This summer, I was allowed to participate in a STEM Action Center Summer Externship with NCCE. NCCE works with schools and districts of all sizes, both locally and around the world, to provide educators with meaningful professional learning opportunities. The organization focuses on creating relevant and challenging learning experiences while using culturally responsive leadership practices that encourage everyone to have a growth mindset.
My work with NCCE included writing blog posts, researching educational topics, and connecting with professionals from different industries. I helped gather information and ideas that could be shared with educators through NCCE’s network. I also reached out to industry professionals to learn from their experiences and explore ways they could contribute to conversations about education, technology, and career preparation.
The overall goal of my project was to support NCCE’s communication and outreach efforts. The organization wanted to continue building connections between educators and industry professionals while sharing information that teachers could use in their own classrooms. My work contributed to that goal by helping create useful content and by starting conversations with people who could offer valuable career and industry perspectives.
During my externship, I became more comfortable writing for an audience outside of my classroom. I learned how to take information, organize it, and present it in a way that was clear and interesting to other educators. I also strengthened my professional communication skills by reaching out to people I had not worked with before. Networking pushed me outside of my comfort zone, but it gave me more confidence in introducing myself, asking questions, and creating new professional connections.
This experience helped me see that there are many different careers and roles within the field of education. Supporting students and teachers involves more than the work that happens inside a school. Writers, technology specialists, professional-learning providers, business leaders, and community partners can all contribute to improving educational experiences. Seeing these different roles gave me a broader understanding of how education and industry can work together.
My time with NCCE also influenced the way I think about teaching. In my classroom, I want to create more opportunities for students to complete work that connects to real careers and real audiences. Writing the blogs showed me that work feels more meaningful when you know it will be read and used by other people. I want my students to have that same feeling by working on projects that have a clear purpose beyond receiving a grade.
I also plan to place a greater focus on communication, teamwork, research, and problem-solving. These were skills I used throughout my externship, and they are skills students will need in almost any future career. NCCE’s commitment to culturally responsive practices also encouraged me to continue creating a classroom where students’ backgrounds and experiences are respected. I want every student to feel included, supported, and confident that they can continue learning and improving.
Overall, my STEM Action Center Summer Externship with NCCE was a great learning experience. I had the opportunity to write blogs, research new topics, network with professionals, and learn more about the work that supports educators outside of the classroom. I will take what I learned back to my students by creating more purposeful, career-connected learning experiences and encouraging them to communicate, collaborate, and approach challenges with a growth mindset.