TECH TIMES
A NEW TOP DOG FOR NORTHEAST TECH
For more than 50 years, Northeast Tech students have been defined by hard work, determination and a shared drive to accomplish their career goals. Now, for the first time in school history, that shared identity has a face, the Husky.
“I love the concept of a Husky representing our district,” said Derek Beller, NT superintendent. “It typifies the type of student we want to recruit and train. We want hardworking, devoted, loyal and eager students who want to be produc tive citizens in our communities.”
The decision to pursue a mascot largely originated internally, driven by staff across several campuses, Beller said.
“In conversations with staff, it gained traction quickly,” he said. “They know how proud our students are to be part of the NT family once they arrive on campus. What better way to make them feel special and included than to give them a symbol they can share, not only with students on their own campus, but with others across the entire district? I foresee students having a strong sense of pride as Northeast Tech Huskies.”
“This was an exciting and meaningful project because it wasn’t just about choosing a mascot; it was about shaping a shared identity for Northeast Tech,” said Jennifer Walker, communications director. “From coordinating submissions and committee review to managing voting and designer selection, it was a large undertaking, but one rooted in listening to our students, staff and communities. Seeing it come together has been incredibly exciting.”
Students, instructors, administrators, support staff and members of the general public were invited to submit mascot ideas in September 2025.
The only stipulation was that submissions could not replicate mascots used by partnering high schools or fellow technology centers across the state.
Over the course of two weeks, more than 120 submissions were received.
Final choices were narrowed down to the Trailblazers, the Huskies and the Techhounds.
Voting began Sept. 22 and drew nearly 400 votes before concluding Oct. 3.
During the process, the Trailblazers option was disqualified.
“Despite our best efforts to conduct due diligence, we learned that another technology center used the term ‘Trailblazers’ more than a decade ago,” Walker said. “While they have since transitioned to primarily using a bison mascot, they do still reference the ‘Trailblazer’ name. Because of this overlap, we chose not to move forward with that option.”
A runoff voting period was then held from Oct. 6–10 to decide between the Huskies and the Techhounds.
While voting was close, the Husky was officially announced as NT’s new mascot on Oct. 14, to the delight of students eagerly awaiting the results.
“It was fun to participate in the voting process because we really are helping make history at NT,” said Lainey Kingfisher, a student at the Kansas Campus.
A request for graphic design proposals was sent to the public to support the upcoming branding campaign featuring NT’s new canine.
More than 20 proposals were submitted from across the country, with freelancer Josh Mindemann of Fayetteville, Ark., selected.
“We selected Josh because of his direct experience in mascot creation and brand development,” Walker said. “As a member of the University of Arkansas football program’s media team, he brings a high level of expertise in designing and branding mascots that are both recognizable and enduring. We were confident he would deliver a professional, high-quality design that reflects the NT mission.”
The official mascot launch is scheduled for February 2026 and will feature a commemorative T-shirt and special-edition acceptance boxes for incoming Northeast Tech students.
The NT Communications department was charged with overseeing the process.
Walker assembled a committee that included members of the communications team, Beller, representatives from each of NT’s four campuses, a representative from NT Business and Industry Services and a community member to narrow down the options. Each submission was evaluated and awarded points based on several factors, including marketability, longevity and relevance to NT.
“Before we voted, I never really thought about it. Now, with a new mascot, I hope it helps the students who follow after me feel like they’re part of one pack.”
Pryor Campus student Michaela Warren echoed similar feelings.
“Being a Husky brings pride, belonging and identity,” she said. “It connects you to a community and a shared purpose.”
“It’s more than just a dog. It is extremely skilled and knows how to lead, and that makes it the perfect mascot for us,” said Afton Campus student Alyssa Gimble.
BUILT FOR BUSINESS: INSIDE THE WORKFORCE TRAINING HUB
Inside a 4,400-square-foot building in downtown Pryor, reconfigured floor plans and demolished walls have given way to Northeast Tech’s newest centralized vision for workforce development and business, the Workforce Training Hub.
“This location shows our continued commitment to meeting the needs of our staff, our business partners and our communities,” said Derek Beller, NT superintendent. “It provides more office space for employees, creates new space for training and supports client recruitment. I am really proud and grateful to our Facilities team, as well as GH2 Architects and Ellingson Contracting for completing the project so smoothly.”
“The Hub” as it has been affectionately dubbed by NT staff, features 10 offices and will house members of both NT
Facilities and the Business and Industry Services Business Development teams.
“We are excited to have another location in town, outside of the industrial park. It’s a huge asset in terms of allowing business owners and entrepreneurs in the community easier access to our team and services,” said Troy Steidley, BIS director.
“Working at the main BIS office, it’s a great location for safety and leadership training for businesses in the park, but we were really missing the small-business element.”
Previously the NT Business Development team was in one large office, but will now separate offices to offer services
including business development, technology training, organizational leadership
and development, and agriculture business management.
As part of the remodel, the team will also have access to a six-seat meeting room, a 10-seat computer lab and a 24-seat training room.
“It’s really an opportunity to innovate and try new things,” Steidley said. “They’re having conversations about what they haven’t done before, and there’s already a lot of excitement from the Pryor community. We envision lunch-and-learns, training opportunities at all times of day and allowing outside groups to use the space for training so we can build those relationships.”
Northeast Tech purchased the building from Pryor Printing in December 2024. Renovations began in June 2025, with GH2 Architects and Ellingson Contracting hired for the project.
Tasked with coordinating the renovations was NT Director of Facilities Jimmy Sanders.
“We had a goal of about eight months for the construction process,” Sanders said. “We gutted the building and brought it back to its shell, which gave us a clean slate to design a space that meets the needs of the district. We also made improvements to the front of the building with new paint and signage. It looks sharp.”
The Hub will also provide dedicated space for Sanders and his team, including Deputy Director of Facilities Carey Backward and Administration Office Specialist Brenda Moorhead.
“We’re looking forward to having dedicated space for meetings,” Sanders said. “With so many construction projects in recent years, we were always searching for room to discuss updates and challenges. At times, you feel like you’re part of the problem in a district that’s bursting at the seams. It’s rewarding to now be part of the solution.”
Final touches on the project were completed in January 2026.
“This project has been such a success because of everyone involved,” Sanders said. “It’s never just one person — it’s the whole team, including the school board, that makes it possible. I’m excited to open the doors and share this space with the district.”
The Workforce Training Hub is located in downtown Pryor, Okla.
Business Development Trainer Eillee Patuto is seen working in her new office. The Hub features 10 offices for staff in addition to its new training spaces.
Members of the Business and Industry Services and NT Facilities teams gathered together to celebrate the new addition. Bottom L-R: Brenda Moorhead, Megan Edwards, and Deana Spencer. Top L-R: Eillee Patuto and Dani Marlin.
The Hub features multiple training room options, including a 24-seat training room for larger groups.
A NEW VISION: JOHNSON REFRAMES VISUAL COMMUNICATIONS
The Visual Communications program at Northeast Tech
Afton is reinventing itself for the 2025-2026 school year with new instructor Jennifer Johnson at the helm.
“This program has evolved over the years as the needs of the industry have changed,” Johnson said. “I was told it used to be more broadcast focused, then it evolved into more of an Information Technology program. What I’m seeing now in my first year is that digital marketing is the direction we need to be taking this program. Video production, content creation, photography, shooting drone footage, that’s what businesses are looking for.”
Johnson is experiencing a “reinvention” of her own at NT after spending nearly 15 years as a teacher at Fairland Public Schools.
“When I was teaching at the high school level, I saw students who normally were not enjoying school that were loving going to Tech every day. Now I understand it,” she said. “They want to be here. They’ve applied to be here. It makes teaching fun
in a whole new way. I’m learning all this new technology right along with the students.”
Johnson has challenged her students to approach projects with a “marketing and advertising agency” mindset.
“We run the classroom as if we are running a marketing and advertising agency. This is a business and we want to put forth the best work we can because that creates our reputation. Reputation can affect securing future jobs. If we’re not securing jobs, then the business goes away. So we take a lot of pride in our work.”
Since August, students have completed a variety of projects including a marketing video for the Grove Chamber of Commerce and capturing headshots for the Miami Chamber of Commerce at its annual Women in Business event.
“I want to give my students the opportunity to develop the skills they need to produce a lot of different projects. We’re
FROM UNCERTAIN TO I.T.: HEYDT TACKLING ONE TICKET AT A TIME
One job-shadowing experience and a single conversation with a counselor were all it took for Kaiden Heydt to take a second look at how Northeast Tech could help him reach his career goals.
“I wasn’t entirely sure what I wanted to do after graduating,” said Heydt. “I did know I wanted a career where I could help others and solve problems in a hands-on way. That’s what led me to job shadow the I.T. Department at Miami Public Schools. During that experience, I discovered how much I enjoyed the problem-solving process and the technical side of supporting others.”
With his focus narrowed down, Heydt’s next thought was, “How?”
“I spoke with my school counselor about next steps. They explained that NT had an I.T. program that aligned with my interests and I started researching it more. I was definitely aware of NT before, but I hadn’t taken the time to look into what programs it offered or what opportunities it provided.”
Though Heydt had now missed the opportunity to attend NT in high school, he
only going to do that by networking in the community to complete practical, hands-on projects,” Johnson said.
Beyond a portfolio of work, Johnson’s main goal is that students are confident leaving her program and going into the workforce.
“I want them to feel confident navigating a business environment. I want them to have confidence in their skills, whether that’s editing a photo in Photoshop or flying a drone. I want to see these students be successfully employed and working their dream job. They can go create stuff they love everyday and get paid to do it.”
utilized NT’s 13th Year Scholarship to pay for his tuition as an adult student at the NT Afton Campus.
From August 2023 to December 2024, he completed classes in both the Business Communications and Visual Communications programs.
“The classes definitely focused more on the on-screen side of I.T., so troubleshooting software issues, learning about networks, and understanding how different systems work together.”
In April 2025, Heydt was hired at Northeastern Tribal Health System as an I.T. Help Desk Technician.
“I’m the first point of contact for incoming tickets and phone calls,” he said. “I ensure that all computers, machines, medical equipment, and everyday office devices are functioning at their best. I troubleshoot and resolve as much as I can at my level, and if the issue is beyond my scope, I escalate it to the next tier of I.T. support.”
He credits NT for helping him succeed.
“This job has been an incredible opportunity. I’m confident it will only continue
to get better as I keep advancing in my career,” Heydt said. “Without the certifications and experience I gained from class, I would have had a much harder time getting this job. If I could change anything about my time at Northeast Tech, I’d only wish I had started there sooner. The skills I learned, both technical and professional, gave me a strong foundation and the confidence to step into the field prepared.”
Jennifer Johnson, third from left, and her students have been doing projects in the community, including event photography and headshots at the Miami Area Chamber Women in Business event in 2025.
Photo Courtesy
PRE-ENGINEERING PROGRAM GETS NEW HOME ON CLAREMORE CAMPUS
Future architects, aerospace engineers and robotics technicians are walking the halls of Northeast Tech’s Claremore Campus for the very first time now that the Pre-Engineering program has claimed the campus as its new home.
“Moving to the campus has brought a lot of positive change,” said Keeli Coyle, program instructor. “Using the campus scheduling, we are able to get out of the classroom easier and spend extended time working on projects. And probably most importantly, the campus atmosphere is so positive to be a part of.”
Pre-Engineering was originally housed at Claremore High School, where NT took over the program in
2013. However, recent changes presented an opportunity to reevaluate its location, according to NT Superintendent Derek Beller.
“CHS has been a great program partner with NT for over a decade. But we recently had one of our two instructors retire, and with the shift at CHS from block scheduling, we felt the time was right for us to try to better serve all students from CHS and our other surrounding high schools. We are very happy with the wider interest that it has gained by the program joining the Claremore Campus,” Beller said.
Coyle is in agreement.
“Last year, we had four students in the program who weren’t from Claremore. This year we have 15,” she said. “It has always been open to all partner
Coyle also has plans for her students to keep competing, including in CareerTech’s SkillsUSA, which is judged by industry professionals and challenges students through competitions on the local, regional, state and national levels.
“I still want to compete in SkillsUSA and have students go through that process of preparing,” she said. “We have participated heavily in the leadership and competitive sides of SkillsUSA, but I also know that the atmosphere is great for students. From the time they walk in the door to when they walk out, every staff member works very hard for them to have a meaningful, positive experience.”
Moving to campus has also expanded opportunities for Coyle’s students to explore career options.
something related, but we also have students that do other things.”
schools, but I do think some students come to NT to be at NT. I am very excited to be able to offer the opportunity to all schools to attend and be on campus.”
Pre-Engineering is currently a twoyear program that uses Project Lead the Way curriculum, though plans are in place to transition it into a one-year program in the near future.
“The plan for the one-year program is to go through Intro to Engineering and Design and Principles of Engineering first semester, and then in the second we will do a few Aerospace units and work through a capstone,” Coyle said. “Our new structure will be beneficial for any student that is interested in design, technology, engineering and problem solving in general.“
“My number one goal for my students is to gain enough experience in a variety of engineering fields through coursework, speakers, tours, projects, and research that they leave feeling they have a direction for what their next steps are. A lot of our students do go to college and use the engineering foundation to become engineers or
Coyle said she currently has 13 seniors in her program interested in a variety of engineering and non-engineering fields including aviation, biomedical engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, robotics and mechatronics, law, theater and the military.
“The diversity is wild, but I really do think going through the program helps rule out and identify what they like and what they’re good at,” she said. “If you are curious about how things work and enjoy learning new things, our program is a great place to figure out what you’re passionate about and what your next steps should be as you graduate.”
Pre-Engineering Instructor Keeli Coyle, left, and her students have made their new home on the NT Claremore Campus.
WIRED FOR WORK: WELLS HITS THE GROUND RUNNING
Billy Wells completed the Northeast Tech Kansas Campus Electrical Technology program on May 17, 2024. By June 17, he was starting his first job in the field.
“I was out on the road within a month after graduating high school,” Wells said. “It just shows how quick you can get into the field because of the demand. It didn’t take me long at all to get going.”
Wells currently works for The Industrial Company, owned by Kiewit Corporation, as a helper.
“Right now, I’m doing the basics and earning my field experience on the job, working the hours and in the elements. I have also been able to use some of my knowledge from NT, especially performing terminations and doing maintenance safely.”
Wells is also in his second year of an apprenticeship program at TIC, with hopes to continue on in his career.
“To get to year three and year four, your instructor has to pick you specifically to come into the class. I’m hoping that happens because being accepted means they see you as a future leader in the company,” he said. “They also offer training to earn your National Center for Construction Education and Research certification. After four years, they help you obtain your journeyman electrician license. There’s a lot of skill involved, which is what drew me into the field in the first place.”
For now, Wells is enjoying the projects and possibilities that come with the job.
“I’ve made so many new friends and have been able to travel and see new
places. You do spend a lot of time away from home, but you make good money. The projects are also fun, like helping build power plants to supply power to new homes in states like Mississippi.”
He credits Electrical Technology Instructor Wade Friesen with preparing him for the workforce.
“Mr. Friesen really stressed being drug-free, drama-free and having great attendance. And he wasn’t lying. That’s what companies are looking for. If you have those three attributes, you can go anywhere,” Wells said. ”I
wouldn’t say I was extremely booksmart, but doing those things and being a hard worker, companies are willing to train you. They’re willing to invest in you if you’ve invested in yourself.”
As for high school students currently considering attending NT, Wells offered some simple advice.
“Take advantage of the free opportunity! NT really showed me that if you make it to class on time every day and apply yourself, it’s going to set you up to have any career you want. Life is what you make it.”
ESTRADA FINDS HER STRIDE AT NT KANSAS
When Joselyn Estrada graduated from the Northeast Tech Kansas Campus in May 2023, she didn’t have to wander far to fulfill her passion for making a difference. By December that year, she found herself back on campus, this time as an employee.
“I was freshly out of high school, so what I wanted my career to be was something meaningful,” she said. “I didn’t just want a retail job at some store at a mall. I wanted to know what I was doing was making a difference, and I was so blessed to get a job here as an administrative assistant.”
From the start, Estrada knew she loved what NT had to offer.
“I visited campus as a sophomore in high school. I was like, ‘this is definitely for me.’ I enrolled in Visual Communications and completed the office
specialist pathway. I worked so hard to keep my grades up and feel like Tech really did prepare me with on-the-job training opportunities.”
Nowadays, you’re most likely to find Estrada at the front desk.
“I love working in the front and answering phones. I love interacting with the students. Especially with me being an alumni of the campus, it really opened my eyes to how five minutes of talking to someone or just answering a simple question can really make a difference.”
But her job isn’t always just answering phones.
“I see myself more as a person who fills in the gaps when needed,” she said.
“There’s certain days that you need to be pulled to do something or help someone. We have a food pantry here and I help keep up with that. I help our student advisor a lot with tasks that she needs to do for events, like when we
have our eighth grade and sophomore tours. I’m always stepping in to help with whatever I can.”
Estrada’s efforts have not gone unnoticed. During the 2024-2025 school year, she was voted Support Educator of the Year for the Kansas Campus by her peers.
While she doesn’t quite know how the future will shape up, Estrada does know her plans include NT.
“I would love to move up,” she said.
“Our new Deputy Superintendent Dr. Ravonda Higgins was telling me her story, how she started working in the office, and then as an instructor to now. Just interacting with her a little bit really opened my eyes and showed me that, ‘wow, you really can do anything.’ The limits are above the sky. I’m young, but I know this is the family I want to stick with.”
Wells recently visited his former Electrical Technology program at the NT Kansas Campus to give a presentation to current students.
Courtesy Paula Reed
FROM STUDENT TO TEACHER: CHANCELLOR’S JOURNEY
TO MAKING A DIFFERENCE
For Jessie Chancellor, teaching has never been just a job, it’s a chance to make a lasting impact in a child’s life. And after a year of training in Northeast Tech Pryor’s Teacher Prep program, she’s now putting that belief into practice as an assistant teacher at the new Cherokee Nation Child Development Center near MidAmerica Industrial Park.
“It really makes me feel good that I am making a difference with children at this age because I still remember some of my teachers from when I was in kindergarten,” Chancellor said. “It’s most important to make a difference at the age they are now, because that’s when they start to develop their emotions, character and personality.”
Chancellor assists her classroom lead teacher with a small group of children, making sure they eat breakfast each morning before guiding them through carpet time with songs and reading. Playtime and lunch follows, after which they also learn foundational basics including colors, numbers and animals.
The classroom is just one of 15 at the new 38,000-square-foot CN facility, which opened on July 31, 2025, after a partnership with the MidAmerica Industrial Park. It has the capacity to serve up to 150 children and employs over 50 staff members, including Chancellor.
“My friend got hired here and recommended it. I came and toured and loved it,” Chancellor said. “One reason I absolutely love this job is no matter how your day is going, early in the morning walking into the doors, and all the kids just smiling and giving you a hug and just being so happy to see you, that really just changes your whole day.”
Chancellor always held an interest in teaching, but events during her sophomore year of high school helped solidify her career path.
“We got custody of my little brothers, which are really my cousins, during my sophomore year and they were really delayed in their development skills. My oldest brother couldn’t talk, but after speech therapy and then watching him bond with his teachers, he wasn’t angry, he wasn’t sad all the time. Seeing that made me really want to be an early learning teacher.”
After touring NT Pryor during her sophomore year, Chancellor knew immediately that she needed to enroll in Teacher Prep to help her reach her goals.
She completed the program in May 2025 and credits the experience for helping her secure her new position.
“I think Teacher Prep prepared me for the job I’m working at now because I did not like speaking in front of people until I was in that class. It helped me get out of my shell. I also had to take
tests to get certified, which allows me to be here today with the kids,” she said. “Mrs. Back was my instructor and is still a great friend and mentor even though I’ve graduated.”
As for the future, Chancellor is looking to continue growing in her current role.
“I plan to stay here for a while and get all the certifications I can and grow as a teacher here,” she said. “In the next few years, I plan to go to NSU and get a degree in early learning childhood education. That’s just really what I do want to work in, because I just love the kids so much and would love to help them.”
HIGH SCHOOLERS DIG INTO NEW HEAVY EQUIPMENT PROGRAM
The 2025-2026 school year brought big changes to the Northeast Tech Pryor Campus, including opening the doors to its brand new Heavy Equipment Operator program.
“Programs like this are needed more and more due to the demands in the industry,” said Craig Cooper, program instructor. “There’s a lot of construction going on, from not only contractors, but with municipalities, highway departments and residential areas. The list keeps growing and we need qualified
operators to tackle these projects.”
Originally launched more than five years ago as an evening course for adults, the program is now one of only a handful of opportunities in the entire state where high school students can operate heavy equipment.
To start, students are first introduced to the equipment through simulation technology.
“The simulators have helped tremendously. We start out on simulators before ever moving to the real equipment, which includes a backhoe, excavator, skid loader and wheel loader,” Cooper said. “We use CAT equipment, so CAT has their own simulator program called SimScholars.
It helps students get familiar with the controls before they get into the real thing.”
Once students are ready, they move into real equipment, including practicing moving dirt in skid loaders, digging ditches with backhoes, moving items with a forklift and stacking tires with excavators.
Students also learn about material handling, different soil types, and road grading throughout.
Cooper compared the program to fond childhood memories.
“Think about being a kid playing in the dirt with Tonka toys. If you really enjoyed that, now you get to bring that to the next level,” he said. “Starting out, it will be as simple as moving dirt in a skid loader. Once they get that visual and technique, there’s a lot of pride. That’s rewarding. This never feels like a job when I see it.”
Heavy Equipment Instructor Craig Cooper, right, first introduces students to heavy equipment through simulator technology before they move dirt in real machines.
FULL-TIME TECHNICIAN, PART-TIME STUDENT— BAILEY’S ALL IN
While many 18-yearolds are still weighing their future options, Derek Bailey is already doubling down on his career goals.
By day, he works as a full-time service technician for C5 Industrial Automation. At night, he’s utilizing a Northeast Tech 13th Year Scholarship to attend class as a part-time student in the Electrical and Electronics Technology Program.
“It’s amazing because I can work and make money throughout the day, while still getting to learn three nights a week,” Bailey said. “It allows me to learn a lot more in a shorter span of time, so it’s just a true blessing.”
While balancing work and school has kept him busy, Bailey has a clear end goal after the program ends.
“I’m in the process of getting my apprentice license right now, but I’m looking to go all the way to obtain my unlimited contractor’s license, which will be 12,000 hours of total work.”
Bailey’s curiosity in electrical and automation work originally began at home listening to his father, an instrumentation technician at Siemens Energy.
When his own time came, Bailey enrolled in Northeast Tech Pryor’s Electrical Controls and Instrumentation Program with Instructor Jesse Gilmore in 2025.
“Mr. Gilmore’s class prepared me for the real experiences I would have in the industry,” Bailey said. “It advanced my knowledge of the complexity of this field. I’m much farther along than those just coming into it.”
It was also Gilmore who pointed Bailey toward what was then a pilot course hap-
pening in NT Pryor’s backyard in 2024the Electrical and Electronics Technology Program at MidAmerica Industrial Park.
Currently in its second year, the ninemonth EET program is a partnership between MidAmerica, NT and Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology. It gives recent high school graduates and working professionals access to micro-credentials in areas such as industrial electrical systems, electric motor controls and instrumentation applications — all through hands-on training designed to meet the needs of local industries.
The partnership also expands tuition assistance, including NT’s 13th Year Scholarship, which gives students up to one year after high school to earn 1,000 tuition-free training hours.
“Mr. Gilmore and I talked about what steps I wanted to take after high school, and he knew the EET program was taking off,” Bailey said. “He suggested I apply for a 13th Year Scholarship so I could attend EET after high school. The program and the scholarship have been huge game changers. If I had to pay for those classes out of pocket, it would have been rough. Now, I just go to classes and learn.”
joined the program’s second cohort in fall 2025, which also opened the door to his position at C5 Industrial Automation.
“At C5 we do all sorts of automation work. Processes that would normally be manually controlled are automated and controlled by a computer,” he said. “We make plastic molds for things like gas cans, car parts and oil pans with big machines where you just push a button. My job as a service technician is to troubleshoot if something goes down and calibrate machines when needed. The more you learn, the more you get to do. And who knows, maybe it’ll take off and I’ll have my own company one day.”
PULLING DUAL DUTY: NEW PARTNERSHIP TRAINS
FIREFIGHTERS AS PEACE OFFICERS
After more than six months and 600 hours of training, 14 basic peace officers were sworn into service on Oct. 6, 2025, as part of a new partnership between the Oklahoma Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training, Grand River Dam Authority, and Northeast Tech’s Pryor Campus.
“To see three organizations like CLEET, GRDA and NT come together to make something like this happen, it truly makes you proud,” said Josh Berg, NT Pryor Adult Education director. “With good conversations and proper planning, we can accomplish a lot to help our communities.”
Major Tyler Brown of the GRDA Police Department approached NT in January 2025 about hosting CLEET’s Basic Academy on a modified schedule after facing a staffing shortage.
“We employ a lot of part-time people to help us with the security of our
facilities, but keeping those numbers up is difficult. That’s when we realized we already had a number of off-duty firemen that work for us in a rescue capacity, so we decided to look into how we could get them certified in a dual role,” said Brown. “As firemen, they usually work one day on and two days off. That allowed us to offer the classes where cadets could attend on days off and not use vacation time.”
Cadets came from a variety of organizations in northeastern Oklahoma to participate, while GRDA provided the instructional staff and NT assumed responsibility for preparation, enrollment, and classroom space.
As part of the academy, cadets were required to take courses in several areas including ethics, defensive tactics, law enforcement driver training, active-shooter training, sexual assault investigations and murder investigations.
“It’s not an easy class,” said Brown. “I
think I’ve talked to several of them, and they said this was one of the most challenging classes that they’ve ever taken, both physically and mentally. It was a big commitment of their time, but fortunately, everybody worked together and it was a great success.”
Of the 14 graduates, eight were slated to begin working directly for GRDA.
“Having these eight rescue technicians who are trained and certified now as both police officers and rescue technicians, helps them serve that dual role for us. That just strengthens our numbers and our ability to have depth on our bench,” Brown said.
Looking ahead, Berg indicated he hopes to see similar opportunities continue at NT.
“We look forward to expanding similar opportunities in the future,” he said. “I love when our community partners come to us and we are able to fulfill their needs, as well as fulfill our mission of preparing individuals for successful careers!”
Bailey
