CareerTech: Oklahoma’s Workforce Solution
Many of my greatest experiences stem from my adventures as a CareerTech student and teacher. My time as a CareerTech student gave me a good baseline for a career in agriculture and education. It was a license to learn more about my interests and passions.
One of my passions is CareerTech education. After a successful and rewarding career as a teacher, principal and superintendent, I am grateful for the opportunity to grow and advance the mission of Oklahoma CareerTech as the system’s new state director.
While Oklahoma CareerTech is regularly recognized as one of the best CareerTech systems in the nation, the need for educational opportunities that emphasize career readiness is growing. Oklahoma CareerTech provides technical training to nearly half a million enrollments each year, but more can be done to reach more students and meet the labor demands of Oklahoma businesses.
Read more on the Oklahoma CareerTech website.
Oklahoma CareerTech to issue digital badges
Oklahoma CareerTech students have a new way to let employers know about the credentials they’ve earned.
CareerTech is partnering with Credly to provide students with digital versions of their credentials in a process called badging.
“A badge is a digital representation of a certificate; it’s a more verifiable, secure method,” said Jennifer Palacio, CareerTech Testing Center assessment manager.
Oklahoma CareerTech students are already earning these credentials; the digital badging initiative will simply give them an easier way to share their achievements with potential employers, Palacio explained.
“It’s a way to prove the legitimate certificates a person has earned,” she said.
Read more on the Oklahoma CareerTech website.
U.S. education secretary praises CareerTech
U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said he was impressed with the Oklahoma CareerTech System after touring Francis Tuttle Technology Center and talking with students and teachers, according to an article in The Oklahoman.
Cardona talked with Francis Tuttle students studying broadcast and video production, coding, 3D animation, health sciences and early childhood education.
Read more about his visit and comments on The Oklahoman’s website.
Pioneer Tech Children’s Lab receives accreditation
Pioneer Technology Center’s Children’s Lab has received accreditation through the National Association for the Education of Young Children.
It is one of only 53 early childhood programs in Oklahoma to receive the accreditation.
Read more about it on PoncaCityNow.com.
Francis Tuttle program helps prisoners
A program at Francis Tuttle Technology Center is helping inmates nearing release prepare for careers in the construction industry.
Project Build, a partner of Oklahoma CareerTech’s Skills Centers School System, teaches students everything from reading a tape measure to framing a house, along with life skills such as creating resumes and interviewing for jobs, The Journal Record reported. CareerTech’s Skills Centers deliver career and technology education to inmates under the supervision of the Oklahoma Department of Corrections and juveniles under the supervision of the Oklahoma Office of Juvenile Affairs.
Read more about Project Build on The Journal Record website, and find out more about the Skills Centers School System on the Oklahoma CareerTech website.
Useful links
Follow us on Twitter at @okcareertech and find us on Facebook at OklahomaCareerTech and on Instagram at oklahomacareertech and read our blog, Oklahoma CareerTech Delivers. Find our podcast at https://www.ctconversations.org/.
For news about Oklahoma’s CareerTech System, subscribe to CareerTech communications.
State Agency Assistance at a Glance
National Center for Research in Career and Technical Education
OK Career Guide Training Opportunities
We learn more by looking for the answer to a question and not finding it than we do from learning the answer itself. -- Lloyd Alexander
