CareerTech prepared to answer Stitt’s call for more career training
We agree with Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt that more should be done to improve workforce development and meet the state’s demand for highly skilled workers. During his State-of-the-State address on Monday, Stitt called for more workforce-oriented schools.
CareerTech program enrollment in Oklahoma secondary schools is 139,505, while enrollment of high school students in full-time tech-center programs is 21,765. These career training programs are developed in tandem with Oklahoma businesses.
But the waiting list for students wanting to enroll in full-time training programs at CareerTech’s 29 technology centers remains long at about 7,300 students. In addition, the number of Oklahoma high school graduates choosing not to go to college or pursue technical training is disturbingly high. About 38% of high school graduates don’t choose either path.
Hence, the potential to place more students in CareerTech programs and add more workers to Oklahoma’s talent pipeline is great. Through its network of 29 technology centers, 397 school districts and 16 skills centers, Oklahoma CareerTech is well positioned to close the skills gap and meet the labor demands of Oklahoma employers.
Read more on the Oklahoma CareerTech website.
Six slated for induction into Oklahoma CareerTech Hall of Fame
The Oklahoma CareerTech Foundation will induct six people into the Oklahoma Career and Technology Education Hall of Fame in October.
This year’s inductees are Tom Friedemann, Randy Gilbert, Velta Reed-Johnson, Denise Morris, Joe Robinson and Jack Staats.
“Oklahoma is home to the best CareerTech system in the nation, and these six Hall of Fame honorees contributed much to the vision that has shaped career and technology education in Oklahoma,” said CareerTech State Director Brent Haken. “Each of these honorees played starring roles in the state’s journey to becoming the best in career and technology education. They have advanced the mission of CareerTech in unique and extraordinary ways.”
Read more on the Oklahoma CareerTech website.
Oklahoma’s Film Industry: Training Oklahomans for their next act
As Oklahoma garners attention for hit shows and Oscar-worthy feature films, the state’s film industry has perhaps never shined brighter on the national stage.
It takes a trained workforce to power an industry, so CareerTech has stepped up statewide efforts to deliver training that puts students in front of filmmaking professionals.
See part two of CareerTech’s video series about the film industry on the Oklahoma CareerTech YouTube channel.
CareerTech Champion: Monica Cox - Southwest Technology Center
It wasn’t her life’s dream to be assistant manager of Church’s Chicken, but as a single mom in the mid-1990s, Monica Cox didn’t see a lot of options.
After she graduated from Altus High School, Cox said, she didn’t feel like a four-year college degree was attainable. She wanted to provide for her child, but she needed a better plan. Then, she researched some of the options available through nearby Southwest Technology Center.
She enrolled in a nine-month banking and financial services program at Southwest Tech, and for the first time, she began to see herself with a career, along with health benefits for her family. That was more than 25 years ago, and Monica Cox is still sharing the story of how CareerTech gave her hope when she felt hopeless.
Read more on the Oklahoma CareerTech website.
CareerTech director named Tinker AFB honorary commander
Oklahoma CareerTech State Director Brent Haken was among 12 people to join Tinker Air Force Base’s Honorary Commander Program recently.
The two-year program is designed to educate community leaders about the unit’s mission, foster support in the community and connect the community and the base. Members of the program tour different parts of the base and participate in refueling missions, according to an article on the Tinker AFB website.
Read more on the Tinker AFB website.
Useful links
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State Agency Assistance at a Glance
National Research Center for Career and Technical Education
OK Career Guide Training Opportunities
Failure is a part of success. -- Hank Aaron
