Brian Ruttman, superintendent/CEO at Moore Norman Technology Center, recently received the Making It Work Day Spotlight Award from the Oklahoma Career and Technical Education Equity Council.
Ruttman was one of 17 Oklahomans honored, along with three businesses and organizations, at the 28th annual Making It Work Day at the Capitol in a virtual ceremony May 6. Making It Work Day recognizes individuals who are committed to removing barriers to success for single-parent families by providing educational experiences for students beyond the classroom. The ceremony also recognized nontraditional students.
When Ruttman joined MNTC, he looked at the data from the tech center’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program and the services provided to students, staff and community, said Matt Fix, MNTC HIRE coordinator, who nominated Ruttman for the award. He also allowed the coordinator to present information to the school board and to MNTC staff, Fix said.
“Mr. Ruttman has not only been a great leader, but he also truly understands the benefit to the community in what TANF and the HIRE program do and has been a great advocate for the program,” Fix said. “Knowing that we have the support we need from our leadership has enabled us to provide resources and assistance to our students and help them break the cycle of poverty and break up with DHS.”
OkCTEEC is affiliated with the administrative division of the Oklahoma Association of Career and Technology Education. The council advocates for students pursuing nontraditional careers and for resources for educating single parents.
“OkCTEEC is always privileged to honor those who have chosen a career path that is nontraditional and those individuals or partners who have assisted them in their quest,” said KayTee Niquette, Work Prep and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families coordinator at the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education. “This year is a transitional year that everyone seems to be working through, so students and others have been doing an exceptional job meeting in person and through a hybrid model.”
She serves as an adviser for OkCTEEC, along with Lisa French of the Department of Human Services and Gina McPherson of the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.
“All of us continue to navigate through the continuing pandemic, facing new challenges each and every day,” said Kelly Vinson, OkCTEEC president and director of Project Achieve at Northern Oklahoma College. “Our students have shown tremendous strength and determination navigating through the many challenges they face along the way. It is a great honor to recognize these students, who have excelled and are continuing to reach their goals.”
OkCTEEC’s purposes include promoting and supporting career and technology education, increasing its effectiveness, promoting research in the field and in educational equity, developing leadership and advocating for equity and diversity.
For more information about OkCTEEC, visit https://www.cteec.org/okcteec. For more information about the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education, visit www.okcareertech.org.
