Oklahoma JAG coordinator wins national award
Wesley Jackson, JAG coordinator at McAlester Public Schools, received a 2026 Jobs for America’s Graduates Cornerstone Award at the National JAG EDGE Conference recently.
The Cornerstone Award recognizes educators and community leaders who exemplify humility, consistency and servant leadership while advancing the JAG mission of helping students succeed in education, employment and life.
JAG Oklahoma, a partnership between Oklahoma CareerTech and Oklahoma Human Services, prepares students for successful futures by helping them overcome success barriers, build leadership and employability skills and engage in career and postsecondary exploration through both classroom instruction and work-based learning.
Read more about Jackson’s award on the Oklahoma State Department of Education Facebook page and more about JAG on the Oklahoma CareerTech website.
Central Tech expands Explorer Program to Cleveland
Starting in the 2026-27 school year, Cleveland Public School eighth graders will have access to Central Technology Center’s Explorer Program.
The program, already offered in seven other Central Tech district middle schools, helps students discover career paths and connect classroom learning to real-world jobs. Students gain hands-on experience that prepares them for college, career training and work.
The Explorer Program will allow Cleveland eighth grade students to explore 10 of the 16 national career clusters, including automotive technology, construction, photography, health care and energy and national resources.
Read more on the Central Tech website.
Tri County brings back driver’s ed
After a year off, Tri County Technology Center is reintroducing driver’s education classes in August.
“We took a break. No driver’s ed for the past year, but starting in August, we will have driver’s ed again. So for those kiddos 15 years old, we’d love to get them enrolled. It’s a very short course and gets them onto their permit real quick,” Student Services Director Laci Davis told Bartlesville Radio.
The tech center is also launching adult culinary classes led by Chef Robert Jackson, and its new emergency service building for a high school firefighter and EMT program is expected to open in the spring.
Read more on the Bartlesville Radio website.
Great Plains Tech receives grant for scholarships
Great Plains Technology Center recently received a $75,000 grant for scholarships.
The McMahon Foundation awarded the grant for student scholarships for the 2026-27 school year.
The foundation “focuses on supporting individuals and families in need and advancing initiatives that create meaningful, lasting impact,” according to its website. It has given more than $1.3 million to GPTC Foundation scholarships.
Read more on the KFDX-TV website.
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