“It’s important for students to see other individuals working and striving for the same goals. They’re going to be working in the field for a long time and will see those other individuals and get to know them, so why not start right now?"
During the Celebrate Educators event, future teachers and childcare professionals gathered at Francis Tuttle Technology Center on Friday, Sept. 26, to network, hear from those working in the field, and plan for their careers.
More than 250 students and instructors from eight technology centers across the state attended the event, which was started three years ago by a group of Early Care and Education instructors.
“We wanted an opportunity for students to network with other CareerTech centers so they didn’t feel alone in the field of early care, and it grew from there,” explained Francis Tuttle Instructor Andrea Wiley. “It’s important for students to see other individuals working and striving for the same goals. They’re going to be working in the field for a long time and will see those other individuals and get to know them, so why not start right now?”
The first year featured a panel, and year two grew to include a keynote speaker. The 2025 event expanded to invite Teacher Preparation students in addition to those in Early Care and Education programs. Because of enrollment numbers, the event featured two keynote speakers: Melissa Evon, 2025 Oklahoma State Teacher of the Year, and Kelly Ramsey, the owner and founder of Developing People, Inc.
Attendees were divided into two groups and heard from both speakers, participated in a workshop with Ramsey, and explored potential next steps for their careers at the College Fair. Francis Tuttle’s students played a key part in the day, introducing and closing sessions.
During her keynote, Ramsey talked about a beehive and how the bees all work together and strive to benefit each other and build community. This complemented the Celebrate Educators’ theme of the bumblebee, which aerodynamically should not be able to fly, Wiley explained.
“But when it was created, no one told the bumblebee that, and so it continues to fly and defy the odds every single day,” she said. “I believe that's what teachers do in their classroom. Whenever they're working with children, they work miracles.”
For both the instructors and students, the day highlighted the value of connection and collaboration. Roxanne Travis, a second-year student in Francis Tuttle’s Early Care program and Deer Creek High School senior, liked hearing others’ perspectives on topics like what they find important about their programs and approaches to teaching.
“You can find people you have a lot in common with regarding background or future plans,” Travis said. “It was really interesting to get to know some of the students from other places that I wouldn’t have ever met without this event.”
Wiley enjoyed watching her students build those connections, much like the ones she has cultivated throughout her career.
“I love working with the other CareerTechs,” Wiley shared. “That’s what I’m trying to instill with my students, the collaboration and the friendships that I have outside of Francis Tuttle in Early Care. I get to see them maybe once, twice, three times a year, but I always look forward to it. It’s so neat when students see somebody they know because they’ll have that for the rest of their life too.”