The Alabama STEM Council is proud to announce the 2025 STEM Teacher Externship Program (STEP). STEP is a unique professional development initiative that places educators inside Alabama’s top industries to experience firsthand how STEM principles power today’s economy.
This summer, STEM and Career Technical Education (CTE) teachers from across the state will trade the classroom for the conference room, the assembly line, and the innovation lab. In doing so, they’ll gain a deeper understanding of how their lessons connect to real-world careers and return to their students with fresh insight, energy, and relevance.
“When teachers step into the world of industry, they return to their classrooms with more than just knowledge. They bring context, relevance, and inspiration,” said Lawrence Cooper, Program Coordinator for the Alabama STEM Council. “This program transforms educators into storytellers who can connect equations to engineering, chemistry to clean energy, and coding to careers. It’s not just professional development. It’s also a catalyst for changing how students see their future in Alabama’s STEM landscape.”
About the Program
The STEM Teacher Externship Program is open to high school teachers who instruct in STEM or CTE subject areas. Participating educators are placed at businesses and organizations that lead in manufacturing, technology, health science, energy, and more. During their externships, teachers will:
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Witness the real-world application of STEM concepts in action
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Build relationships with industry professionals and potential partners
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Gain new ideas to connect academic standards to workforce needs
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Share Alabama-based STEM career pathways with their students
Each externship includes site tours, job-shadowing, hands-on activities, and collaborative conversations with teams ranging from engineers to human resources professionals. These experiences help educators better understand the technical and soft skills needed to succeed in today’s workplace and how to translate those expectations into classroom instruction.
Be a Part of Alabama’s STEM Future
The Alabama STEM Council is actively seeking additional industry partners to join the 2026 cohort of worksite hosts. By opening your doors to an educator, you open the door to a new generation of talent and help ensure Alabama’s workforce stays strong, skilled, and STEM-ready.
Interested organizations can reach out to externships@alabamastemcouncil.org to learn more.
