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Alamo STEM Summer Externships for Educators (IDRA)

Provided By
Intercultural Development Research Association
A group of participants stand in a lab

Alamo STEM Summer Externships for Educators provides industry-based externships for K-12 teachers. During this experience, a cohort of teachers receives training to lead activities in their school communities that promote awareness of DoW STEM resources, workforce development skills, and interdisciplinary STEM connections. Teachers also participate in field-based experiences and conduct research on STEM-related projects during their industry placements.

Logic Model

Program Activities

Educators

  • Engage in industry or faculty-guided research field experiences that they can take back to their classroom​ 
  • Connect with local DoW and industry partners to help advance their school programs​ 
  • Reflect on and consider how they will use the content in their lesson plans​

Program Near-Term Outcomes

Educators

  • Increase awareness of DoW STEM careers​ 
  • Gain an understanding of STEM career pathways​ 
  • Increase their ability to connect STEM learning in their classrooms to STEM careers​

DSEC Near-Term Outcomes

Educators

  • Increased participant awareness of, and interest in, DoW STEM research and careers​ 
  • Changes in teacher approaches to teaching about STEM concepts, practices, and careers in their classrooms
Participant Perspectives

Participant perspectives reflect survey responses from 2025-2026, the first year of survey administration.

Of 10 educator participants, 7 responded to the survey.

Educators

  • Disagree
  • Slightly Agree
  • Moderately Agree
  • Strongly Agree
The Alamo STEM Summer Externship improved my knowledge of how 21st century skills are used by professionals in local industry.
n = 7 valid responses
The Alamo STEM Summer Externship improved my ability to support students in learning STEM industry-related skills and/or research techniques.
n = 7 valid responses
The Alamo STEM Summer Externship improved my confidence for sharing information about DoW STEM resources and careers to my broader school community.
n = 7 valid responses
Program Data

Program data includes participants from both years of Base Period (2024-2025 and 2025-2026). 

Educators

20 total educator participants

Educator Type

Category Count %
Teacher 10 50%
No position listed 10 50%

Educator Grade Levels

Military-Connected Educators

Other programs from Partner
Alamo STEM Youth Summit (IDRA)