LIFT2 offers business leaders an opportunity to engage local K-12 schools by sponsoring one or more science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) teachers in the year-long LIFT2 program.
Company sponsorship includes...
- Financial support for one or more teachers' participation in LIFT2
- Summer externship work assignment at the company, the cornerstone experience of the program
Externships for teaching professionals are similar to internships for college students. Like college interns, teachers are expected to work on authentic projects that provide measurable benefit to the sponsor organization while offering a valuable learning opportunity for the teacher.
Teachers bring maturity, education, and experience to the externship.
They are practicing professionals who have completed, at minimum, a bachelor's degree and often hold one or more graduate degrees. Some teachers also have prior work experience in industry.
Externships range from 5–8 weeks beginning at the end of June and continuing through mid-August.
Company mentors
Companies assign a mentor to plan the work assignment and guide the teacher. Past mentors report their involvement required less than 10% of their time, an investment that is generally recovered through the teacher's contribution to the project.
Prospective mentors have the opportunity to consider up to three qualified teacher candidates who are pre-screened on the basis of education and experience requirements.
Sponsorship fee schedule
The sponsorship fee has two components:
 Weekly stipend paid to the teacher at the rate of $800/week |
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| Fixed fee of $4,000 to support the program of graduate coursework |
The company sponsorship fee is paid directly to the LIFT2 program. The LIFT2 program or the company may pay the weekly stipend to the teachers. The organization paying the teacher secures Workers Compensation insurance, and provides Federal and State tax reporting (1099's). Teachers receive medical and other benefits coverage through their school district contract.
Timetable
November—March
Teachers may apply to participate in the LIFT2 program from November through March. In order to be accepted for enrollment into the program, they must secure an externship. Companies that sponsor these teachers are asked to confirm their commitment to the placement opportunity by the end of March.
Recruitment of company sponsors for externships begins in November and continues into March. Companies interested in participating in LIFT2 should complete and submit the Company Externship Request form( see below) as early in the process as possible.
LIFT2 provides three qualified teacher applicants for each company to select the candidate who best meets their requirements. Because many well-qualified teachers begin making plans 5-6 months prior to summer recess, companies that submit Externship Request forms early in the year have the broadest pool of well-qualified teacher applicants from which to choose.
More Information
Download Forms: LIFT2 Teacher Application Computer Skills Inventory
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Download Forms:
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