I teach a curriculum called Integrated Systems Technology which is part of the IST Academy of Engineering at Jack Britt High School.  The goal of the program is to prepare students to go into an engineering or a technological field with hands on and knowledge based skills in the areas of hydraulics, pneumatics, computer numeric control, automated materials handling (robotics), Mecatronics, AC/DC, programmable control logic, and logic control.  I have recently added Arduinos and a solar power station to the mix and still have much to learn.  I plan to incorporate basic laser technology into my program with the assistance of the Kenan Fellows program this year.  I cannot forget the soft skills that include teamwork and presentation which also play such a large part of of life and work.  I have gotten off the task of answering the question talking about the program as many reflective teachers do. My externship has allowed me to see all of these areas used in the “real” environment and will allow me to have an awesome contact in an area that meshes totally with my program.   I am so looking forward to taking what I have learned back into my classroom.  One thing, as an educator of many years, I have to say.  So often, in education  we work in a reactive manner according to what society dictates.  As a Kenan Fellow at Mertek Solutions, I have the opportunity to see what my students will need to know when as they graduate

high school and go further in their education.  They will need to be prepared for 8 years from todaynnot the last 5 years. This opportunity makes me a proactive teacher by using what I have learned and implementing it in my classroom; it has also provided me with validation that the skills I introduce in my classroom/lab are what my students need.