Teachers Step into Industry to Reimagine the Classroom
By Emily Bentley, BB2C Education Engagement Specialist
This June, five educators from four schools - Washington Elementary School, Veritas Classical Academy, Warren Middle School, and Marietta High School - stepped out of their classrooms and into the heart of local industry through BB2C’s Summer 2025 Teacher Tours. This hands-on professional development experience gave teachers a rare opportunity to explore the workplaces shaping the future of Southeastern Ohio.
Over four days, teachers toured ten diverse sites: BB2C’s Epicenter & Makerspace, SYENSQO, SAI Tech, Washington State College of Ohio (WSCO), Thermo Fisher Scientific, Appalachian Ohio Manufacturers’ Coalition (AOMC), Power Systems Engineering (PSE), Marietta Memorial Hospital, Peoples Bank, and the Washington County Career Center (WCCC). Each visit offered a behind-the-scenes look at career pathways, workforce demands, and the real-world application of classroom learning. The week-long class culminated with teachers participating in BB2C’s quarterly Community and Business Advisory Council meeting and a chance to attend a Business After Hours event held at the BB2C Makerspace.
Reflecting on the week, one participating educator shared, “It was nice to see the area businesses and what they do. It brought more awareness to what the community has to offer.”
Guided by two central questions, “What are the most important skills students must have to be successful within this specific industry and why?” and “How should (and can) education change to be more relevant to students’ lives and future careers?”, teachers explored the intersection of education and employment. From manufacturing to healthcare, they identified essential skills including problem-solving, adaptability, communication, and technical literacy.
Throughout the week, teachers worked together to design classroom resources inspired by their visits, aimed at helping students understand career possibilities in the region and develop relevant skills. These teacher-created tools will soon be introduced into classrooms, providing students with a direct connection between what they learn in school and the opportunities available to them in their communities.
BB2C’s Teacher Tours professional development opportunity is a bridge between education and workforce development, one site visit, one conversation, and one inspired teacher at a time.
For more information about how BB2C can help bring educators and industry leaders together, contact BB2C Education and Engagement Specialist Emily Bently at ebentley@bb2careers.org.