There’s more to an airport than just flying.

When Faith Fugit signed up to spend a week at the Houston Airport System (HAS), she thought it would be fun. She never imagined it would be as intense and motivating as it actually was.

“There are so many different jobs people do at the airports, it’s such a great resource,” says Fugit. “It seems every student I know could find a connection in the aviation world that they’d want to do.”

An English teacher at the Houston Independent School District’s (HISD) Houston Academy for International Studies during the normal school year, Fugit spent a week of her summer vacation as part of a unique externship program offered by HAS and the Houston A+ Challenge. This nonprofit organization offers Houston-area teachers the opportunity to learn new curriculum outside of the classroom environment.

The ultimate goal is to have teachers return to the classroom with new real-world knowledge to pass on to their students.

While at HAS, Fugit toured Houston’s three primary airports – George Bush Intercontinental, William P. Hobby and Ellington Field. At each, she had the opportunity to meet with the individuals that handled everything from aircraft operations to marketing and public affairs.

Of particular interest to the high school teacher was the marketing and public affairs management of such a large airport system. The Houston Airport System is ranked as the fourth largest airport system in the United States and the sixth-largest in the world, having served more than 51 million passengers last year.

For HAS this was the second year they volunteered to sponsor an externship participant. Josette Dishongh, community affairs specialist for the airport system, says it is a great way to connect with the generations of tomorrow and to teach them about the many career options available in the aviation industry.

This is a mission close to Dishongh’s heart. During the regular school-year she routinely participates in career days at HISD schools, as well as those belonging to other school districts, to carry it out.

“We are very fortunate in Houston to have such important national and international airports right in our back yard,” she says.