This summer, the Fort Meade Alliance’s Teacher Externship Program brought 10 educators inside FMA member companies to gain firsthand exposure to Maryland’s defense and technology sectors.
Marriotts Ridge High School teacher Kristen Reier, right, attends an event during her externship with CACI.
The cohort included six teachers from Anne Arundel County Public Schools and four from Howard County Public School System. Teachers were matched with FMA member companies ADG Creative, AT&T, CACI, IntelliGenesis, Lockheed Martin, MasterPeace Solutions, Peraton, and Praxis Engineering for placements that would deepen their understanding of the career pathways available to students.
The program, funded by Anne Arundel Workforce Development Corp, the Anne Arundel County Video Lottery Development Fund, and the FMA Foundation, was created to connect K–12 instruction more directly with workforce needs by giving educators a better understanding of the industries operating in the region.
During their externships, teachers spoke with employees across departments and examined how academic content is used in real-world settings. Many teachers said they returned to the classroom with new tools to help guide students through college and career planning.
The experience also gave teachers a clearer picture of the skills and habits students will need as they enter the workforce, from collaborative workflows to certification paths and soft skills.
Kimberly Menk of Oakland Mills Middle School, left, during her externship with IntelliGenesis.
“By participating in different work environments, teachers expand their knowledge and show students that growth and development extend beyond traditional studies,” said April Saffran of Praxis Engineering, who hosted Crofton High School Signature Program Facilitator Steven Bernstein this summer.
Several teachers and companies have already begun planning ways to continue their partnership throughout the school year through classroom visits, guest speaking opportunities, and future collaboration on student-facing programming.
The externship program is one of several Fort Meade Alliance initiatives focused on connecting industry to education to strengthen the talent pipeline and expand access to high-quality career exposure for Maryland students.
The 2025 Summer Externs included:
ADG Creative: Johanna McGuire, Meade High School
AT&T: Dondra Davenport, Marriotts Ridge High School – Processed
AT&T: Henry Toman, Meade High School
CACI: Kristen Reier, Marriotts Ridge High School
IntelliGenesis: Kimberly Menk, Oakland Mills Middle School
Lockheed Martin: Samantha Hong, North County High School
MasterPeace: Kyli Carballo, North County High School
MasterPeace: Kimberley Leahey, Meade High School
Peraton: Katherine Pierce, Oakland Mills High School
Praxis Engineering: Steven Bernstein, Crofton High School
