GNOu Launch
Educators play a critical role in helping students make decisions about courses, credentials and careers. But as industries and technologies evolve, teachers need direct access to current workforce information, regional employers and resources that connect classroom learning to real-world opportunities.
GNOu Launch connects STEM and CTE educators with the industries driving Southeast Louisiana’s economy, giving teachers the knowledge, partnerships and resources to prepare students for high-wage, high-demand careers across the region.
Through GNOu Launch, participating educators will gain:
- Industry-informed professional development
- Direct connections with regional employers and higher education partners
- Exposure to emerging technologies, industry trends and regional workforce needs
- Greater understanding of occupations, credentials and career pathways
- Resources for connecting classroom instruction to real-world applications
- Opportunities to create authentic, career-connected learning experiences for students
GNOu Launch will initially focus on sectors with significant workforce demand and career opportunities across Southeast Louisiana:
- Energy
- Engineering
- Maritime, Trade & Logistics
- Advanced Manufacturing
How it Works
GNOu Launch is built around a simple model: connect educators to industry, equip them with workforce knowledge and classroom resources, inspire students through career-connected learning, and prepare the next generation of talent for Southeast Louisiana.
The pilot program will test three strategies for strengthening educator knowledge, instructional capacity and connections to regional industry.
Industry Familiarization Tours
Educators will step inside regional workplaces to see firsthand the occupations, technologies and career pathways shaping Southeast Louisiana’s economy.
The pilot will include three regional worksite tours, each serving up to 25 high school STEM and CTE educators. Participants will meet industry professionals, explore workplace environments and learn about the credentials, skills and advancement opportunities associated with in-demand careers.
Teacher Externships
Teacher externships provide deeper, hands-on experiences with regional employers, helping educators understand how classroom concepts translate into the workplace.
Participants will gain direct insight into workplace technologies, employer expectations and in-demand skills while identifying opportunities to incorporate industry practices into classroom instruction. Each experience will culminate in a classroom application or student-facing deliverable that brings what educators learned back to their students.
Targeted AP Teacher Support
GNOu Launch will help strengthen advanced science instruction by connecting AP educators with targeted professional development and classroom resources.
Initial cohorts will focus on AP Biology and AP Chemistry, with opportunities for training, peer learning and resources that educators can apply in the classroom. The initiative will also serve as a pilot for future professional learning opportunities across additional STEM and CTE disciplines.
How to Get Involved
For School Leaders
School and district leaders can support GNOu Launch by nominating STEM and CTE educators, identifying schools seeking to strengthen advanced science instruction, supporting educator participation and classroom implementation, and helping measure teacher and student outcomes.
For Educators
STEM and CTE educators can participate in industry tours and teacher externships, apply for AP Biology or AP Chemistry professional development, share priority training and classroom resource needs, and translate industry experiences into meaningful learning opportunities for students.
Launching Careers Starts in the Classroom
Southeast Louisiana’s economy is creating new opportunities across energy, engineering, maritime, logistics and advanced manufacturing. GNOu Launch helps ensure educators have the knowledge and connections to bring those opportunities into the classroom, giving students a clearer view of where their education can take them.
Sign Up for the Program