This summer, Portland Community College campuses were abuzz as more than 70 high school teachers, administrators and counselors from three counties took part in paid educator externships.
Developed through collaborations between PCC, the Portland Area Career Technical Education Consortium (PACTEC), Northwest Regional Education Service District and the Portland Metro STEM Partnership, the externships offered participants insights into high-demand career fields that they can share with their students. Teachers came from high schools in Washington, Multnomah and Columbia counties.
Eight externship opportunities were provided, allowing educators to explore fields such as healthcare, manufacturing, natural resource careers, bioscience, architecture/construction, civil engineering, forestry and multimedia/audio-visual technology. The goal of the program was to equip teachers with firsthand experience in career technical education (CTE) and STEM fields, ensuring they can guide students towards future career paths.
“These externships provide educators with insights they can take back to their classrooms,” said Naomi Brown, a career connected learning navigator at PCC. “They’re able to give students a clearer understanding of what careers in these fields actually entail and how to prepare for them.”
One example was the Geographical Information Systems (GIS) externship at the Sylvania Campus in Southwest Portland. Teachers and counselors were introduced to geospatial technologies, including remote sensing and surveying. They explored PCC’s GIS Program, which offers project-based, collaborative learning opportunities focused on in-field applications. With a projected 34% increase in job opportunities for GIS-skilled workers in the Portland area by 2027, this externship gave educators a clear sense of the career opportunities awaiting their students.
These externships aren’t just limited to learning technical skills. Educators also built valuable connections with industry partners, enhancing their professional networks and deepening their understanding of the career landscape. Brown emphasized the long-term benefits, noting that teachers now have the language and knowledge to guide students more effectively.
At the manufacturing externship, PCC’s College and Career Prep team welcomed teachers, administrators and counselors from Washington County to PCC’s Willow Creek Opportunity Center. They learned about career-development classes available at no cost, focusing on advanced manufacturing and semiconductor technologies.
Educators also delved into the Microelectronics Technology Program at the Rock Creek Campus, discovering its requirements and learning what makes an ideal student candidate. To give them a hands-on feel, instructors from the Quick Start class demonstrated how vacuum force affects objects, such as marshmallows and balloons.
Additionally, participants explored electrical circuits with the Semiconductor Essentials Training Program, engaging in an interactive activity to create a mini-circuit that lights up LEDs at the push of a button.
Brown added that these externships, which she plans to schedule again next year, are crucial for educators from Columbia, Washington and Multnomah counties, providing them with insights that will enrich their teaching.
“By attending the externships, they return to their schools more aware and equipped to shape their curriculums with real-world applications,” she said.
