Empowering Educators Through the Know Your Power Program
BY: NEW ORLEANS EDITORIAL TEAM
In the summer of 2023, Entergy New Orleans launched the Know Your Power pilot program, in collaboration with YouthForce NOLA. The innovative internship program exposes high school students to a variety of career paths within the energy sector. This year, the program has been expanded to include a high school teacher externship component through our partnership with Junior Achievement of Greater New Orleans (JAGNO).
“The purpose of the Know Your Power program is for students to understand their strengths and interests and how these align with careers at Entergy,” said Sumesh Arora, Entergy New Orleans’ Program Manager, Diversity & Workforce Strategies. “By expanding the program, teachers are able to shadow employees across various departments and learn about career opportunities in the power industry, enabling them to better educate their students about these possibilities.”
The program brought five experienced teachers from Orleans Parish schools into our facilities for a two-day job-shadowing experience. These educators had the opportunity to dive into the intricacies of our operations, gain an understanding of the diversity of careers available in our industry, and witness the dynamic work environment cultivated at Entergy New Orleans.
“Putting teachers into a shadowing experience is extremely important,” said Lauren Stendahl, the Director of Partnerships and Impact at JAGNO. “Through the Know Your Power Program, teachers have the ability to impact hundreds of students by exposing them to high-wage, high-demand career opportunities."
The feedback from the teachers was overwhelmingly positive. They expressed appreciation for the experience and gained valuable insights to pass along to their students. Their enthusiasm underscores the success of the program and its impact on our local educational community.
“Teachers are the conduits that link students to educational experiences and professional opportunities. Through this externship program, I am able to increase my knowledge of utility operations and introduce my students to new and exciting professions in the energy sector,” said Corchenelle Jones, extern and teacher with Inspire NOLA Charter Schools.
Looking ahead, we are excited to welcome six high school students in late June 2024 to our summer internship program. These internships are designed not only to educate students about career opportunities in the energy sector, but also to help us develop a local and diverse talent pipeline.
We are incredibly grateful for the support and collaboration of our partners, Junior Achievement of Greater New Orleans and YouthForce NOLA, and for our dedicated team who made this program possible. Together, we are making strides in empowering the next generation of leaders and innovators in our community.
