Dr. Phil Berkenbile was named state director of the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education on Jan. 6, 2004, by its State Board. He previously served as interim state director.

Berkenbile began his career in Oklahoma as an agricultural education instructor for Morrison Public Schools.  He joined the Oklahoma Department of CareerTech in 1988 as the agricultural education northwest district supervisor and curriculum specialist.  In 1994 he became the agricultural education assistant state supervisor.  A year later Berkenbile left the agency to become the superintendent of schools in Morrison. He returned to the agency in 1999 as the associate state director of educational services.  In April 2003, he was selected as chief of staff, and in May 2003 he began serving as interim state director.

Berkenbile serves on the Governor’s Taskforce on Aerospace and Information Security, the Governor’s Taskforce on Healthcare, the Oklahoma Manufacturers Alliance Board, the State Insurance Advisory Council, and the State Workforce Development Board.  He is past-chair of the Oklahoma Education Technology Trust (OETT) Foundation, a member of the National Association of State Directors of Career and Technology Education (NASDCTE), member of the Oklahoma College Savings Taskforce, member of Southwest Region Board of Directors of the American Red Cross and a 2001-02 graduate of Leadership Oklahoma – Class XIV.  He is a member of the Oklahoma Partnership for School Readiness Program and a 2001-02 graduate of Educators Leadership Academy.   He serves on the CareerTech  Administrative Council (CTAC) and is a member of the Oklahoma Association of Career and Technology Education (OkACTE).

He received his bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in agricultural education from Oklahoma State University. In 2006 he received the OSU Graduate of Distinction Award in agricultural education.  He is the son of Lucille Berkenbile of Hennessey.

   A recipient of numerous civic and community awards, Berkenbile has also been recognized at the state and national levels for his many contributions to Oklahoma’s education system. 

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