Front row, left to right: Alka Sharma, Courtney Ward, Coleen Shaw, Melinda Arensdorf. Second row, left to right: Ashley Houston, Lindey Peterson, Guy Olson, Erica Jensen, Kati McQueen.

Educators from around Rock County gathered at Blackhawk Technical College on Friday to conclude their experience in the Rock Externship Program. c

This year, 12 participants came from Beloit Turner High School, Beloit Memorial High School, The Lincoln Academy, Janesville Craig High School, Rock River Charter School and the Beloit Learning Academy. The externs were placed at companies including Corporate Contractors Inc. (CCI), JP Cullen, Rock County Public Health, Seneca Foods Corporation and Shine Technologies.

A group of externs also rotated through four different worksites, which included Fairbanks Morse, Kerry Ingredients, Morse Group, and Stainless Tank & Equipment.

The workshop at Blackhawk provided educators an opportunity to share their experiences and collaborate on integrating their new knowledge into their teaching. They gathered at Blackhawk’s Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning for a day focused on teamwork and curriculum development.

Now in its fourth year, the Rock Externship Program is supported by Blackhawk Technical College and Rock County 5.0.

Participants:

• Monica Hoffman, Beloit Turner—JP Cullen
• Kati McQueen, Beloit Memorial—Shine
• Brian Michels, Beloit Memorial—Seneca
• Leeanna Schultz, The Lincoln Academy—CCI
• Alka Sharma, Beloit Memorial—Rock County Public Health

Rotation participants:

• Melinda Arensdorf, Beloit Memorial
• Ashley Houston, Beloit Learning Academy
• Erica Jensen, Janesville Craig
• Guy Olson, Beloit Memorial
• Lindey Peterson, Rock River Charter School
• Coleen Shaw, Rock River Charter School
• Courtney Ward, Beloit Turner