Duquesne Light Launches School to Work Program for Teachers and Students

PITTSBURGH -- In an effort to highlight high-demand trade and technical careers at Duquesne Light, the company recently launched its School to Work program. The program provides opportunities for both students and teachers to learn about the departments and positions that support DLC’s 600,000 customers.

The School to Work initiative encompasses two programs: The Student Bootcamp and Educator in the Workforce program. By better informing area educators and working directly with students to give them hands on experiences, DLC strives to build a robust pipeline of skilled talent to support future growth and innovation.

“Duquesne Light seeks to be an employer of choice in our region and this program allows us to showcase the opportunities we have across multiple disciplines – including our trade and technical departments,” said Todd Faulk, Duquesne Light’s Vice President of Human Resources. “We understand the importance of building a strong technical and trade talent pool, especially as we seek to narrow the workforce gap that exists in the trades."

Student Bootcamp

The DLC Student Bootcamp is a three week program that will accept 15-20 rising high school seniors each session from districts in the company’s service territory. It will serve as a preparatory program for students who seek to take the Construction and Skilled Trades (CAST) exam and focus on providing training in communication and job skills. Students will be paid an hourly rate, receive transportation assistance for the time they are enrolled, and training to assist them in obtaining a driver’s license if needed.

DLC is partnering with Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC) to develop the curriculum and deliver the education at their Braddock Hills campus. The Bootcamp is a precursor to the Electrical Distribution Technology (EDT) program that CCAC and Duquesne Light created to prepare post-high school students for entry-level skilled craft positions associated with electric utilities. With the Bootcamp program, EDT scholarships will be expanded from three to five for the incoming 2019-2020 class through a partnership with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW).

There will be two sessions of the Bootcamp in 2019. The first starts March 11 and the second begins June 10.

Educator in the Workforce Program

Educators and school staff have the ability to help influence and encourage students to pursue careers that suit their proficiencies and Duquesne Light hopes to further educate local teachers on the opportunities available at the company through the Educator in the Workforce program. Through a 1-2 week internship, 10-12 educators will learn about different careers at Duquesne Light with a focus on those that do not require a four-year degree.

The inaugural program will run in the summer of 2019, starting on July 22 and will have an open/rolling application process. Teachers in all subject areas are encouraged to apply and those accepted into the program will receive payment for their time plus the opportunity to earn Act 48 credits. At the end of the program, they will leave with a library of fully developed lesson plans (10-12 in total) that they can use in their classroom to inform students of the varying career paths at Duquesne Light and what is required to secure those positions. Each session, one educator’s lesson plan will win a $2,500 prize to be used for classroom supplies.

Both programs are open to students and teachers in Duquesne Light’s service territory, which includes both Allegheny and Beaver counties. To be considered for the Duquesne Light School to Work Student Bootcamp, apply here. For teachers interested in the Educator in the Workforce Program, apply here.