Fifteen high school educators from around Rock County gathered at Blackhawk Technical College on Friday for a workshop to conclude their experience in the Rock Externship Program, which is designed to immerse teachers in business environments and have them shadow specific occupations or disciplines for one week to gain knowledge that can be included into their classrooms.

This year’s participants represent five different area high schools and have curriculum expertise in a wide variety of disciplines, including math, business, special education, art, and career and technical education. Externs were placed at Seneca Foods Corporation, SSI Technologies, Prent Corporation, Alliant Energy, Corporate Contractors Inc., JP Cullen, Shine Technologies, American Extractions, DLG Naturals and IKI Manufacturing.

Friday’s workshop at Blackhawk gave educators the opportunity to share what they learned at their worksites and to collaborate on how to apply this knowledge within their classrooms. Externs met at the college’s Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning for a day of teamwork and curriculum development.

Summer 2022 is the inaugural year for this program. In addition to the educator and employer participants, support for the Rock Externship Program derives from Blackhawk Technical College and Rock County 5.0.