Show Notes
What if the teacher preparing your future workforce had never actually worked in your industry?
Host Samantha Ruiz-Gross, career and education specialist with Workforce Solutions Capital Area, welcomes Elaine Diaz to discuss her unique perspective on bridging industry and education. With 20 years as a licensed electrician and six years teaching electrical and construction principles at Austin ISD and Austin Community College, Elaine brings authentic workforce experience into the classroom. She emphasizes how the Teacher Externship Program helps educators understand real-world career pathways, employer expectations, and opportunities beyond traditional skilled trades roles.
The conversation explores Elaine's journey from unemployment to becoming a skilled electrician through an apprenticeship program, her experience as a woman in male-dominated construction trades, and her transition into education. Key topics include how her Teacher Externships at Workforce Solutions Capital Area and AECOM provided critical insights about wraparound services, career navigation resources, and various employment pathways within local companies. Elaine discusses teaching employability skills like punctuality, problem-solving, teamwork, and reliability while helping students understand that construction offers diverse roles from crane operators to human resources professionals.
Elaine Diaz has 20 years of experience as an electrician, and now brings hands-on industry knowledge into the classroom. She has spent the past six years teaching electrical and construction principles at Austin ISD and Austin Community College. Elaine's career began through an IEC apprenticeship program after finding an advertisement encouraging women and minorities to apply. Her unique perspective as both a skilled trades professional and educator allows her to authentically prepare students for real-world career opportunities while emphasizing the importance of employability skills and understanding the full range of pathways available within the construction industry.
In This Episode:
- (00:00) Why externships create a win-win for students and employers
- (02:47) How a newspaper ad changed everything and launched an electrical career
- (13:51) What teachers learn from externships that transforms their classroom approach
- (18:10) Beyond the hard hat: discovering hidden career pathways in construction companies
- (22:36) What employers should prepare to maximize teacher externship impact
- (23:41) Teaching the employability skills that employers actually need from graduates
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About the show:
Austin Hires Local, powered by Workforce Solutions Capital Area, dives deep with the trailblazers who are shaping the future of jobs in our city, our state, and even nationally. We pull back the curtain on the challenges we all face – the anxieties, the roadblocks, and what's holding us back from filling those critical open positions. But hey, it's not all doom and gloom. We also celebrate the victories: the ingenious solutions, the unexpected collaborations, and the best practices that are making us all sharper. You’ll hear guests from all sides of the table – elected officials with a finger on the pulse of the economy, industry leaders from booming sectors like tech, healthcare, and skilled trades, and educators shaping young minds in our schools and post-secondary education programs. So, tune in and get ready to be informed, inspired, and maybe even surprised by the future of work in Austin.
Resources:
Teacher Externship Registration for Employers https://www.climbtheladderctx.com/employers
Teacher Externship Registration for Educators https://www.climbtheladderctx.com/educators
WFS Workforce Solutions Capital Area: https://wfscapitalarea.com
Thank you to our sponsor: Texas Mutual
About Workforce Solutions Capital Area: Workforce Solutions is the state-designated authority for the data-driven planning, oversight, and evaluation of workforce development activities in Austin-Travis County. They connect local people to the most in-demand industries with quality jobs. These specialized services are provided at no cost - including career training, apprenticeship programs, scholarships, job search assistance, child care assistance, tailored business solutions and more.
