"It’s recruiting and planting that seed early so that those kids are interested in coming here later.”
Step onto a Francis Tuttle Technology Center campus in June and you’ll find students launching water-bottle rockets into the sky, others preparing tasty treats for a high tea gathering, and some searching for clues at a mock crime scene.
These scenes are part of Summer Quest, the technology center’s annual program that invites 11- to 14-year-old students from across the metro to explore their interests in weeklong, hands-on classes.
In addition to providing students with summer fun, Summer Quest introduces them to Francis Tuttle and the programs they could participate in as high school or adult students. Each Friday, parents are invited to visit the classrooms and see what their students have learned that week.
“Summer Quest is an outreach to the community and our sending schools,” explained Katie Gallagher, Career Readiness and Development Specialist. “There are great opportunities for kids to get on campus and for their parents to come and see what Francis Tuttle is and what we offer. It’s recruiting and planting that seed early so that those kids are interested in coming here later.”
This year, nearly 1,350 seats were filled across 39 classes on the Rockwell and Danforth Campuses.
Class offerings included a variety of culinary options, including “OHHH The Pastabilities,” “Gingerbread House and Charcuterie Chalet Creations,” and “High Tea.” Some STEM-focused classes were “The Science of Star Wars,” “CyberOps: Protect, Defend, Secure,” and “This is Rocket Science.” Students could also tap into their creativity in classes like “Photography 101,” “Concept Art and Drawing,” and “Foley Lab - The Sound of Cinema.”
A new offering was “Junior Surgeons: Inside the Operating Room,” tied to Francis Tuttle’s Surgical Technology Program, which launched in January. “The Art of Teaching” was also offered for the first time in 2025. Additionally, through a partnership with Putnam City Public Schools, students could learn more about “Becoming an Entrepreneur” at Capps Middle School.
Gallagher explained that several Francis Tuttle instructors also teach during Summer Quest. Additionally, she hires classroom teachers from local districts, and assistants to help either in the classroom or the Career Readiness and Development (CRD) department, which coordinates the program.
“People come back year after year, and you really get to know people well,” Gallagher stated. “We’re really tight and like family.”
Tyler Lyons is one of those instructors who continues to be part of Summer Quest. An education major at Oklahoma Christian University, Lyons first worked as a CRD assistant with Gallagher in 2022. He applied because he was looking for a summer job and found a role he loved.
Now, Lyons teaches “Law and Order,” where students learn more about the world of criminal investigations. Activities throughout the week include analyzing DNA samples, learning about fingerprinting, investigating a crime scene, participating in a mock trial, and more. The class ties into both the Biosciences and Medicine Academy and the Criminal Justice Program.
For Lyons, the connections he has built with the students and his coworkers have made him want to return to Summer Quest each year.
“Francis Tuttle is such a wonderful environment with good people and good kids,” Lyons shared. “I really like seeing those kids who come back year after year to do my class, and I get to build up those relationships with them.”