Connecting Business to Talent

Workforce + Talent

Educator Externships

Our Educator Externship program connects the classroom to the workplace. The program is a paid opportunity for educators to spend time on-site at an area business to gain perspective and identify ways to creatively integrate relevant, real-world experiences into student learning.

Educators' commitment is for five days, which includes a pre- and post-experience commitment (orientation is Monday, three days on-site, recap Friday).
Businesses' commitment is three days.
All educators receive a $1,000 stipend upon completion, funded by the Chamber through receipt of an Indiana Career Coaching Grant.

Educator Externship Application 2026

How it Works

Businesses

Interested in opening your workplace up to an educator? Impart knowledge of career opportunities, hiring trends and required skills for current and future work in your industry.

Externs will experience the workplace by engaging in hands-on day-to-day operations, shadowing employees and engaging with workspaces, equipment and different departments.
Externs will participate in pre- and post-externship learning sessions with the Chamber during their program week. The sessions will prepare participants for the externship and provide support with how to translate experiences into classroom and students.
Based on educator application information, the Chamber matches selected externs to aligned industry employers.
Next round of externship opportunities: June 23–25 or July 21–23

Educators

Sign Up

Match

Experience

Open to middle and high school teachers and counselors
Five-day experience, including pre- and post-externship sessions
Opportunity to connect, collaborate, and exchange ideas with a cohort of educators from across the region
Educators receive a $1,000 stipend for full completion
Pre- and post-externship sessions provide preparation, reflection, and support in translating experiences into classroom relevance and student impact
Summer 2026 program weeks: June 22–26 or July 20–24

Thank You to our Summer 2025 Participating Schools

John Adams High School
Bremen Middle School
Career Academy
Clay High School CTE
Clay International Academy
Discovery Middle School
Elkhart Area Career Center
Jackson Middle School
Jefferson Traditional School
Jimtown High School
Marian High School
Mishawaka High School
New Prairie High School
New Prairie Middle School
Penn High School
Purdue Polytechnic High School
Navarre Middle School
Riley High School
Schmucker Middle School
St. Pius
Washington High School

Thank You to our Summer 2025 Participating Businesses

1st Source Bank
Aunalytics
Baird Wealth Management
BD Customs
Elkhart General Hospital
Business Furnishings
City of Elkhart IT Department
Coca-Cola Consolidated
D.A. Dodd
Daman Products
East Bank Learning Center
ECDC
Embassy Suites
Four Winds Hotel & Casino
General Stamping
Hayes Design Co.
Hilton Garden Inn / Gillespie
The History Museum
Holladay Hospitality
Indiana Paint & Collision
Knollwood Country Club
LaSalle Grill
Lippert Components
Logan Center
Maple City Health Center
Novum Digital
ND Facilities Design & Operations
ND Office of Information Technology
ND Turbomachinery Lab
Portage Township Trustee
Robinson Community Learning Center
South Bend Code School
Schafer Industries
Shirley Heinze Land Trust
St. Joseph County Engineering
Specialized Staffing
SR1 Care / Legacy Medical Academy
Studebaker Museum
T&T Automotive
TJ21
Unity Gardens
WNDU
WNIT

PBS Michiana Education Counts

In Action!

Check out the Educator Externship experience here. PBS Michiana talked with several of our participating externs and businesses for their Education Counts segment. Listen to what they had to say!

For More Information

Need more information or have questions about the Chamber's Educator Externship program? Reach out to Dana Florea at 574.400.4026.