As science and technologies continue to rapidly advance, EM’s Paducah Site is equipping educators in western Kentucky with tools to connect students, who represent the next-generation workforce, to applications that will inspire careers in the fields.
Office of Environmental Management
August 1, 2023
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PADUCAH, Ky. – As science and technologies continue to rapidly advance, U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management's (EM) Paducah Site is equipping educators in western Kentucky with tools to connect students, who represent the next-generation workforce, to applications that will inspire careers in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
This summer, the Paducah Site hosted 25 educators with the Educator Externship program to demonstrate how teachers can apply real-life work exercises to the subjects they teach in the classroom. The program addresses the challenges that teachers face when trying to make their lessons applicable to their students and provides tools to help them connect their students to future careers. The site’s subject matter experts led hands-on activities to help educators better understand EM’s mission at the Paducah Site and the many skills needed to perform the work being done.
Participants represented several positions within the school system, from classroom instructors to career counselors. McCracken County High School Administrator Angie Woods works closely with guidance counselors at the high school to connect a diverse group of students to viable career paths.
“I left with practical information to share with my students, and I loved it. It was geared toward all abilities and aspirations,” she said.
Four Rivers Nuclear Partnership, the deactivation and remediation contractor at the Paducah Site, and Swift & Staley, the site’s infrastructure contractor, provided funding for the event, which is coordinated through the Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce.
“Teachers need tools to prepare students to be future scientists, engineers and other key positions needed at the Paducah Site,” Portsmouth/Paducah Project Office Manager Joel Bradburne said. “DOE is able to help provide some of those resources through the Educator Externship program.”
Over the next several years, the Paducah Site will continue to focus attention on workforce development to ensure the site’s mission is achieved. In addition to the Educator Externship, EM and its contractors support a number of STEM initiatives in the community, including the DOE West Kentucky Regional Science Bowl, STEM for Girls, West Kentucky Launch Eighth Grade Career Fair and ECO-Think.
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