Natasha Alston, STEM Magnet Coordinator at North County High School, presents during her externship at Peraton.
Developing cybersecurity tools, researching artificial intelligence and evaluating contract management software were among the projects 12 educators took on this summer through the Fort Meade Alliance’s Teacher Externship Program.
The program connects educators from Anne Arundel and Howard County Public Schools with local employers, giving them firsthand exposure to the technologies, workplace practices, and career paths shaping the region’s workforce. Working alongside industry professionals, teachers explore skills and career opportunities they can introduce to students while also sharing their teaching expertise with companies.
This year’s participating companies were AT&T, AV, Boeing Intelligence & Analytics, CACI, IntelliGenesis, Lockheed Martin, MasterPeace Solutions, Peraton, Praxis Engineering, Rohde & Schwarz and Vetegrity.
This summer’s projects offered several direct applications for teaching.
One extern helped develop a tool students could use to monitor network traffic for cybersecurity and explored resources for teaching coding. Another researched cybersecurity certification requirements and audit processes while helping create an employee cybersecurity training program. At MasterPeace Solutions, an educator contributed to recruitment materials, the company website and an internal SharePoint site, building confidence with Canva and Excel along the way.
“This experience gave me a valuable opportunity to see how the skills I emphasize in my classroom—communication, collaboration, problem solving, technology, creativity, and adaptability—are applied in a professional workplace,” said Grace Prince-Torain, a science teacher at Glen Burnie High School who participated in an externship at MasterPeace Solutions this summer. “I was able to make meaningful connections between the work I observed at MasterPeace and the skills I want my students to develop as they prepare for college and future careers.”
The Rohde & Schwarz team with Howard County Applications and Research Laboratory Aerospace Engineering Teacher Daleth Sendin.
In addition to Prince-Torain, MasterPeace Solutions also hosted Matthew Braddock, a math teacher at Guilford Park High School.
“The FMA Externship program is a great reminder of how much we can learn from each other,” said Kim Stanbro of MasterPeace Solutions. “Grace and Matt gave us a glimpse into what today’s STEM high school students are looking for, and how we can prepare our company and our industry for the next generation of engineers. We ended the summer inspired and encouraged that Grace and Matt are guiding the young people who will become our future workforce.”
For Steve Bernstein, Signature Site Coordinator at Crofton High School, an externship at Lockheed Martin included more than 30 meetings and experiences with employees across the company’s business areas, functions and programs. Those conversations reinforced the importance of skills he already emphasizes with students.
“It was very validating to hear how much is emphasized on soft skill development, such as communication, work ethic, and passion,” Bernstein said.
Crofton High School Signature Site Coordinator Steve Bernstein with Lindsey Owens of Lockheed Martin at the Fort Meade Alliance’s NSA Business in a Minute event.
Lindsey Owens of Lockheed Martin said the company tailored Bernstein’s experience to help him prepare students for the workplace, emphasizing flexibility, effort and collaboration.
“A big theme throughout this summer was that no career is one size fits all, and career trajectory can take many different forms and turns,” Owens said.
The exchange also gave Lockheed Martin an opportunity to learn from Bernstein’s experience working with students. During his externship, he shared feedback with organizers of the company’s CodeQuest and CyberQuest competitions, contributing an educator’s perspective on events that introduce students to technical challenges and careers.
“Steve was a wonderful extern and came to every discussion with an open mind and asked such thoughtful questions that truly made the experience better than expected,” Owens said.
Both hope to build on those connections. Bernstein plans to draw on his new contacts for guest speakers and community partnerships. Owens said Lockheed Martin is exploring ways to continue its partnership with him through internship access, sponsorship opportunities and continued participation in CodeQuest and CyberQuest.
As educators return to school, they bring firsthand industry experience and connections that can inform classroom instruction, career guidance and new opportunities for students. The program also gives participating companies a direct role in supporting local schools and preparing the region’s future workforce.
