October 7, 2026 – Bridging education and industry and expanding hands on learning are some of the strategies regional business leaders, community partners and educators collaborated on at the Regional Industry & Educators Summit. The summit forced on strengthening our local workforce pipeline and driving community growth through high-impact internships, practicums and work-based learning opportunities for local students. Three former Amarillo ISD students were part of a panel discussion about their transformational internship experiences in high school that led to immediate career opportunities and a seamless transition right out of high school.

In her senior year at AmTech, Elizabeth Jett secured an internship in a field she’s passionate about, physical therapy. Her internship gave her the opportunity to learn how to put a gait belt on a patient and how to safely transfer patients from a chair to a bed. Today, she’s a PT Technician at Amarillo Bone & Joint while she pursues her educational goal to become a physical therapist. “I was not an extrovert before, but I had to learn how to talk to patients when they are in their most vulnerable state,” said Elizabeth. “Getting their mind off the pain they are enduring helped get me out of my box and now I can bond with patients and talk to them more than I ever thought I could.”