Teachers complete Externship Week with TotalEnergies
Last month, five Southeast Texas teachers completed the 2025 Teacher Externship Week with the TotalEnergies’ Port Arthur Platform and made their final presentation at Lamar Institute of Technology in Beaumont. The teachers were from Vidor ISD, Port Neches-Groves ISD, Silsbee ISD and Nederland ISD.
According to Jillian Fertig, Community Relations advisor for TotalEnergies, the Workforce Solutions of Southeast Texas Teacher Externship is an annual, vital program that selects 71 educators from school districts across the region to participate in onsite, hands-on training for various jobs across multiple industries/career fields in the area across 14 companies.
Fertig reported the Port Arthur Platform was a program partner and spent five days hosting and immersing the teachers in our industry on the Platform.
“They learned about HR trends in the industry, our safety culture, spent time in the field visiting multiple units and learning about the various jobs available in industry,” she said. “They took everything they learned this week and built a lesson plan they will now take back to their students in the classrooms this fall. Students begin career exploration as early as seventh and eighth grade.”
Fertig noted investing in the communities is the company’s fourth level of sustainability.
“As a partner in education, TotalEnergies believes it’s our duty to help prepare the future workforce. We do this by showing our youth the various jobs available at an early age that could fit with their strengths and interests or even spark a new interest they may not have otherwise had,” added Fertig.
LIT receives accreditation from SACSCOC
Lamar Institute of Technology (LIT) has received recognition of a 10-year reaffirmation of accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), an institutional accreditor for quality assurance in higher education.
The reaffirmation, finalized on June 12, marks the successful conclusion of a comprehensive, rigorous review process that includes evaluation of 78 standards by an off-site reaffirmation committee, an on-site reaffirmation committee and final approval by the SACSCOC Board of Trustees.
The college received zero findings of non-compliance in its final outcome. Additionally, LIT’s Quality Enhancement Plan — a required component of the reaffirmation process focused on institutional improvement—was approved with no recommendations.
“We are proud of this achievement and what it represents for our college, our students and our community,” said LIT President Dr. Sid Valentine. “Our reaffirmation validates LIT’s testament to institutional quality, integrity and transparency.”
The reaffirmation ensures LIT remains in good standing with SACSCOC through 2035 and reinforces the college’s continued commitment to quality education and student success.
Free valet parking back at St. Elizabeth Hospital
CHRISTUS Southeast Texas announced that free valet parking is back for St. Elizabeth Hospital patients and visitors. Valet service will be available Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. – 5 p.m., at the hospital’s main entrance.
“This added convenience reflects our ongoing commitment to compassionate care and exceptional service. Our hospital leaders and associates remain dedicated to meeting the needs of our community and continuing our mission of extending the healing ministry of Jesus Christ,” according to hospital officials.
Weber reintroduces legislation for fair pay for federal correctional officers
June 13, U.S. Congressman Randy Weber (TX-14) reintroduced the Pay Our Correctional Officers Fairly Act, aimed at improving staffing and retention within the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) by ensuring competitive and fair pay for correctional officers.
The legislation would revise the locality pay system for BOP employees, allowing facilities located within 200 miles of the nearest General Schedule (GS) locality pay area to offer higher wages. This change reflects the real costs associated with commuting, cost-of-living, and the difficult and often dangerous work correctional officers perform every day.
In a strong show of bipartisan, bicameral support, Senators Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) will lead the bill in the Senate, with Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and John Fetterman (D-PA) joining as original cosponsors.
“Our correctional officers put their lives on the line day in and day out to keep our communities safe,” said “It’s time their pay reflects the seriousness of that responsibility. This commonsense bill ensures that correctional officers — whether they serve in Beaumont, Texas, or anywhere across this nation — are compensated fairly for the dangerous, essential work they perform every single day.”
Cosponsors include Reps. Don Bacon (NE-02), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-1), Nick Langworthy (NY-23), Frank Lucas (R-OK), and Elise Stefanik (NY-21).
National EMS Academy celebrates local graduates
The National EMS Academy, a division of Acadian Ambulance, announced the graduation of seven new Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) from its Beaumont program.
They are Raelyn Clarke, Mackenzie Craig, Colby Lange, Blaine Mayhew, David Parks, Jacob Reza-Day and Summer Rusch.
“These graduates have shown extraordinary determination, resilience, and compassion,” said Timothy Dronet, director of Staffing. “Their commitment to learning and serving their communities is truly inspiring. We are proud to welcome them to the EMS profession.”
The EMT course includes comprehensive instruction in Basic Life Support (BLS), covering key areas such as trauma and airway management, cardiovascular and pediatric emergencies, and patient assessment. These skills are critical to providing effective, immediate care in a wide range of emergency situations.
The next EMT class in Beaumont begins July 14. Tuition for the class will be offered at a 70% discount, so students can register for $400. To learn more about EMS careers or to enroll, visit BecomeAMedic.com.
