Balfour Beatty Construction Hosts Houston Independent School District teacher externship week

DALLAS, July 28, 2014 /3BL Media/ - In partnership with Houston Independent School District (HISD), Balfour Beatty hosted five teachers for HISD’s teacher externship week. The week long externship is designed to connect classroom teachers with business professionals in order to make students’ learning experiences more relevant to the workplace. The goal of the program is to engage teachers with industry based practices in their field of study, thereby enhancing their ability to craft career-focused curriculum.

History, science, English, and social studies teachers shadowed Balfour Beatty estimators, project engineers, project managers, superintendents, and marketing and business development professionals. During the externship, the teachers visited jobsites, attended strategy meetings, and learned about a day in the life of a construction company.

A teacher speaking on behalf of the class stated, “The most surprising thing we learned this week is the wide range of careers available in the construction industry. Seeing the teams interact and work together to make great things happen drove home how important communication, equality, teamwork, and respect are during the day-to-day life of a construction professional. It is important that students understand how crucial these skills are.”

Steve Mechler, Balfour Beatty’s Houston division president, spent some time discussing the construction industry and what career opportunities are available. Steve Mechler praised the program stating, “Our teachers shape tomorrow’s leaders, ensuring that students are prepared for the future. It was an honor to host the week-long teacher externship. We enjoyed the opportunity to share information about the careers our industry offers.”

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An industry leader for more than 80 years, Balfour Beatty Construction Services US provides general contracting, at-risk construction management, and design-build services for a wide variety of markets, serving clients in both the public and private sector. With more than 3,000 employees across the U.S., the company has been cited as a Top 10 Domestic Building Contractor and Top 10 Green Builder by Engineering News-Record.  The company is part of London-based Balfour Beatty plc, a global infrastructure services business operating in more than 80 countries, with a worldwide commitment to providing assets that help societies function, develop, and thrive. To learn more about the company, visit www.balfourbeattyus.com or look for BalfourBeattyUS on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

Leslee Mallinson, Senior Director

Corporate Brand and Communications

p: (214) 451-1158
e: lmallinson@balfourbeattyus.com