Join us for a professional development experience designed to connect educators directly with local industries and career pathways. Partnering for this professional development are Arkansas Advanced Energy Foundation, Arkansas STEM Coalition, and Economics Arkansas.
Connecting Educators to Industry gives teachers a behind-the-scenes look at regional employers through industry panels and guided tours, helping participants better understand workforce needs, in-demand skills, and real-world career opportunities for students. This PD will focus on the advanced energy industry.
During this hands-on day, educators will hear from industry leaders, explore workplaces firsthand, and collaborate with peers to translate these experiences into meaningful classroom connections. Participants will leave with practical strategies for integrating career awareness into instruction, strengthening school-to-work connections, and helping students see how learning today leads to opportunities tomorrow.
Upon successful completion, Arkansas educators under contract for the 2026-2027 school year will receive:
6 hours of professional development credit
$50 stipend
Ready to use resources
Lunch and snacks
Target audience: K-12 educators
Purpose: This event is designed to introduce educators to advanced energy careers, connect educators to industry professionals, and contribute to the development of robust advanced energy career pipelines for Arkansans. This event is a pilot of the Connect Phase Advanced Energy Educator Externship Program. By the end of this event, educators will: understand Arkansas’s advanced energy ecosystem, identify advanced energy career pathways students may not know exist, understand employer training and skill needs, and learn how workforce systems connect education and employers.
Led By: Arkansas Advanced Energy Foundation Workforce Development Team
Agenda:
· 9am – Welcome and Advanced Energy Workforce Landscape Overview – Bingo Game
10am – Careers in Advanced Energy – Career Exploration Studio
10:30am – SkillStream Workforce Pipeline – Classroom to Career Toolkit
11am – Facility Tour and Industry Walk-Through
12pm – Lunch - Pecha Kucha Project Presentations
1pm – Employer Panel – Skill Discussions
2pm – Job Shadowing and Skills Interviews
3pm – Reflection and Classroom Translation – Collective and Personal Takeaways
4pm - Adjourn
Important Tax Information for Teachers:
Please be aware that Economics Arkansas is required by IRS regulations to provide a 1099-NEC or 1099-MISC to persons who receive $600 in payments or more in a calendar year. In order to provide this to the IRS, a current, complete W-9 must be on file with our office when the $600 threshold is being met. You agree to provide this form to our office if you reach this limit and understand you will not be paid any additional monies until the form is on file.
No. of Credit Hours: 6