By Zach Spicer
JCIDC once again offered the Educator Externship to Jackson County school staff this summer.
The fourth and final session was July 1. In the morning, the group of eight educators visited Walmart Distribution Center in Seymour and learned about the Fleet Development program. In the afternoon, they toured Cummins Seymour Engine Plant in Seymour.
Walmart Distribution Center opened in Seymour in 1990, and the Fleet Development program started three years ago to hire and train truck drivers. Seymour is one of the company’s seven sites in the United States offering this program, which involves facilitators leading associates through the process of becoming a Walmart driver. Globally, Walmart has 16,000 drivers, including 279 based at the Seymour facility.
Cummins Seymour Engine Plant opened as a diesel engine maker in 1976 and today makes four engines: 19-liter, 30-liter, 95-liter and V903. These engines power rail, heavy machinery, military, marine and data centers. Cummins has more than 73,000 employees worldwide, including 1,142 in Seymour.
The first Educator Externship session was June 12 at Guardian Bikes and Pet Supplies Plus in Seymour. The second session was June 17 at Schneck Medical Center and Dicksons Inc. in Seymour. The third session was June 25 at AISIN USA Mfg. Inc. and SpaceGuard Products in Seymour.
Educators could choose one date or more than one. At the end, they are required to submit a report that includes what they learned and how they will use that information to benefit their students.
Overall, 20 educators from Jackson County participated this summer.
