Westmoreland-Fayette Workforce Investment Board
Teacher In the Workplace
Teacher In the Workplace, or TIW, provides educators with exploration in in-demand local industries. TIW also provides local businesses with the opportunity to collaborate with public educators from K-12 institutions, career and technology centers, and post-secondary organizations. Combined, these efforts strengthen career readiness, pathway opportunities, and classroom instruction for students’ future success.
Questions, Concerns, Comments, or Suggestions? Email TIW@westfaywib.org!
Over
200
educators supported
At least
13,000
students impacted
More than
60
businesses involved
The Educator Connection
Learn more about the several benefits of being a TIW educator.
Why Participate?
Benefits as a TIW Educator:
- Earn Act 48 credits by attending all five days
- Join a supportive community
- Use new knowledge to support your district and refine curriculum
- Create new connections with local industry representatives
- Receive substitute teacher reimbursements
- And more
What will I do?
- Hear from business panels about needs and opportunities, tour businesses, job shadow, and collaborate with fellow participants
- Attend all five program days and complete reflection activities to receive Act 48 credits
- Collaborate with fellow educators and businesses
- Complete reflection activities and momentum project to develop an implementation plan
How to prepare?
- Complete the Educator Enrollment Form by September 24, 2025
- Mark program dates on calendar – most events will be 9:00 am to 3:00 pm
- Jot down questions you would like answered
- Build your school district team! Discuss the program with your colleagues and gather insight from previous educator participants
The Business Connection
Learn more about the several benefits of being a TIW business.
Why Participate?
- Raise awareness of your business and its needs
- Provide business tours, job shadowing opportunities, and collaborate with educators
- Impact classroom instruction to ensure relevancy and readiness
- Participation on business panels
- Build your business by providing employment opportunities to upcoming workforce
- And more
What will I do?
- Lead tours and/or job shadows of your organization, including various departments (main floor, HR, IT, administration, etc.)
- Share the organization’s background and employment ecosystem (entry-level positions, growth opportunities, education levels, training opportunities, salary ranges, etc.)
- Frame conversation for students and recent graduates: showcasing educational pathways, training resources, and crucial skills for success
- Discuss critical workforce needs, gaps, and shortages
- Provide a contact to serve as a business liaison
How to prepare?
- Complete the Company Interest Form by September 24, 2025
- Mark your interested program dates on the calendar
- Identify opportunities, challenges, and other information you would like to share with your local educators
- Build your company team! Discuss the program with your colleagues
Industries Explored
TIW specifically explores industries that are in-demand in the workforce area to ensure relevancy to local workforce needs.
Industries include:
- Business Services
- Healthcare
- Manufacturing
- Technology
- Trades
Program Model
TIW is built on a 5-day program model that takes place over several months during the school year to ensure educators and businesses have ample opportunities to collaborate and learn.
5-Day TIW Program Model:
- Day 1: Program Kickoff for educators and businesses
- Day 2: Business facility tours and group activities with Career and Technology Centers
- Day 3: Educator job shadowing at business facilities
- Day 4: Activity reflection and project building
- Day 5: Culminating event welcoming participating and previous TIW educators, businesses, and key partners from the local area to discuss further collaboration.
As a counselor, I am able to talk about options that exist for students to try out potential career path interests and work towards certifications that will benefit them in the future.
The teachers asked many questions throughout the day. Since we do have workers that are high school age through coop programs, they asked us for feedback on ideas to help students better prepare for real-world work experiences. We shared with them the importance of soft skills – communication, problem solving, organization, punctuality, work ethic, initiative, and leadership. As a result of this program, they have a better understanding of the automotive industry and the wide variety of career paths available.
The job shadow at Latrobe Hospital helped me add components of healthcare careers into my anatomy course. I was also able to set up job shadows and connections for those students.
What Teacher In the Workplace Looks Like:
See What Companies Are Doing:
Westmoreland-Fayette Workforce Investment Board
145 Pavilion Lane,
Youngwood, PA 15697
724.755.2145 | TTY: 724.925.3243
info@westfaywib.org
Westmoreland-Fayette Workforce Investment Board is an equal opportunity employer/program.
Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. For federal funding information, visit westfaywib.org/resources/.