1500+ Knox County students are in need of a job shadow this semester. Can you help?
A handful of schools are still needing placements for the 865 Academies Spring semester. Could your company be a good fit for the program?
Knox County Schools is seeking employers willing to host job shadow experiences for high school juniors through the 865 Academies model. The 865 Academies are a great way to contribute in a meaningful way to a teenager’s career exploration as they head into their final year of high school.
We sat down with Brad Corum, the 865 Academies Director, to learn more about the program, how many students it affects, and how companies and organizations across East Tennessee can get involved.
Under the 865 Academies model, every student who goes through Knox County High Schools will have four unique career exploration experiences.
In ninth grade, Freshmen students hear from industry speakers during classroom visits and walk through a career pathway fair. In tenth grade, they complete a post-secondary visit to local-area colleges, universities, and trade schools. In eleventh grade, all Knox County juniors complete a job shadowing experience. And in twelfth grade, ahead of graduation, they complete an internship, capstone, CTE class, and college fair.
The focus of our conversation with Corum was on fulfilling the necessary corporate job shadow experiences required for the junior-aged high school students.
The total number of 11th-grade students across Knox County High Schools needing Job Shadow experiences was 3,039. Out of that 3,039, 1513 students have already been reported as having completed a Job Shadow experience in the first semester.
Could your company help bridge the gap?
What a job shadow looks like:
- Students spend 2–6 hours with your team in a career field aligned to their pathway
- 1–5 students per experience with shared interests
- Students observe, ask questions, and learn how your organization operates
- Pre- and post-assignments help them connect the experience to long-term career planning
What they would need from the employer:
- A few hours on a single day
- Brief planning with the school’s academy coach
- Simple advance info (agenda, arrival instructions, dress expectations)
Why it matters:
Job shadowing helps students assess career fit, understand the link between education and future success, practice professional interaction, and explore adjacent career paths—all while giving them real exposure to your industry.
Examples of past experiences:
- Banking: reviewing anonymized loan applications and conducting mock approval meetings
- Health Science: observing surgeries (in-person or virtual) with guided explanation
- Environmental Engineering: water sampling, team challenges, and solution presentations
The highest need across the 865 Academies is:
- Marketing Management: 112 placements needed.
- Business Management: 71 placements needed.
- Engineering: 70 placements needed.
- Healthcare (Nursing/Therapeutic): Over 90 placements needed.
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