The Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce’s annual Educator Externship Program concluded earlier this month, continuing its mission to strengthen the connection between local schools and the region’s workforce. Designed to inform educators about career opportunities in the region, the program equips teachers and administrators with the insights they need to guide students toward meaningful, locally available career paths.

This year’s program engaged elementary and high school educators from McCracken, Lyon, Ballard, Livingston, and Marshall counties. Participants took part in four themed externship days, each highlighting a key regional industry and the career opportunities they offer.

The 2025 program kicked off on June 10th with a tour of the Paducah Department of Energy (DOE) site. Educators heard from industry leaders representing Four Rivers Nuclear Partnership, Swift & Staley, Inc., Mid-America Conversion Services, and Enterprise Technical Assistance Services (ETAS). Participants also engaged in hands-on learning activities spotlighting career paths in Information Technology, Technical Writing and Editing, Radiological Technology, Pro-Force Security, and Applied STEM fields.

On June 25th, River Day introduced educators to career opportunities in the maritime industry. At Ingram Barge Company, participants toured a working towboat, observed new hire orientation, and learned about the company’s history. Deb Calhoun, Senior Vice President of the Waterways Council, Inc., provided a broader industry overview. Julie Harris, Executive Director of The River Discovery Center, discussed the museum’s educational outreach, and educators toured the West Kentucky Community and Technical College (WKCTC) Marine Way Training Center to explore maritime programs and certificates.

Health Care Day gave educators a comprehensive look at one of the region’s largest employment sectors. Christy Petitt, Dean of Nursing and Allied Health at WKCTC, opened the day with an overview of healthcare education pathways. Participants then toured both Mercy Health and Baptist Health, hearing from a range of healthcare professionals. Both hospital presidents, Michael Yungmann of Mercy Health Paducah and Kenny Boyd of Baptist Health Paducah, as well as members of their staff, shared their insights on workforce needs and opportunities in the field.

The final session, Engineering Day, focused on both academic and professional opportunities in West Kentucky. Educators started the day hearing from Dr. Charles Lu, Director of the Paducah Campus of UK College of Engineering. They also toured the campus, hearing from current students. Educators also heard from Dr. Jamie Rogers, Director of the Murray State University Engineering and Physics

Department. Speakers from both universities emphasized the endless academic opportunities available in West Kentucky. The day also featured presentations from professionals at GEO Consultants Corporation, offering real-world perspectives on careers in engineering and environmental consulting.

Frank Bennett, facilitator of the Educator Externship Program, emphasized its long-term impact, “Building West Kentucky’s future workforce begins with educating our current students on the exciting career opportunities that exist right here at home. Programs like Educator Externship help keep talent in the region and strengthen our workforce for years to come.”

Dates for the 2026 Educator Externship will be published in May.