Though it is currently summer break for countless students across the county, school is still heavily on administrators’ minds.

One administrator in particular is very excited about the upcoming term.

Kurt Thomas, Chisholm Trail Technology Center superintendent, served as guest speaker last Thursday at Kingfisher Lions Club.

CTTC has had a year of growth and Thomas was passionate about the CareerTech’s recent “big spring.”

With a new school district, Thomas-Fay Custer, voting to annex into the district, CTTC now encompasses 60 miles of the state from Dover to Custer City.

Other schools in the district include charter members Kingfisher, Lomega and Watonga.

Thomas views this as an opportunity to reach more students and set students on a career path without having to receive a college degree...and the debt that comes with it.

“We feel we’re a great pathway for students,” Thomas said, “and it will continue to increase.”

This is a promising sign in the fight Thomas is joining in what he describes as a growing problem of an “unskilled workforce.”

CTTC and other centers like it are marketed as a CareerTech and not a vocational- technial center because of the opportunities they provide in setting up students for a career through their curriculum.

The school currently has nine programs and will soon add a 10th.

Thomas says his “goal is to help kids” and by preparing them for the workforce, his staff is doing just that, he said.

He continues to expand CTTC to provide ample opportunities for his students to receive certifications and when new program ideas are presented, he’s eager to listen.

Pioneer Telephone recently spoke of its need for qualified truck drivers and Thomas liked the idea of providing a new skill to his students.

Now, they can enroll in a 28-day course to earn their Commercial Driver’s License and have a steady job after.

CTTC also offered a firefighter training program last weekend conducted by Oklahoma State and in the coming months a meat truck will be stationed at the CTTC for three months so students can learn meat processing.

Thomas is set to introduce pole climbing for linemen and a fiber optic class as well.

These programs are not only making Thomas excited for school, but students too.

“This helps give initiative to kids to want to go to school,” Thomas said, “because it is more hands on for kids who don’t excel at other school subjects, like English or math.”

Yet, perhaps Thomas’ greatest source of excitement was the students’ lives he sees changed.

“When you see kids that are successful,” he said, “it motivates me to get up every day as an educator.”