Construction internships pay students to learn Last summer, Oklahoma City Public Schools started a construction trades internship program at Capitol Hill and Northwest Classen high schools. The district partnered with Construct My Future, an Oklahoma City nonprofit that steers students toward careers in the construction industry, and more than a dozen construction companies. For the first nine weeks of the program, students received training that spanned certification, financial literacy and character development. After that, students rotated between job sites for the rest of the 2025-2026 school year and were paid to learn trades ranging from plumbing to installing drywall. In May, the district recognized about 30 seniors who joined the workforce with signing day ceremonies at Capitol Hill and Northwest Classen high schools. The ceremonies are modeled after those for athletes who announce college commitments. “We’ve talked a lot about college and career readiness,” said Toby Blair, executive director of college and career planning for Oklahoma City Public Schools. “But a lot of times, it winds up being college is where the focus is. A student doesn’t necessarily have to have that college degree to reach their unique purpose in life.” Building a workforce from the classroom up With funding from a 2022 bond issue, Oklahoma City Public Schools is building flex spaces dedicated to career tech at six high schools. The 28,000-square-foot workspaces are scheduled to open in August. “Within those, there’s workforce development programming that’s been identified,” said Blair. Areas of interest include aviation, health, film, construction, biotech and cybersecurity. The district coordinates with industry partners to build out work-based learning opportunities that include internships. But students begin taking career interest inventories and assessments as early as seventh grade. “What we aspire to do is create a K through 12th-grade articulation ... so that students
MOORE HIGH SCHOOL INTERNS MCKENZIE GREGORY, SECOND FROM LEFT, AND CAELYN STEIN, FAR RIGHT, POSE WITH REAL ESTATE MENTORS IN FRONT OF A HOUSE TO BE FLIPPED.
“This gives them firsthand, hands-on experience in the field with all things aviation,” said Denise Hensley, the district’s career and technology coordinator. The district partners with Francis Tuttle Technology Center to deliver programming. Students are college or career-ready by the time they graduate, according to Hensley. “Our students know that if they go through our programs, there is a high probability that they will land a career in their area of interest,” said Hensley. Students pursuing CareerTech pathways typically stay in the state of Oklahoma to work, Hensley added. “Industry leaders tell us repeatedly that what we are doing is exactly what they need,” said Hensley. “They need us to train students who can meet their workforce needs.” Preparing students — and Oklahoma — for what’s next As workforce demands evolve, Oklahoma schools are stepping up with real-world training that equips students for success after graduation — whether that’s in college, a trade or directly into the workforce. With strong industry partnerships and growing student interest, these programs are building not just brighter futures for students but also a stronger future for the state.
have a running start going into middle school, already understanding things in the aviation context like: ‘What is flight? What is a drone? What are elements of flight,” explained Scott McAdoo, the district’s director of workforce development. Some training programs offered by the district, which partners with Metro Tech and Oklahoma Community College, can be completed in six to eight weeks and lead directly to a career. “Industry is saying ‘give us a bank of skills, employability skills,’ and we’re going to do the rest,” Blair said. “This is that really solid shift of helping to show students that in the trades, with certain certifications, with certain credentials ... if you really want to look at quality of life and income and debt, there are some really great options.” Putnam City’s unique aviation program takes flight Putnam City Schools offers career tech programming to more than 2,000 students, including an aviation program housed at Wiley Post. Approximately 60 students are currently enrolled in the program, which offers licenses for private pilots and certifications for aviation maintenance technicians and drone pilots.
METROFAMILYMAGAZINE.COM / JULY-AUGUST 2025 13
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online