First: “For Counselors Only” Conference

More than 500 middle school, high school and CareerTech school counselors on April 8 attended the first-ever For Counselors Only conference: Ensuring Student Success Through Academic Advisement. Co-sponsored by the State Department of Education and the State Department of Career and Technology Education, State Superintendent Sandy Garrett said the conference provided a day to focus on how best to help students and their parents plan for a college education and the world of work.

“During these times of violence, bullying, drugs, teen pregnancies and more on school counselors’ daily agendas, we felt we needed to spend at least a day focused on Oklahoma’s rigorous graduation standards and how to guide students into creating habits of success to last a lifetime,” Garrett explained.

Garrett said students have so many opportunities and avenues toward post-secondary education today – whether it is through CareerTech schools, higher education or on-the-job training – that the amount of information can be overwhelming and confusing.

“Most of all, we want students to be prepared with both academic and workplace skills but to also realize they may change careers and need additional education several times in their lives,” Garrett said. “Certainly, students are better prepared for college than ever before but we must have more college graduates and more highly skilled technical workers in our economy.

Oklahoma’s economic development depends upon providing a seamless system that ensures learning is widely accessible and is lifelong.”

One session, “Counseling for Careers in Demand,” featured an employer panel discussion on what Oklahoma business leaders need counselors to know. Panelists included Sheryl McLain, vice-president of communications, Oklahoma Hospital Association; Dick Anderson, executive director, American General Contractors; and Dr. Terri Reed-Rhoads, engineering education chair, University of Oklahoma.

Garrett said another goal was to assist Oklahoma by making more students aware of scholarships from all sources, along with concurrent enrollment, Advanced Placement and cooperative agreement opportunities that make a college education more affordable to students who apply themselves.

The conference also featured presentations by experts from the State Departments of Education and Career and Technology Education, middle-level, secondary and CareerTech school counselors and representatives of the State Regents for Higher Education. CareerTech State Director Phil Berkenbile welcomed the group and Superintendent Garrett provided the keynote address.

Additional sponsors of the conference were Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) Career Exploration Program, American Fidelity Assurance Company, EdITS, Oklahoma Hospital Association, Associated General Contractors, and Kuder Career Planning Systems.