,” Davis said. “By opening our doors, we hope they gain a better understanding of the careers available at SBA Home NC and the skills our future workforce will need. Building relationships with educators is an important investment in our community and in the next generation of talent.”
She said the externship sparked conversations about future student tours, internships, apprenticeships, classroom engagement, and additional career awareness initiatives. “We’re excited to continue building those relationships and finding ways to connect students with real-world career opportunities.”
A Workforce Strategy That Continues to Grow
The Teacher Externship Program is part of a long-term workforce development initiative led by the Davie County Economic Development Commission, Davie CONNECT, and Davie County Schools.
Launched in 2014 through a $50,000 grant from the Mebane Charitable Foundation as part of the Commission’s five-year economic growth strategy, Together We Are Davie, the program has continued with support from the Economic Development Commission.
“It allows educators to see firsthand the relevance of the curriculum they teach and how it applies in real-world settings,” said Carolyn McManamy, director of Davie CONNECT. “This is crucial because the more our teachers understand, the better they can inform students about educational and career opportunities.”
DCEDC President Terry Bralley said the program continues to strengthen the county’s future workforce.
“Each summer, teachers learn from industry leaders about available job opportunities and the educational requirements for each role,” Bralley said. “This has significantly increased awareness and built relationships between local industries and our educators, students, and families.”
As the teachers return to their classrooms this fall, they’ll bring with them more than stories from local businesses—they’ll bring firsthand knowledge that will help students connect classroom learning with meaningful careers available right here in Davie County.