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DALE GATES “He spent countless hours working with students to prepare for speeches, job skill demonstrations, and parliamentary procedure activities and contests.”
In his more than 20 year tenure at Autry Technology Center, Dale Gates impacted Autry students, faculty, staff, and ultimately our community, in immeasurable ways. As Director of Curriculum, Dale worked to ensure the best quality instruction at the school, and even developed new programs and revamped existing ones. Overseeing Trade & Industry programs, countless people obtained certificates under Dale’s leadership. These graduates launched into careers with unique skill sets, little to no debt, and improved quality of life.
was leading the way for a successful and smooth accreditation process. The school was first fully accredited in 1987, according to autrytech.edu. Maintaining accreditation involves interviews and a strict audit of the Gates retired from Autry Tech in 2019. organization. During his Autry tenure, Gates prepared students for speech competitions within Career “Dale’s attention to detail was very evident & Technical Student Organizations (CTSO). in both his professional and personal life,” “Through his guidance and direction, many Strate said. “He was an instrumental leader students were successful on the district, in Autry Technology Center’s 2017 accredistate and national levels as contest winners tation process. He gathered and compiled and officers for their student organizations,” information and data from all departments Strate said. as well as worked with all staff members in preparation for the evaluation. He was very Before working at Autry, Gates held mul- thorough and left no stone unturned in this tiple Agriculture Education positions from process.” 1981 through 1995, in Kingfisher, Stillwater and Fairview, Oklahoma. Making his pasGates’ legacy at Autry, and across Northsionate career in education - from start to west Oklahoma, has continued long after finish - an effort to enhance student's lives his 2019 retirement. and prepare them for the future.
Gates was known for his competitive edge, specifically in preparing students for speech competitions. He spent hours on end with students, and sometimes coworkers, preparing them for presentations by listening and taking notes. He knew how to instill “Dale Gates had a huge impact on student confidence, and could take a presentation successes in leadership and professional from average to attention-grabbing. development contests during his tenure at Autry Technology Center,” Janet Strate, AuIn 2017, Gates had one more large feat try’s Director of Full-Time Programs, said. to accomplish for Autry Tech, and that ENID MONTHLY | MARCH 2022 | 3
