Twenty-six Clackamas County educators spent five days this summer stepping inside local workplaces to better understand the careers, skills, and training opportunities available to students after high school.
During the 2026 Clackamas County Educator Externship, teachers, school counselors, college and career coordinators, and other education professionals explored a range of career pathways, from manufacturing, healthcare, and technology to public utilities, apprenticeships, community college programs, and military service. Site visits included Machine Sciences, Willamette River Water Treatment Plant, RoseVilla Senior Living, Clackamas Community College, Microchip Technology, Sprinkler Fitters, Benchmade Knife Company, and the Oregon National Guard.
The goal of the externship is to help educators better understand local workforce needs so they can connect classroom learning to real-world careers and help students explore a wide range of postsecondary options, including college, apprenticeships, industry credentials, military service, and employment.
Connecting education and industry
At Benchmade Knife Company, educators toured manufacturing floors, participated in hands-on knife building, and took part in a panel discussion with operations leaders.
“From manufacturing floor tours to hands-on knife building and an engaging panel discussion with our operations leaders, educators had the opportunity to experience firsthand the craftsmanship, technology, and career pathways that exist in modern manufacturing,” said Rachel Russo, organizational development manager at Benchmade Knife Company.
Russo said one of the most rewarding parts of the day was the opportunity to connect with educators who are helping shape the next generation of talent.
“By building stronger partnerships between education and industry, we can help students better understand the exciting careers available right here in our community,” Russo said.
Throughout the week, educators heard directly from employers about the technical skills, education, and training needed for success in different industries. Employers also emphasized the importance of employability skills, including communication, reliability, time management, problem-solving, and a willingness to learn.
“I am excited for the new connections made between careers in Oregon and the school where I teach,” one participant shared. “I feel better able to advise students and provide direction after high school.”
Another participant reflected on the variety of career options available to students.
“There is a plethora of job opportunities that do not require a four-year college degree,” the participant said. “These opportunities are many and varied.”
A closer look at community-based careers
The week also gave educators a closer look at careers rooted in care, service, and community.
At RoseVilla Senior Living, educators toured the nonprofit Life Plan Community’s garden campus and learned directly from employees about workforce needs in skilled nursing, adult care, memory care, assisted and independent living, facility maintenance, and clerical and administrative services.
The visit also highlighted RoseVilla’s culture of community, its commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainability, its on-site preschool program, intergenerational enrichment opportunities, and innovative approaches to supporting aging community members.
Supporting students beyond high school
The Educator Externship is designed for a wide range of school staff, including Career and Technical Education instructors, core academic teachers, special education teachers, counselors, career advisors, and administrators.
By gaining firsthand exposure to employers, apprenticeship programs, community colleges, and workforce needs, participants better understand the technical and employability skills students need after high school.
For teachers outside of traditional Career and Technical Education programs, the externship helps connect classroom instruction to real-world careers. Participants return to their schools better equipped to incorporate career examples into lessons, demonstrate the practical application of science, math, reading, and communication skills, and encourage students to explore a wider range of postsecondary opportunities.
For school counselors and career advisors, the experience expands their understanding of local careers, labor market trends, apprenticeship opportunities, industry credentials, military options, and postsecondary education. This knowledge strengthens career advising, helps students make informed decisions about course selection and career planning, and encourages students, including those from historically underrepresented populations, to consider high-skill, high-wage, in-demand careers they may not have otherwise explored.
“As a new high school counselor, this externship was invaluable,” one participant shared. “It will help me point students toward career options based on their interests, including students who are not college bound or who may need less college to access certain careers.”
Another participant said the externship gave them information they could immediately bring back to students.
“This program is amazing,” the participant shared. “I wish everyone could participate in this event. It has increased my understanding of many fields in the working world which I can directly take into the school with me to help students find their future path.”
A regional partnership for career-connected learning
The Educator Externship program was planned through a partnership between Clackamas Education Service District, Clackamas Community College, Clackamas Workforce Partnership, and the South Metro-Salem STEM Partnership.
“This partnership has expanded opportunities for students and educators by combining our expertise, resources, and shared commitment to workforce readiness,” said Bill Blevins, regional coordinator for Career Technical Education at Clackamas ESD.
For the past three years, this working group has collaborated to plan and support career-connected learning events for students and professional development opportunities for educators. The Educator Externship is one example of how the partnership is helping build stronger connections between schools, students, and the regional workforce.
Together, the partners are helping educators bring those possibilities back to classrooms, counseling offices, and career conversations across Clackamas County.
