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Director's Memo 2023-10-2

Tuesday, October 03, 2023

Priorities in education have changed

Preparing students for careers has become a higher priority for more Americans, according to a survey that underscores a strong shift toward practical skills.

Among those surveyed in 2022, preparing students for careers was the sixth highest priority, up sharply from the 27th highest priority in 2019, according to the Purpose of Education Index, an annual survey on education from Populace, a Massachusetts think tank.

The survey shows a drastic shift in priorities for America’s K-12 education system since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. The outbreak disrupted K-12 education, prompting parents, educators and policymakers to question America’s approach to education.

Read more on the Oklahoma CareerTech website.

 

2023 ICBSSHOW set for October

The 2023 ICBSSHOW, which will be Oct. 23-25, will offer informational sessions featuring experts in government procurement, as well as a day of matchmaking to introduce businesses to government decision-makers.

The event will be at the Metro Tech Conference Center, 1900 Springlake Dr., Oklahoma City. It allows businesses to access government agency buyers and policy leaders, prime contractors and tribal procurement representatives who want to expand their vendor pools.

It is hosted by OkAPEX, a division of Oklahoma CareerTech that is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the Department of Defense.

Visit the ICBSSHOW website for more information.

 

Wife-husband HVACR business is a marriage of two technology centers

“For better or for worse, in heat and cold …”

Leslie Plemons and her husband, Lemmie, didn’t write that into their original wedding vows, but the heat and air technicians may want to consider that if they ever renew those vows. The couple owns and operates Statewide Heating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration HVACR in Noble, Oklahoma, and both are licensed HVACR technicians.

Lemmie Plemons is a third-generation technician who received his formal training at Mid-America Technology Center in Wayne, Oklahoma. He had been in the business for several years while Leslie worked on the home front as a stay-at-home mom. When their son turned 14, Leslie decided it was time to get back in the workforce.

After living the HVACR life vicariously through her husband, Leslie wanted to learn more about the technical side of the business. She chose the HVACR program at Moore Norman Technology Center.

Read more on the Oklahoma CareerTech website.

 

Hartshorne ag ed launches meat processing program

Hartshorne High School has added a meat processing facility inside its new agricultural education building.

The school district received some of the initial equipment from meat processing funds during the COVID pandemic. Hartshorne ag ed students can now earn meat processing certifications while in high school.

Read more about the program on the Fox 23 website.

 

Useful links

Follow us on X (formerly Twitter) at @okcareertech and find us on Facebook at OklahomaCareerTech and on Instagram at oklahomacareertech. Find our podcast at https://www.ctconversations.org/ and watch our biweekly news show and other videos on our YouTube channel.

For news about Oklahoma’s CareerTech System, subscribe to CareerTech communications.

State Agency Assistance at a Glance

National Research Center for Career and Technical Education

OK Career Guide

OK Career Guide Training Opportunities

CareerTech Curriculum

 

I, not events, have the power to make me happy or unhappy today. I can choose which it shall be. Yesterday is dead, tomorrow hasn’t arrived yet. I have just one day, today, and I’m going to be happy in it. - Groucho Marx
Last Modified on Oct 03, 2023
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