The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce and its workforce development division, Skills in Scranton, recently concluded its 2024–25 Educator in the Workplace program, providing participating educators with valuable, hands-on experiences at local businesses to help bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world careers.

This year’s Educator in the Workplace program was made possible through a grant from the Scranton Area Community Foundation’s Robert H. Spitz Foundation, along with generous sponsorships from Pennsylvania American Water and Cardinal LG. The program placed educators into dynamic workplace environments across key industries, including manufacturing, healthcare, logistics, and business services. Through immersive site visits, panel discussions, and professional development sessions, educators explored high-priority occupations in Northeastern Pennsylvania, gained a deeper understanding of evolving workforce needs, and learned about the career readiness skills that today’s employers value.

Educators gained insights into topics such as:

• Business and economic development resources available to students and educators
• Regional high-priority occupations and workforce trends in Northeastern Pennsylvania
• Career pathway development and how to align classroom instruction with workforce needs

“Educator in the Workplace is about building meaningful connections between our schools and local industries. By immersing educators in real-world work environments, we help bridge the gap between classroom learning and career readiness. The insights gained through this program empower educators to better prepare their students for the opportunities that exist right here in northeastern Pennsylvania, said Emily Pettinato, workforce development specialist, The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce.

Participants left the program energized and equipped with strategies to help students better understand career opportunities available across northeastern Pennsylvania—and the skills they’ll need to pursue them.

“Participating in the Educator in the Workplace program opened doors I never imagined for my students,” shared Sherri Ransom, transition coordinator at Mountain View High School. “Because of the partnerships we built, three of our students were hired by Simplex Industries for internships, and three more were accepted into a career-building program with Geisinger. This experience has been transformative—not just for me as an educator, but for the future of our students.”

The 2024–25 Educator in the Workplace cohort included the following participants:

• Bonnie Baker, Career Technology Center of Lackawanna County
• Lisa Bath, Abington Heights School District
• Gena Bensinger, Northeast Intermediate Unit 19
• William Buza, Mid Valley School District
• Amy Capman, Mid Valley School District
• Jessica Capwell, Northeast Intermediate Unit 19
• Brian Carey, Scranton School District
• Tara Carey, Scranton School District
• Mary Kate Culkin, Scranton School District
• Arianne DelSordo, Old Forge School District
• Terri Erdmann, Forest City Regional School District
• William Freeman, Lakeland School District
• Andrea Gross, Scranton School District
• Jennifer Herman, Scranton School District
• Maria Hurst, Scranton School District
• Jessica Judge, Scranton School District
• Jane Kabuiku, SCI Waymart
• Christine Kallinger-Allen, Abington Heights School District
• Stephanie Klinkel, Scranton School District
• Samantha Krenitsky, Scranton School District
• Christopher Lazor, Riverside School District
• Buford Lively, Northeast Intermediate Unit 19
• Emily Lutz, Scranton School District
• Laurie Marino, Valley View School District
• Marie Merkel, Scranton School District
• John Moran, Career Technology Center of Lackawanna County
• Sandy Morahan, Forest City Regional School District
• Landon Morey, Montrose Area School District
• Janelle Cortino, Scranton School District
• Jessica Norris, Scranton School District
• Kathleen Nycz, Old Forge School District
• Carm Perri, Carbondale Area School District
• Cynthia Petrucci, Scranton School District
• Gabrielle Pidgeon, Carbondale Area School District
• Sheri Ransom, Mountain View School District
• Bernadette Schumacher, Mid Valley School District
• Shauna Williams, Blue Ridge School District
• Tim Wolff, Scranton School District
• Maureen Walsh, Scranton School District
• Marc Wyandt, Lakeland School District

This initiative continues to strengthen the collaboration between education and industry, ensuring students are not only academically prepared but also career-ready.