OK Education Secretary Nellie Sanders Visits WHS Technology Student Interns

Oklahoma Secretary of Education Nellie Tayloe Sanders visited Westmoore High School's Technology Bar and student interns last week to learn about their Dell Certification program and connect with the students on their learning styles and desire to work in the IT industry. 

Sanders shared with the WHS students the details of her unique education struggle and journey, as she says she did not learn in the same way as her classmates and thought she wasn't as smart as everyone else. It wasn't until age 12 that she learned through testing that she was dyslexic and would later find success using different pathways to education and, ultimately, success in her career.

What I learned was that I was 'scrappy.' And being scrappy is what makes so many of us find solutions to education, to work, and to success.

- Nellie Tayloe Sanders

She told the students that she worked with the Conde Nast Publications group in New York selling magazine advertising and it was during that time that an internal team recognized her value after interviewing dozens of applicants. Sanders said they offered her a new pathway to continued education and career success and stressed that the Technology Internship Program the Moore Public Schools Technology Department has for them is exactly the same approach. 

WHS students Jose Rios, Boston Quigel, Aeris Broeker, Nathan Fredrick and Caleb Wall shared their own stories of struggling to learn exactly how their classmates did meet educational requirements. They explained how they each found a greater purpose and success as Technology Interns with MPS. Also 

Sanders told them she was honored that they shared their stories with her and that she was grateful to connect with each of them so they can all see that in one way or another, everyone has a challenge to overcome and that it does not determine their lifelong success. 

"I want to encourage each of you to stay curious and keep learning all that you can about technology," Sanders said.    

After their discussion, Sanders took a tour of the Westmoore College & Career Center, where the Repair I and II classes are held.

About the TechCrew Program

As a partner in education with Dell, Moore Public Schools Technology Director Jun Kim and Assistant Superintendent of Federal Programs and CareerTech Jimmy Martin initiated a TechCrew program with former CareerTech Specialist Micah Willieford. Through the program, students follow a technology-focused pathway toward Dell Certification and assist with the repair of the thousands of one-to-one devices assigned to students through the Technology Department.

MPS students can enroll in a computer-based pathway leading to the TechCrew team that starts in 9^th grade with Fundamentals of Technology. The Repair I course is for 10^th grade, which may lead to the Dell Tech Direct certification. Repair II is for 11^th grade and can lead to working on-site with technicians from the MPS Technology team. After completion of these courses, seniors are ready to apply for a TechCrew paid internship with up to 10 hours of work per week. 

The Fundamentals of Technology, TechCrew I, and TechCrew II are Comprehensive CareerTech Courses that are part of the Business, Information Technology Education (BITE) career pathway and can count as computer credits on a student transcript. Current Oklahoma high school graduation standards require college prep students to have two (2) units of World Language or Computer Tech and these courses satisfy these credits. The Computer Repair pathway is one of our pathways available through Comprehensive CareerTech.