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Southeast Texas Works Podcast! Valero Port Arthur Refinery, Local Educator Discuss Teacher Externship Experience
In the latest Southeast Texas Works podcast episode, we highlighted the Workforce Solutions Southeast Texas 2025 Teacher Externship
Program and Valero Port Arthur Refinery's role as one of 15 employer host sites.
This year, Workforce Solutions Southeast Texas, hosted the Teacher Externship program from June 2nd through June 6th, 2025, placing
70 middle and high school teachers from 14 school districts into job shadowing experiences across key industries such as petrochemical,
healthcare, manufacturing, maritime, and education. Throughout the week, teachers learned firsthand from industry professionals about
in-demand careers, then developed lesson plans and presentations to bring these insights back to their students. Seventy
teachers of the 148 applications participated and completed the program. Each teacher received a $1,000
stipend and $50 gas travel allowance. The week culminated with a group presentation day at Lamar Institute of Technology. Funding was
provided by the Texas Workforce Commission and Texas Mutual Insurance.
Guests for the podcast include:
- Carol Hebert, Refinery Public Affairs Manager at Valero, who shares why Valero supports the externship
program and highlights the immersive learning opportunities educators experienced on site—especially how the
refinery showcased a variety of skilled trades and technical roles vital to the local economy.
- Mary Ann Smith, Construction Technology teacher at Memorial High School (Port Arthur ISD), who offers
great insight into promoting skilled trades and industry careers—particularly emphasizing the importance and
potential for young women to pursue non-traditional roles in the petrochemical sector. Mary Ann discusses how
exposing teachers to these industries helps break down stereotypes and inspires students to consider rewarding
careers in construction, manufacturing, and energy fields.
Listen now at
setworks.org/podcasts or on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or Stitcher.
For teachers and businesses interested in participating in next year's Teacher Externship program, please reach out to
[email protected] to learn more.
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