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37th Annual Summer Conference/ Celebrating 100 Years of CareerTech

More than 3,500 educators gathered for three days in Tulsa for the 37th Annual Career and Technology Education Summer Conference held Aug. 3-5 at the Tulsa Convention Center

In April the Oklahoma Legislature honored the CareerTech system with a concurrent resolution in celebration of the system's heritage and in recognition of the distinctive position CareerTech holds as one of the premier systems in the world.

The resolution officially declared the year 2004 as the centennial year of the system and applauds Oklahoma's CareerTech system for its outstanding contributions to Oklahoma as well as to all Oklahomans during its first 100 years of manual training in Oklahoma public schools.

The year of activities across the state will incorporate the 2004 theme, "Securing Futures for Another 100 Years," which began at Summer Conference.

"Summer Conference is an opportunity for CareerTech educators from across the state to share ideas, learn new educational techniques and prepare for the coming school year," said Dr. Phil Berkenbile, state director of the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education.

“This conference is the major professional development activity for Oklahoma CareerTech teachers, counselors, administrators and state staff. Participants learn innovative technical and instructional skills,” Berkenbile said. “They also have the opportunity to network with and learn from their counterparts throughout the state.”

Gov. Brad Henry, who spoke at the conference, talked about the difference the CareerTech program agricultural education and its student organization FFA had made on his life. He then discussed the impact of the system to Oklahoma’s economic development.

The CareerTech Expo is held in conjunction with the conference. The exposition is a valuable resource to CareerTech educators, featuring more than 150 exhibiting companies showcasing the latest products and services available in the career and technology education field.

Also this year, the keynote speaker was John Alston CSP, CPAE. Alston is a trainer, educator and author of Stuff Happens (and then you fix it). Known as “the Perfect blend of… Socrates and Bill Cosby, his “no more excuses philosophy" is both humorous and instructive, Berkenbile said.

During the conference attendees honored outstanding CareerTech educators, administrators as well as business and industry partners. The Oklahoma Association of Career and Technology Education (Oklahoma ACTE) also conducted its annual association business and installed new Oklahoma ACTE President Jim Comer, Oklahoma Department of CareerTech in Stillwater.

Following the conference, a leadership seminar was held for the new OkACTE officers and committee members to familiarize them with the duties and responsibilities of their new roles.