In early November, 16 teachers from Knoxville’s Central High School (CHS) business and marketing pathway program participated in a teaching externship at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Haslam College of Business. The first such externship hosted by Haslam’s Office of Access and Community Connections (OACC), the event provided the educators firsthand insight into the skills and competencies students need to succeed in business.
Clarence Vaughn, OACC’s director, delivered opening remarks welcoming the CHS teachers. Sessions providing information on a variety of Haslam’s offerings were then presented, from what majors the college offers to requirements for applying to Haslam, opportunities for scholarships and pre-collegiate summer programs and more. After the instructors heard directly from students about their collegiate experiences, the event concluded with a tour of the Haslam Business Building.
CHS Teachers Value Externship Experience
Photography instructor John Valentine called the experience meaningful and relevant, saying Haslam faculty members were personable and shared valuable information about their curriculum.
“This externship gave me a personal connection to the wonderful opportunities available at Haslam and the impact the college is having on building character in its students,” Valentine said. “They shared their experiences and answered questions on how they have transformed from a freshman’s optimistic pursuit of a degree to envisioning bright futures with tangible pathways they want to pursue — everything you would like to hear when you are trying to encourage high school students about their own futures.”
History teacher Jennifer Crawford added, “I learned so much visiting Haslam, and I can’t wait to tell my students about the summer programs available at no cost to students with a passion for business. It was apparent that Haslam not only supports students academically but also helps them build the experiences and contacts needed for success after college.”
LaKietha Jackson, Haslam’s coordinator of outreach and pre-collegiate programs, explained that OACC expects these events to have a ripple effect because one teacher’s externship experience can be shared with dozens of students each year.
“Students gain confidence linking their high school education to postsecondary and career goals while developing key skills for success in college and the workplace,” she explained. “We hope the experience helps provide a smooth and intentional passage from high school to higher education.”
Augmenting Haslam’s High School Outreach
OACC has collaborated with Knox County Schools’ (KCS) 865 Academies for two years to host post-secondary visits for high school students. Haslam provides pre-collegiate access, engagement and a pathway for KCS students into the field of business, including the new Teacher Externship program. This hands-on experience equips teachers to bring relevant perspectives back to their classrooms, enhancing instruction and helping students make meaningful connections between what they’re learning and future career opportunities. Jackson added that bringing high school instructors to campus for these experiences will serve to deepen the college’s connections with area schools.
“This externship served as a valuable opportunity for the Haslam College of Business to strengthen its partnership with Knox County Schools and highlight the mutual benefits these experiences bring to both educators and students,” she said.
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CONTACT:
Scott McNutt, business writer/publicist, rmcnutt4@utk.edu
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