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Connecting Classrooms to Local Industry: WSTC Teacher Externship Program Reaches 100% Success Benchmark

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                              

Media Contact: Lacey Douglas, Workforce Solutions
Phone: 817.823.0533 / Email: [email protected]

Connecting Classrooms to Local Industry: WSTC Teacher Externship Program Reaches 100% Success Benchmark

Tarrant County, Texas (August 24,  2026) – Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County (WSTC) is proud to announce the successful completion of its Teacher Externship Grant for FY26, made possible with grant funding from the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC). Over the course of the program, local educators partnered with industry leaders to bring firsthand career knowledge back to their classroom, impacting thousands of students across Tarrant County.

Program Impact Numbers

  • 29 Tarrant County Employers from high-demand sectors ranging from healthcare and hospitality to manufacturing and public infrastructure, local businesses welcomed educators into their facilities for immersive job-shadowing and site visits. Those employers include:
    • American Carton Company
    • Autobahn FW
    • Bright IA- Intelligent Automation
    • Cook Children’s Health Care System
    • Cummings Electrical
    • CVS
    • Gaylord Texan
    • Grand Hyatt DFW
    • Hyatt Regency DFW
    • JPS Health Network
    • Junior Achievement of Chisholm Trail
    • Lakeside Christian Academy
    • Live! By Loews Arlington
    • Lockheed Martin
    • Loews Arlington Hotel & Convention Center
    • Nerdworks Services LLC
    • O’Reily Hospitality- Marriott Champions Circle
    • Podiatry Associates of Arlington
    • Post L Group Construction
    • Recaro Aircraft Seating Americas LLC
    • Spark Arlington and Texas Live
    • The Rios Group Inc.
    • The Women’s Center of Tarrant County
    • The Worthington Renaissance
    • Trane Technologies
    • Trinity Metro
    • Trinity River Authority
    • University of North Texas Health Science Center
    • Willard Automotive
  • 45 teachers from the following Tarrant County School Districts participated in the program:
    • Arlington
    • Birdville
    • Castleberry
    • Crowley
    • Everman
    • Fort Worth
    • Grapevine-Colleyville
    • Hurst-Euless-Bedford
    • Keller
    • Mansfield
  • 1,800 hours of on-site learning was completed
  • Every teacher reaches over 100 students a year, this experience ensures those lessons are engaging, relevant and aligned with the skills industries need most.

These experiences provided teachers with deep, actionable insights into current workforce expectations. A healthcare educator hosted at JPS Health Network observed an onsite Patient Care Technician (PCT) clinical program to better understand hospital standards for incoming medical professionals. Reflecting on the placement, the teacher noted, ” I learned that success in healthcare requires more than technical skills, students are expected to demonstrate professionalism, communication, teamwork, critical thinking and adaptability. I will use this experience to develop EKG and patient-centered care activities that better prepare my students for real-world clinical environments.”

To support the translation from workplace to classroom, WSTC and Inter Link, co-hosted a Labor Market Information (LMI) & Curriculum Integration event. Participating Tarrant County teachers gathered alongside local industry partners and workforce analysts to examine current labor market trends and collaborate on lesson plan designs. The event gave business leaders valuable insight into how teachers transform site visits into practical, hands-on learning experiences, while also strengthening ongoing collaborations between local schools and area employers.

WSTC Business Services Director, Renee Parker, who was the project manager for this grant said, “With the externship program’s success, WSTC remains committed to strengthening the bridge between education and industry. We are grateful to InterLink, Inc. for their role in helping us execute the grant and connect educators with participating employers. These externship experiences provide teachers with valuable insight into today’s workforce and help strengthen the connection between what students learn in the classroom and the skills employers need.”



Teacher Externship Program 2026

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About Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County

Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County (WSTC) is one of 28 local workforce development boards located throughout the state. WSTC’s primary goal is to meet the needs of Tarrant County employers and workers through locally designed market-driven workforce development initiatives and services. All employers, workers and job seekers are eligible to take advantage of these services. More information can be found at www.workforcesolutions.net or by calling 817-413-4000.

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