CTE and STEM

Career and Technical Education is fully immersed in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).  It is hard to find a career and technical training program that does not have one of these disciplines as a driving force.  One may think at first that “STEM” may not be present, but with a second look you can find these disciplines rich within.  It was only fitting that this spring’s CASMEO STEM Community Workshop was held at Francis Tuttle Technology Center’s Portland Campus.

I currently serve as Vice President for the Central Oklahoma STEM Alliance (COSTEMA), which Francis Tuttle is greatly involved with, and was able to educate Dave Lopez, Oklahoma Secretary of State, on all the great things our career technology centers are looking to achieve with these STEM partnerships.  In only a short time, the Tulsa Regional STEM Alliance has been able to bridge strong STEM partnerships with Union Public Schools, Tulsa Technology Center, Tulsa Community College, and the University of Tulsa.

COSTEMA hopes to develop these same types of partnerships with the school districts Francis Tuttle Technology Center serves; Cashion, Crescent, Deer Creek, Edmond, Putnam City, and Western Heights, Metro Technology Centers, and the school districts they serve; Oklahoma City, and Millwood, Oklahoma City Community College, and the University of Central Oklahoma.  My goal as an advocate for STEM is to bring attention to all the STEM-related activities promoted through Career and Technical education, as well as the real-world, critical thinking scenarios and projects we promote and provide for our students.  Educating individuals such as Dave Lopez is important for our continued advocacy.

Audrey Lee
2017 ACTE Region IV Fellow
Francis Tuttle Technology Center
Oklahoma City, OK