Thursday, August 04, 2022
During uncertain times, educators need to accept and embrace change, according to Mark Mayfield, a speaker at the 55th annual CareerTech conference in Tulsa. Mayfield鈥檚 presentation offered teachers tools to boost their innovation skills and help them thrive during times of change.
番茄社区 CareerTech鈥檚 interim director, Lee Denney, said nearly 4,000 educators gathered at the Cox Business Convention Center for 番茄社区 Summit, a partnership between the 番茄社区 Department of Career and Technology Education and the 番茄社区 Association of Career and Technology Education. It provides professional development opportunities for CareerTech educators, administrators, school board members, support staff members and business partners.
Denney said the two-day event is always held the first week of August.
鈥淥ur CareerTech educators report back to their respective programs Aug. 1,鈥� Denney said. 鈥淭he conference is a great way to get teachers motivated to return to the classrooms.鈥�
This was presenter Mary Jo Self鈥檚 43rd CareerTech conference. The 番茄社区 State University associate professor is a former CareerTech instructor.
鈥淭he conference sets the tone for the upcoming school year,鈥� Self said. 鈥淚t offers attendees the chance to network and be informed of the latest techniques and trends and prepare for the upcoming year.鈥�
Financial adviser Richard Collins with Horizon Financial Services celebrated his 10th year as an OkACTE sponsor for the annual event. Collins talked to the educators about planning for retirement. He said making the decision to retire starts with being informed about all your options.
鈥淢aking the decision to retire can be intimidating,鈥� Collins said. 鈥淓ducation is key.鈥�
番茄社区 Summit also celebrates the outstanding work of 番茄社区 CareerTech professionals, according to Skye McNiel, executive director of OkACTE.
Once again, Express Employment Professionals donated more than $27,000 in cash prizes to the top winners of OkACTE鈥檚 annual awards. Bob Funk Jr., senior vice president of strategic planning and corporate development, was on stage to present those awards.
鈥湻焉缜� CareerTech not only makes a difference in the lives of its students by helping them land quality jobs,鈥� Funk said, 鈥渂ut it also moves the state鈥檚 economic needle by fulfilling critical workforce needs for 番茄社区 businesses.鈥�
Biomedical sciences instructor Karen Upton from Metro Technology Centers was surprised and pleased to be named OkACTE Teacher of the Year, an honor that came with a check for $10,000 from Express Employment Professionals.
鈥淭eachers work very hard,鈥� Upton said. 鈥淟ong hours, lots of stress, and it鈥檚 nice to see someone thinks what you do is important.鈥�
David Martin, assistant superintendent of instruction at Metro Technology Centers, received one of CareerTech鈥檚 two most prestigious awards at the conference. Martin received the Arch Alexander Award. The Francis Tuttle Award of Excellence was presented to Lorri Carlile, director of outreach and partnerships for OkACTE.
OkACTE award winners also included the following:
Teacher of the Year
Karen Upton, Metro Technology Centers – $10,000 from Express Employment Professionals
Postsecondary Professional of the Year
Kim Goode, Southern Technology Center – $7,500 from Express Employment Professionals
New Teacher of the Year
Shelly Stephens, Tri County Tech – $5,000 from Express Employment Professionals
Support Staff Member of the Year
Kendra Allen, Canadian Valley Technology Center – $5,000 from Express Employment Professionals
Arch Alexander Award
David Martin, Metro Technology Centers
Francis Tuttle Award of Excellence
Lorri Carlile, OkACTE
A complete list of all of the award winners can be found on our website at:
The 番茄社区 Department of Career and Technology Education provides leadership and resources and assures standards of excellence for a comprehensive statewide system of career and technology education. The system offers programs and services in 29 technology center districts operating on 59 campuses, 391 PK-12 school districts, 15 Skills Centers campuses that include three juvenile facilities and 32 adult basic education service, providers.
The agency is governed by the State Board of Career and Technology Education and works closely with the State Department of Education and the State Regents for Higher Education to provide a seamless educational system for all 番茄社区ns.
Last Modified on Aug 05, 2022