Extern program focuses on manufacturing

This summer, she’ll be the student, getting some hands-on training in manufacturing as an extern at Edmonds Dental Prosthetics.

Dowdy is one of nine externs this summer for Springfield Public Schools, and the district is sending her to work for a Springfield manufacturer so that she’ll be better prepared to help students tap into work-force opportunities.

While externships aren’t new to the district, this year is the first that all nine participants are devoting their time to the manufacturing sector. SPS has offered an extern program for its teachers for more than 10 years.

Marc Maness, SPS director of community development, said the decision to focus on manufacturing came after discussion with the Southwest Area Manufacturers Association and other industry leaders.

“We had overwhelming input that our stakeholders would like to see more awareness of the jobs that are available in the Springfield market, and that they are good-paying jobs with benefits,” Maness said.

SAMA Executive Director Rita Needham said she has been aware of the district’s extern program for many years; she previously worked for the school district and has employed externs through SAMA since taking over as executive director in November 2001.

“It happens during the summer, which is really timely, and we could get some broad representation among the various high schools,” Needham said.

Through the program, district employees commit 90 hours to the externship (see box); the district pays them $17 an hour for their work, and participating companies agree to give externs access to all the workings of their business.

Necessary skills

In addition to the focus on manufacturing, this year’s program also marks the first time that the externships are geared toward counselors, vocational teachers and coordinators of the district’s A+ program, which provides incentives for schools to reduce dropout rates and work with community business leaders to meet work-force needs.

“We thought it would be a good approach to have those counselors out and about in the field, so they have firsthand experience on what’s available and can share those experiences with students who might be deciding to go in that direction,” Maness said.

Counselor Dowdy is looking forward to using what she learns this summer, participating in every aspect of the manufacturing process from initial design to final product.

“We do a lot of career education for our students, and I didn’t know a lot about the manufacturing industry, what the job opportunities are, the requirements and what employees are looking for,” she said. “I hope to gain information about, A, what is a career in manufacturing, and B, how they can prepare for that in high school?”

Preparing young workers adequately for manufacturing jobs involves teaching students a set of key abilities, according to Gary Fender, director of safety and compliance for participating company SMC Packaging Group.

“They need to have math skills, and they need to be good communicators and be able to listen as well as convey their thoughts,” Fender said. “But above all, the folks need to be trainable.”

Needham added problem solving and computers skills to that list, a sentiment echoed by Edmonds Dental Technical Supervisor Steve Edmonds.

“Any type of computer skills would be to their advantage – the technology is moving that direction,” Edmonds said. “We’re designing units on the computer. Doctors are starting to do digital impressions, where they send the information directly to us by Internet, and we scan and design and mill the piece here.”

Setting the record straight

Aside from spreading the word about the opportunities in manufacturing, local manufacturers also hope to use the extern program to remedy some preconceived misconceptions about their businesses.

“There are certainly misperceptions about our industry – prevailing myths that manufacturing is dark, dirty, dangerous and disappearing,” Needham said. “We feel we can dispel those myths and show that manufacturing is high-tech, updated, highly automated and filled with well-paying positions.”

To get a full understanding of what it means to work in manufacturing, Dowdy plans to communicate beyond production lines.

“I want to talk to all the other people it takes to run that kind of business – the accountants, the salespeople, the drivers, and the trainers,” she said. “I want to talk to human resources about the different job titles, how much money they make, what kind of training is needed, and I hope to be able to tell my students … what kind of skills they need.”

Edmonds said an underlying problem for manufacturers is simply a lack of information for high school students.

“There has been a stigma attached to manufacturing, that it’s not a secure job,” he said. “What we teach here is a professional skill that you can take anywhere in the country and get a job. Instead of going down and getting a job at the local fast-food place, there is an alternative.”

The Extern Program

Springfield Public Schools faculty externs commit 90 hours to the program – 54 hours at the worksite, 20 hours of curriculum development and preparation for program presentations, and 16 hours of facility tours and luncheon presentations on July 21–22.

Faculty interested in participating submitted their application; once chosen, they received the list of participating companies and noted their preferred choices, which were used to match faculty with a participating business. This year’s participating companies are:

• C&R Metalworks & Manufacturing

• Custom Powder Systems

• Edmonds Dental Prosthetics Inc.

• Paul Mueller Co.

• Polyfab Plastics & Supply Co.

• Positronic Industries Inc.

• ReGen Technologies LLC

• SMC Packaging Group and

• Tuthill Vacuum & Blower Systems.

Once matched, externs work with their chosen companies to coordinate work schedules.

The district pays externs $17 per hour. Externs are required to create presentations featuring manufacturing careers to share with students during the 2008–09 school year.

Source: Springfield Public Schools[[In-content Ad]]