For Immediate Release
August 7, 2019
San Marcos, TX. – This week, the San Marcos Area Chamber of Commerce and San Marcos CISD in conjunction with Texas Workface Solutions Rural Capital Area celebrated the conclusion of the Summer Externship Program. In its fourth year, this program has grown to 26 teachers and businesses locally and 212 regionally.
Through the externship program, educators are given an opportunity to shadow a business and its operations for 3 days, followed by a curriculum planning day with other externship participants. Insights learned – on the job – will be incorporated into the teacher’s curriculum to provide students a better advantage in pursuing their future careers.
“This year’s teacher externship program was extremely successful,” says Mike Doyle, San Marcos CISD CTE and Federal Programs Director. “With 26 teacher externs completing the experience, San Marcos CISD and our students will have an even greater connection to our local business and industry community. I am excited by the work of our externs and look forward to continue to grow our partnerships.”
According to Workforce Solutions Rural Capital Area representatives, more than 75,000 students have been impacted across the Rural Capital Area Region since 2016, with the student impact ≈
almost 10,000 in San Marcos. Additionally, educator participation has grown regionally at a rate of 960% since 2016 and locally at a rate of 73.3% since 2017.
Participating Businesses:
Air Traffic Manager (HYI) -Robinson Aviation (RVA), Inc. (San Marcos Airport)
Texas Health and Racket Club.
San Marcos Fire Department
Martin Marietta
ColorMix Graphics & Printing
Community Action
City of San Marcos Urban Forestry
Alligator Dental
Embassy Suites – AV Tech
City of San Marcos – Keep San Marcos Beautiful
San Marcos Daily Record
Embassy Suites San Marcos Hotel Spa & Conference Center
CFAN
Corridor Title
Neighborhood Engagement Manager – City of San Marcos
San Marcos Area Chamber of Commerce
M2FEDERAL INC
Texas State Athletics
Chuck Nash Auto
Lucky Sky Graphics
Homewood Suites
Silo Glassworks
Trace Home Development
McCoy’s Building Supply
Attendees at the Wrap-Up Brunch Celebration include:
Paul Fletcher, CEO – Workforce Solutions Rural Capital Area
Jason Mock, President and CEO – San Marcos Area Chamber of Commerce
Michael Cardona, Superintendent – San Marcos Consolidated Independent School District
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The Summer Externship for Teachers Program is administered by Workforce Solutions Rural Capital Area (WSRCA), under the Texas Workforce Commission, with federal funds from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. $200,000 was awarded to WSRCA to fund Externships for 225 teachers in Dripping Springs ISD, Georgetown ISD, Hays CISD, Hutto ISD, Leander ISD, Round Rock ISD and San Marcos CISD, in partnership with their local Chamber of Commerce. San Marcos CISD and the San Marcos Area Chamber of Commerce supported 26 teachers and received 11% ($18,758) of the total federal award. SMCISD and the San Marcos Area Chamber of Commerce provided 11% of the required matching funds in the amount of $5,556.