Recently, Ms. Jacquelyn Jackson, Executive Director of Tucson Values Teachers (TVT), joined the Summer Workation team as an advisory member. Not only do we wish to welcome her and thank her for the years of experience that she brings to Summer Workation, but we also want to take this opportunity to direct attention to the valuable resources that she and her team at Tucson Values Teachers work so hard to make available to educators in the southern Arizona region.

Tucson Values Teachers is a regional initiative that emphasizes the crucial role that teachers play and the profound impact that they have in our communities. One particular resource that they offer is a unique industry internship program that provides teachers with an opportunity to earn a graduate degree while simultaneously experiencing first-hand the technical side of various industries in engineering.

TVT, in partnership with the University of Arizona Department of Education, created an innovative masters program for K-12 STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) educators that also includes a high-profile industry internship. During three consecutive summers, teachers who participate in the program work alongside scientists, mathematicians and engineers for four days each week at one of the area’s leading industries. Prominent corporations such as Raytheon, BioVigilant, Texas Instruments, Sundt and General Plasma have agreed to provide the teachers with paid summer internships in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The four-day work schedule is designed to allow time on Fridays for teachers to take courses that count towards their master’s degree.

Like Summer Workation, Tucson Values Teachers recognizes the importance of providing educators with summer opportunities that stimulate, challenge and engage them on a higher level. Summer Workation would like to thank the TVT team for their efforts and for working in conjunction with the University of Arizona Department of Education to create such a wonderful industry internship program.

To learn more about Tucson Values Teachers and their industry internship program, visit their website, www.tucsonvaluesteachers.org.