Director's Memo 2024-7-15

Oklahoma CareerTech is proud to be one of the sponsors of KOCO’s On the Road Tour this week.

The tour starts today in Enid and will include highlights from Autry Technology Center. The tour will continue with Shawnee and Gordon Cooper Tech on Tuesday, Guthrie and Meridian Tech on Wednesday, Yukon and Canadian Valley Tech on Thursday and Moore and Moore Norman Tech on Friday.

KOCO will broadcast its 4 p.m., 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. newscasts live from those cities on those days, and the tech centers will have booths at the events to showcase what they do.

Oklahoma CareerTech recently received renewed recognition as the agency responsible for approving public postsecondary vocational education in Oklahoma.

The approval came from the U.S. Department of Education and allows the Oklahoma State Board of Career and Technology Education to continue to be the accrediting body for Oklahoma’s technology centers.

“The Oklahoma CareerTech board accredits the tech centers to ensure that they are compliant with federal and state laws and regulations, committed to continuous improvement and contributing to a world-class workforce,” said Jessica Ventris, Oklahoma CareerTech director of academic affairs. “The process assesses the quality of programs and services offered.”

Read more on the Oklahoma CareerTech website.

Collegiate and high school members of Oklahoma DECA earned impressive results at their respective International Career Development Conferences.

Both conferences offered students opportunities to compete in business simulation events, network with industry professionals and develop valuable career skills, said Paxton Cavin, Oklahoma DECA adviser at the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education.

Secondary Oklahoma DECA took 175 members from 19 chapters to 2024 ICDC in Anaheim, California, where they competed among 23,000 national and international students.

Read more on the Oklahoma CareerTech website.

Oklahoma members of Business Professionals of America brought home two national officers and 34 national championships, along with many other awards, from the BPA National Leadership Conference in Chicago, Illinois.

Oklahoma took a delegation of 380 students from 69 chapters to the conference, where they competed against more than 6,700 students from across the country.

Makayla Adams, Cashion High School, was elected national parliamentarian, and Thomas Branson, also of Cashion High School was elected national treasurer. Adams also represented Oklahoma in the parade of associations.

Read more on the Oklahoma CareerTech website.

Oklahoma HOSA took more than 250 members to the HOSA International Leadership Conference in Houston, Texas, and brought home 23 medals, along with other awards.

Oklahoma HOSA members received 10 gold medals, eight silver medals and five bronze medals, along with 17 top 10 finishes. More than 12,000 middle school, secondary and postsecondary students attended the conference.

“Our Oklahoma HOSA team demonstrated remarkable dedication and skill, achieving impressive milestones on the international stage,” said Amy Warner, HOSA state adviser with the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education.

Read more on the Oklahoma CareerTech website.

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State Agency Assistance at a Glance

National Research Center for Career and Technical Education

OK Career Guide

OK Career Guide Training Opportunities

CareerTech Curriculum

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