CareerTech Association of Minorities Making a Difference

By Ann Houston
Oklahoma Department of CareerTech

According to CareerTech enrollment reports and U.S. Census Bureau estimates from a 2004 survey, CareerTech adult and high school enrollments are outpacing the rising population of minorities in Oklahoma. CareerTech minority enrollments increased 5 percent between 2000-2005 with the state’s population fluctuating between 1 and 3 percent from 2000-2004.

Much of the credit for the rise in programs diverse population enrollments in Oklahoma’s CareerTech system in can be attributed to the Oklahoma Association of Minorities in Career and Technology Education.

On May 5, the OAMCTE held its 4th Annual Leadership Conference, Diversity: You Make the Difference. The conference was held on the Moore Norman Technology Center South Penn Campus.

The purpose of OAMCTE is to increase awareness of career and technology education in minority youth and adults, according to OAMCTE President Kay Hamilton. Hamilton is the director of Instructional Development and Training Services at Tulsa Technology Center. 

“OAMCTE also provides leadership and direction in Oklahoma’s economic and technical development,” Hamilton said. “Membership is open to all who advocate and promote career and technology education and who support full participation and advancement of minorities in this broad field.”

The state is beginning to see the impact of the CareerTech system and OAMCTE focus on diversity through the addition of bilingual CareerTech programs such as customer service, automotive technology, first responder and health programs, according to Belinda McCharen. McCharen is an associate state director for educational services at the Oklahoma Department of CareerTech and is the state OAMCTE advisor.

Providing opportunities designed to encourage career education for minorities is central to the mission of OAMCTE.  Each year since the early 90s, the organization has awarded three cash awards to winners of an essay competition about the value of CareerTech education. In the late 90s, $1,000 scholarships have been awarded to two minority students, either high school or adult, for continuing education.

This year another opportunity will become available to future CareerTech teachers.

“The Oklahoma CareerTech Foundation will implement a scholarship program in the fall to encourage minority high school and adult students to become CareerTech educators,” McCharen said.

The OAMCTE conference is open to those interested in learning more about the opportunities to make a difference through career and technology education.

Conference featured were Oscar Jackson, administrator of the Oklahoma Office of Personnel Management and Cabinet Secretary of Human Resources and Administration. Also, Dr. Gloria Griffin, superintendent of Millwood Public Schools, Oklahoma City. Griffin is the first female superintendent of that district and one of three African American Superintendents among Oklahoma’s 542 school districts.

A slate of legislators, educators, state and business leaders also addressed topics including Hispanic Culture and Communication, Native American Awareness, Harmony in a Diverse Environment, Driving Change in the Community, and Minority Recruitment and Thriving in Diverse communities.

For more information about OAMCTE call 918-585-3567.

Award Winners
		Golden Torch Recipient - Cynthia Vick, office assistant Office Assistant for Information Commons at the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education
		Meritorious Recipient - John Robinson, assistant director for Tulsa Technology Center Riverside Campus
		Presidents Award Recipients - Dr. Phil Berkenbile, state director, Oklahoma Department of Career andTechnology Education
		- Alberta Jones, OAMCTE treasurer, retired