Strengthening Classrooms Through Industry Partnerships

The Fort Meade Alliance Foundation is transforming the way local educators prepare students for careers in cybersecurity and technology.

Through the Fort Meade Alliance’s Teacher Externship Initiative, teachers from Anne Arundel and Howard County Public Schools gain real-world experience at some of the region’s most innovative companies. In turn, these companies benefit from the fresh perspectives and unique skills the educators bring. This mutually beneficial program allows both teachers and industry leaders to collaborate in developing the next generation of tech talent.

To expand this initiative, the FMA Foundation has committed to raising $75,000 this year to fund 10 teacher externships with 10 host companies. To date, $15,000 has been secured.

Last year, six teachers were placed with six FMA member companies — BlueHalo, Boeing Intelligence & Analytics, Booz Allen Hamilton, IntelliGenesis, MasterPeace Solutions and Praxis Engineering. The educators gained hands-on experience, shadowed experts, and worked on projects that enhanced their understanding of technology and cybersecurity operations. They returned to their classrooms with new insights and practical knowledge, helping students connect academic concepts to real-world applications.

One teacher collaborated with BlueHalo to develop a curriculum on social media disinformation, enhancing student awareness of online safety and critical thinking. Another teacher at IntelliGenesis honed technical skills in Python and cybersecurity frameworks while contributing to a training system. At MasterPeace Technologies, a teacher played a vital role in building internal tools, training programs, and network infrastructure. These experiences have equipped educators with valuable resources to better prepare their students for careers in STEM fields.

Companies benefited from the educators’ contributions, gaining innovative perspectives on workforce training, process improvements, and community engagement.

“These externships are vital to the long-term growth of our region,” said Doreen Harwood, FMA Education and Workforce Chair. “By providing teachers with firsthand industry experience, we’re ensuring that students are better prepared for the demands of a highly skilled cyber and tech workforce. It’s an investment in our community’s future prosperity.”

The externships are part of FMA’s broader effort to address the top challenges in cybersecurity workforce development. By aligning K-12 education with industry needs, the FMA helps bridge the gap between academic learning and critical cyber skills.

The program also serves to implement the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, an initiative designed to transform the state’s public education into a world-class education system by enriching student experiences and accelerate student outcomes.