At CEDC, one of our core missions is strengthening the connection between education and industry and this summer, that mission came to life in a meaningful new way. We are thrilled to celebrate and be a small part of the launch of the Teacher Externship Program (TEP), a pilot initiative spearheaded by Laura Bushendorf, Career and Technical Education (CTE) Coordinator for the Chippewa Falls Area Unified School District (CFAUSD) and valued CEDC Board member. Laura has been working tirelessly to build a bridge between local classrooms and the manufacturing facilities that are the backbone of our regional economy – and the results are already inspiring.

What Is the TEP?

TEP connects CFAUSD teachers directly with local manufacturers for four days of immersive, real-world learning experiences. Rather than reading about industry in a textbook, participating teachers spend time on  the floor of our local businesses – gathering current knowledge, observing authentic work environments, and collecting practical resources they can bring directly back to their students. Participating teachers engaged directly with industry leaders through site visits, job shadowing experiences, and collaborative discussions designed to  strengthen the connection between education and workforce development.

The program is designed to:

  • Give teachers firsthand exposure to modern manufacturing processes and expectations.
  • Provide local businesses with a snapshot of the quality of education professionals hired by our local school district.
  • Assist teachers in developing a deeper understanding of our economic base, helping them establish new classroom modules and hands-on learning opportunities.
  • Strengthen partnerships between Chippewa Falls schools and local industry.

This pilot program got off to a fantastic start thanks to three outstanding local manufacturers, Alliance Plastics, Nordson EDI, and TTM Technologies, who opened their doors, helped support the program, and welcomed educators into their facilities for four days of immersive learning. Together, these companies represent more than 400 local employees and play an important role in Chippewa County’s manufacturing economy. By providing educators with firsthand exposure to their operations, workforce needs, and career opportunities, these employers helped bridge the gap between the classroom and the workplace. The experience equipped teachers with valuable insights they can bring back to their students, fostering greater awareness of local career pathways while helping strengthen the future workforce pipeline for our region.

  • Jason Bobb — High School Social Studies
  • Angie Southworth — Middle School Social Studies
  • Jill Thompson — Middle School Math

Real-World Lessons for the Classroom

The diversity of subjects represented by the participating teachers is a testament to just how broadly manufacturing literacy and workforce readiness can be woven into a student’s education. When teachers experience the workplace firsthand, students feel it in the classroom. The insights Jason, Angie, and Jill gained during their externships will translate into richer lessons, more relevant examples, and a clearer picture of what career opportunities exist right here in Chippewa County.

For Angie Southworth, one of the most valuable lessons was seeing the universal importance of employability skills and lifelong learning.

“My biggest takeaway is to let kids know, number one, the skills they’re going to need in whatever career they pursue — from the machine line to management — are communication, critical thinking, and problem-solving. The next big thing is that every single person I talked to had a varied career path and a unique story about how they got to where they are today. It was interesting to see how open people have to be to learning new things because their jobs have changed so much over time.

Even though I teach social studies, I have ideas for how I’m going to use manufacturing as a foundation for explaining why students need to learn what we cover in my class.”

— Angie Southworth, Middle School Social Studies Teacher

Her observations reinforce a message CEDC hears consistently from employers across industries: technical skills matter, but communication, adaptability, and problem-solving are often what separate good employees from great ones. Helping students understand those expectations early creates stronger career pathways and a more prepared future workforce.

Building Stronger Connections

Programs like TEP are exactly the kind of community-driven collaboration that CEDC exists to support. By giving educators direct exposure to local employers, the program helps ensure classroom learning remains connected to the realities of today’s workforce and tomorrow’s opportunities. Laura Bushendorf said “the goal of the externship program is not just for the present, it’s for 20 years down the road.”

We are incredibly grateful to Alliance Plastics, Nordson EDI, and TTM Technologies for their generosity, openness, and commitment to growing the next generation of skilled workers right here at home. A special thank-you goes to our own CEDC Board member, Laura Bushendorf, for her vision and dedication in bringing this program to life.

We are proud to help launch this initiative and look forward to watching it grow in the years ahead.

Interested in hosting a teacher through a future TEP cohort? Contact Chippewa Economic Development Corporation to learn more about how your business can get involved.