Educator Externship Program

About Industry

Industry in Louisiana is responsible for producing products that shape modern life. 25,000+ plant & regular contract employees work in member facilities at a median salary of over $74,000/year for engineers and the range for industrial trades and technicians is between $47,000 – $100,000+.

Learn More About Industry

About the Program

The mission of the Educator Externship is to provide a highly interactive, paid professional development program ($1,000*) for high school and middle school educators. The program connects participants with industry professionals through engaging presentations, facility tours, interviews, panel discussions, and peer-to-peer exercises. These activities provide firsthand insight into the diverse career paths available within industry, aligning with GBRIA’s vision of equipping Louisiana educators with the knowledge to inspire and prepare students for industry careers.

The primary learning goal of the program is to provide a deeper understanding of how to build an effective path to career opportunities in instrumentation, electrical, welding, millwright, pipefitting, and process operations. Secondary goals include deepening awareness of how these roles collaborate to build and maintain manufacturing facilities, which are critical to Louisiana’s economy.

*Participants must attend all three days to receive stipend)

Registration

Educator Application -Apply Today

Host Site Registration -  Register Today

The deadline to apply is April 18, 2025

Program Dates

Baton Rouge Region Cohort 1: June 24-26, 2025

Baton Rouge Region Cohort 2: June 25-27, 2025

New Orleans Region Cohort 1: July 15-17, 2025

Program Agenda

Day 1: 

• Program Orientation
• Participant Expectations Activity
• GBRIA/NORIA Overview
• Industry Overview: Safety/Industrial Hygiene 
• Industry Overview: The Value of Industry
• Industry Overview: Workforce Development
• Lunch
• Products of Industry Game (Kahoot!)
• Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC Pelican) Overview
• Industrial Contractor Talks, ABC Members
• ABC Tour and Demos, ABC

Day 2: 

Host Site Program Costs and Requirements

Host Sites (GBRIA Member Companies) pay $1,400 per educator, with a minimum of two educators per site. Members can pay GBRIA (501 (c)(6) or LCEF (501 (c)(3)), a GBRIA managed organization. Host sites are also expected to provide PPE and lunch for hosted educators. 

Host Sites are expected to follow the Educator Externship Rubric, ensuring a similar experience for all participants. 

Testimonials

“I think this was a wonderful event! Thank you for hosting! I learned so much about careers in the industry and what it takes to be successful. I feel better equipped to speak to my students about the careers and help them explore what might be a good fit for them. For the first year, it was excellently done! Thank you!!!”

“I think for the first year this program was extremely successful. I feel that the stock footage and testimonies will give a better understanding of what this whole think is all about. Creating a bridge from education to industry! My gear are turning, this program has given me the inspiration and contacts to create a Summer intern/shadowing type program for my parish. I have experience with medical and IT programs, I desperately want to create this opportunity for the industry fields!”

“To be truthful, this was a well-thought-out program. The wealth of information I can make available to my staff and students, I believe, will be forever life-changing. My level of appreciation for the program has changed my outlook on the industrial industry, and now having access to the personnel within the industry will make my occupation easier to relate to my students.”

Contact

For questions about Educator Externship Program, please contact:

Brandon Smith
brandon@gbria.org
(225) 769-0596, extension 17