Tom Friedemann Earns Prestigious Arch Alexander Award

Tom Friedemann, superintendent and chief executive officer of Francis Tuttle Technology Center, Oklahoma City, recently received the Arch Alexander Award during the 42nd Annual Career and Technology Education Summer Conference. The conference was held Aug. 4-6 at the Cox Business Services Convention Center in Oklahoma City.

Created by the University of Oklahoma Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, this award honors the late Alexander. Alexander was a longtime deputy director of the state CareerTech agency and a key player in the establishment of Oklahoma’s technology center system.

“The Arch Alexander Award recognizes CareerTech educators who have made significant contributions to Oklahoma’s CareerTech system,” according to State CareerTech Director Phil Berkenbile. “The award is to applaud those who are progressive leaders in program and curriculum development and utilizing advanced technology in education.”

A Stillwater native, Friedemann has served in career and technology education for 39 years. He earned his doctoral degree in Occupational and Adult Education from Oklahoma State University was presented with the award by former President Pro Tempore of the Oklahoma State Senate Cal Hobson.

He began his career as Putnam City West High School’s Marketing Education teacher-coordinator. Friedemann left teaching to work with the Oklahoma Department of Vocational and Technical Education in Stillwater as a curriculum specialist. He was then named assistant state supervisor for Marketing Education. In 1978, he joined Great Plains Technology Center as director of student services, later becoming assistant superintendent.

Returning to the Oklahoma Department of CareerTech in 1981, Friedemann served as assistant state coordinator of area schools, then the division’s state coordinator, and assistant state director before joining the administration team at Francis Tuttle as assistant superintendent. In 2009 he was named superintendent.

Friedemann is a member of the Academy for State Goals, past president of the Oklahoma Career Tech Foundation and vice- president of the National Council of Local Administrators. He has authored numerous manuscripts on career and technology education and is featured in several professional journals.

Tom Friedemann, superintendent and chief executive officer of Francis Tuttle Technology Center, Oklahoma City, received the Arch Alexander Award at the 42nd Annual CareerTech Summer Conference held Aug. 4-6 in Oklahoma City. Former President Pro Tempore of the Oklahoma State Senate Cal Hobson, left, presented the Arch Alexander Award to Tom Friedemann, superintendent and CEO of Francis Tuttle Technology Center in Oklahoma City.

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Posted Agust 17, 2009

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