High School Teachers Complete Virtual Externship at CareSource

(DAYTON, Ohio – September 9, 2020) – CareSource, a leading multi-state managed care plan, announced announce the completion of the first virtual externship for high school teachers. The externship was created in partnership with Montgomery County Educational Service Center’s Learn to Earn program and the Southwestern Ohio Council for Higher Education’s Miami Valley Intern Academy.

“This externship serves as a prequel to a larger program we’re launching at CareSource,” said Devon Valencia, CIO, CareSource. “Our goal is to create a high school or trade school internship program that serves as a talent pipeline right in Dayton so we can continue to elevate our innovative work for our members.”

The week-long externship program was a first for CareSource and offered two local high school teachers a glimpse into Software Quality, Cyber Security, Infrastructure & Operations as well as Client Systems.

“The externship was a wonderful insight into a complex IT group including standards, strategies and methodologies in use at CareSource,” said participant Laura Campbell. “The connection with industry was a great opportunity to see where our students are headed, and how we can in the classroom better prepare them for success in the real world. It also was a great chance to build partnerships with industry professionals that were eager to share their skills with our students.”

The teachers gained hands-on experience in understanding how the skills they teach are applied at CareSource. Laura Campbell teaches 8th graders about web design and other IT fundamentals at the Dayton Regional STEM School. James Miller teaches a two-year intensive technical program, which offers a seamless transition from high school to a bachelor’s degree at the university level.