Oklahoma CareerTech sets goal to increase enrollment by 15%
Oklahoma CareerTech’s systemwide enrollments increased 6.5% to 521,612 in fiscal 2024, a byproduct of adding more than 240 CareerTech programs in Oklahoma school districts and increased funding for career readiness training.
But that’s not the end of the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education’s story.
During Thursday’s meeting of the State Board of Career and Technology Education, Oklahoma CareerTech officials announced a goal to increase systemwide enrollments another 15% to a record high of 599,854 in fiscal 2029.
That includes increasing PK-12 enrollments 10% from 143,114 to 157,425 and full-time secondary technology center enrollments 25% from 20,396 to 25,495.
Oklahoma CareerTech State Director Brent Haken said the goal is ambitious but realistic and is based on a series of moves to make career and technology education more available to students, including new graduation requirements that promote career readiness.
Read more on the Oklahoma CareerTech website.
Central Tech celebrates Truck Driver Appreciation Week with expansion
Central Technology Center recently celebrated National Truck Driver Appreciation Week by announcing an expansion aimed at doubling the number of program graduates over the next two years.
Central Tech’s program had 375 graduates in fiscal year 2022, 382 in FY23 and 550 in FY24. Central Tech partners with 14 other Oklahoma technology centers to offer truck driver training across the state.
One new partnership is with Metro Technology Centers in Oklahoma City. CDL Class A and B truck driver training courses are now offered at Metro Tech’s South Bryant Campus.
Read more about the expansion plans on Central Tech’s website and about Metro Tech’s program on Metro Tech’s website.
Tulsa Tech instructor featured in Education Week article
Christine Cammuso, a pre-engineering instructor at Tulsa Technology Center, is one of several STEM teachers featured in an Education Week article about STEM professionals who entered the teaching field.
Cammuso worked as a process engineer for eight years before leaving the workforce to raise her children. When they entered school, she began volunteering as a kindergarten assistant and discovered she loved being in the school, she told the journal.
When she learned there was a shortage of math teachers, she earned alternative certification and began teaching.
Read more on the Education Week website.
CareerTech Champion: T.J. Ellis - Meridian Technology Center
T.J. Ellis didn’t always know what he wanted to do for a living, but a leap into CareerTech put him on the road to success. Today, Ellis is the service director at Jim Glover Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram Fiat in Owasso, and he credits his CareerTech education with giving him the skills and confidence to excel in the automotive industry.
As a high school junior at Stillwater High School, Ellis was uncertain about his career path. That uncertainty led him to enroll in the automotive technology program at Meridian Technology Center. Initially, he saw the program as a way to gain practical knowledge about cars, but it quickly turned into a passion.
“I didn’t know what I wanted to do for a living, but the automotive technology course looked interesting to me,” Ellis said. “At the time, I figured it was good knowledge to have anyway, but I ended up loving it.”
The hands-on learning environment at Meridian Tech, paired with supportive instructors, kept him engaged and eager to learn more. He developed essential skills, including team building, determination, and a solid foundation of automotive knowledge. He also participated in VICA (now SkillsUSA) while at Meridian Tech and gained valuable leadership experience at the state level.
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 Training Opportunities
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