Background

Minnesota employers are increasingly calling for skilled workers. During 2021, private sector jobs increased by 5.3%, while public sector jobs rose by 2.7%. In July and August, manufacturers added nearly 6,000 jobs alone - the highest growth in 30 years! Many are struggling to find talent.

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Central Minnesota business partners have also identified “soft skills” - non-technical skills such as communications, attendance, work ethic, math and computer/technology skills as essential qualities needing support systems. It is imperative that our education system partner with area businesses to create relevant connections between classroom content and students’ future career interests.

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Submit Your Teacher Externship Application >>

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Project Description

The purpose of the Teacher Externship Program is to bring career-based classroom curricula to life, while building a bridge between skill-based and knowledge-based education. Through this unique professional development opportunity, middle and high school teachers from the Resource Training & Solutions region will be selected to work side-by-side with an industry peer during a 3 to 5 day paid summer externship at a participating central Minnesota business.

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"I really enjoyed my time at UMC. This experience was instrumental in me being able to create a meaningful and more applicable unit for my Engineering 2 class. " - 2023 Teacher Extern Corey

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Benefits to Teachers

Gain first-hand knowledge of how classroom content and learning strategies are applied in the workplace.
Receive professional development support to create lesson plans linking externship learning to student academic and career planning.
Enhance classroom curriculum with real-world career connections.
Earn optional graduate credits through College of St. Scholastica.

Benefits to Employers

Create lasting partnerships with local teachers.
Ensure workforce needs are understood.
Increase exposure, through personal connections to classroom teachers, to the future workforce.
Increase opportunities for additional career-based activities such as student job shadowing, plant tours, and career speakers.
Directly contribute to sustaining a more highly-skilled workforce.

How to Apply

As the main component of the Resource Training & Solutions Teacher Externship Program, middle or high school teachers employed by a Resource Training & Solutions’ full member district, will be selected to work side-by-side with industry peers during a 3-5 day paid summer externship experience at participating central Minnesota businesses (based on externship program availability).

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Submit Your Teacher Externship Application >>

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Timeline‍

Dates for Summer 2025 externships coming spring 2025.

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FAQs

Time Allotted

3-5 days on site, up to 2 of curriculum writing
Self determined days June 15 - July 30

Educators

7-12th grade educators, counselors, admin
Submit a resume, Certificate of Insurance, goal sheet
From a Resource Training & Solutions Member district

Worksite

Prepare varied experiences for educators
Provide a “mentor” for educator to connect and learn from
Align experience to educator goals
Provide information: dress code, PPE, parking, lunch...etc

Submitted Work

Educators submit hours, curriculum, feedback
If seeking college credit from College of St. Scholastica, one additional reflection
After everything is submitted, we compensate based on days served
Employers submit feedback to Resource

Summer 2023 Externships:

8 teachers this summer: CentraCare, Spire, Wright Co. Public Health, Zero Zone, UMC, Envision Construction
Goal: exposed educators to modern workplace, build career focused lesson plans, build industry connections
Externs this summer: Monticello (3), Princeton (1), Rogers (1), SRR (1), Cambridge-Isanti (1), Elk River (1)

For More Information

Contact Alison Orgaard, CTE Manager‍

aorgaard@resourcecoop-mn.gov

(320) 266-5640

Submit your Teacher Externship Application

Click Here

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We offer members a wide range of high-quality products and services at discounted rates.

By combining the purchasing power of all Members, we can achieve volume pricing on quality products and services from reputable vendors. We work with the vendors but FOR the Members.

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Our Cooperative Purchasing Program offers members a wide range of high-quality products and services at discounted rates. By combining the purchasing power of all Members, we can achieve volume pricing on quality products and services from reputable vendors. We work with the vendors but FOR the Members.

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Membership is open to:

Schools
Cities, Counties, Governmental Agencies
Nonprofit organizations and other partnership agencies.
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Satisfying Minnesota competitive bidding requirements.

Vendors we provide are the result of either formal bids (identified as State Bid or SB) or negotiated contracts (identified as Preferred Vendors or PV).

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The contracted vendors we have known as State Bid or SB vendors are established through formal bids and purchasing from them satisfies Minnesota competitive bidding requirements - regardless of the amount of the purchase. The ability to do so is outlined in Minnesota Statutes123A.2 and 471.345.

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The combination of these two statutes gives members the ability to purchase from contracted vendors while remaining in compliance with the Minnesota competitive bidding requirements.

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View our Cooperative Purchasing Vendor Directory.

Express Purchasing Connection

Express brings you the ease and convenience of ordering from multiple vendors on one site while knowing that the contracts you are purchasing from have been chosen according to state purchasing regulations.

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Search for products in the following categories:

Building & Grounds
Classroom Supplies
Office Supplies
Technology
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The easiest way to sign up at the Cooperative Purchasing Express website:

Go to cpcexpress.org
On the left side of the page and 2/3rd down is a blue "register now" button. Click it.
Fill out the form - There are six parts of the form you must complete. They all have asterisks on them. The rest of the parts are optional. Notice that when you put down your school or CCOGA name a drop down list comes up of all the eligible organizations. You can use this to finish your organization name.
You will get a confirmation email shortly. Click on the verification link and then you can jump right in and start shopping!
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Any questions?

Please contact us at express@purchasingconnection.org or by phone at (888) 739-3289.

Contact This Department

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Teacher Externship Program

Background

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Submit Your Teacher Externship Application >>

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