MARITIME LESSON TARGETS TEACHERS AND THEIR STUDENTS

Jodie Love, community relations coordinator for the Virginia Port Authority in Norfolk, once fit into the category of onlookers somewhat unaware of the industry bustling in their own backyard.

"This is a huge industry, and a lot of people in the area don't know about it," Love said, standing in front of a group of about 25 teachers at the port authority's Norfolk International Terminals.

The teachers of STEM subjects - science, technology, engineering and math - had assembled from near and far - Hampton Roads cities as well as Baltimore, Houston, and Jacksonville, Fla.

They'd come to participate in a five-day summer teacher institute, to learn about maritime and transportation technologies, workforce opportunities and needs in the industry.

The port was just one stop out of many for the group the first week of August.

Teachers also visited Huntington Ingalls' Newport News shipyard and Old Dominion University's Maritime Institute in Norfolk. They participated in a U.S. Maritime Administration three-hour boat tour, in addition to other activities and group projects.

During the week, four apprentices from the Norfolk Naval Shipyard met at BAE Systems in Norfolk for a discussion with teachers and industry leaders.

Many workforce needs exist in the industry.There's a variety of job opportunities available, directly or indirectly related to the shipyards, port, or other maritime and transportation industries - from jobs such as Love's to those in nursing, accounting and more.Safety and security issues at the waterfront can be off-putting to young people in search of careers.

Jennifer McClain, career pathways program manager for Huntington Ingalls Industries, said there are opportunities for high school students to job-shadow shipyard employees.

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