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FEATURE Photo courtesy of Francis Tuttle Technology CenterFRANCIS TUTTLE LEADERSHIP PROGRAMHIGHLIGHTS HISTORYBy Jeff KnappWITH NEW AND YOUNGER EMPLOYEES JOININGTHE RANKS AT FRANCIS TUTTLE TECHNOLOGYCenter in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma,leaders pondered how to keep the historyof their district and that of the Oklahomacareer tech system alive. The yearlongnew employee orientation series includesa brief history of the district, but organizers felt it was necessary for employees togain deeper insight to enable passing on48TechniquesSeptember 2016that knowledge, much like tribal storytelling of centuries past.Leadership Francis Tuttle (Leadership FT) was created with a mission tochallenge, develop and educate new employees by providing professional development and personal growth opportunities.Embedding the history of early leadersand their legacies—with emphasis on theimpact of career and technical education(cte) throughout Oklahoma, across thecountry and around the world—brings anunderstanding of the economic development aspects cte training creates.Though the program is updated eachschool year, a sample monthly scheduleincludes the following components.September: Getting to Know Each OtherApplications are distributed to supervisorsprior to the start of the school year to idenacteonline.org

FEATUREtify potential class members and submittheir names for consideration. After classmembers are selected, the program beginsin September. Members get acquaintedwith an icebreaker as they learn the detailsabout their year ahead. Building strongbonds and trust are the keys to the firstsession, and it traditionally endears members to one another for the year, but moreimportantly, throughout their careers.Leadership FT Chair Judie Harris explains, “The first meeting can be emotional, but [it] always brings the class closertogether in a nurturing environment. Weemphasize that we will always be in a safezone together, and members often talkabout family and values as they describepersonal goals. Building camaraderie ispart of the process.”October: Learning Who They AreThe October meeting is a lesson in becoming an effective leader, instilling the practice of honest and ethical behavior, andlearning the importance of leaders holdingthemselves to higher standards. Usingthe Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (mbti ) assessment, members truly discover whothey are, what drives them, their aspirations and expectations, and best practicesfor interacting with other personality types.Myers-Briggs types are then incorporatedthroughout the year in various ways.Denton Blevins, instructional directorat Francis Tuttle and a Myers-Briggs certified trainer, has observed how learningabout the respective types helps leadersdiscern how individuals interact withothers, particularly when they serve inteams. “Myers-Briggs helps people tobetter understand themselves—theirstrengths and weaknesses regarding theircommunication style. This helps them toconsider aspects of diversity in personality types as it applies to the classroom andamong co-workers,” he said.November: Discovering the OKCareerTech System2016September 28–30Grand Hyatt Tampa BayTampa, FloridaIn November, members gain awareness ofour district and the broader Oklahoma career tech system by visiting one of the other consolidated technology center districtsacross the state, each of which has bothsimilarities and differences from our own.The most visited over the years is CentralTechnology Center in Drumright, Oklahoma. Central Tech has feeder schooldistricts in comparison to Francis Tuttle’ssix. The importance of the visit is for classmembers to see different leadership stylesapplied in similar settings. A highlight atHeld in conjunction with theACTE Region II Conference,September 30-October 1 Photo courtesy of Francis Tuttle Technology Centerwww.acteonline.org/bestpracticesI Class members Elbert Green and Cedric Swift judge the Special Olympics Bocce Ball Tournamentalongside Superintendent’s Leadership Academy member Tammy Phillips.acteonline.orgSeptember 2016Techniques49

FEATURE Photo courtesy of Francis Tuttle Technology CenterI Members of Class XII received an autographed 8 X 10 with Gov. Mary Fallin.GREENHOUSES & EQUIPMENTServing the Horticulture IndustrySince 1946P.O. Box 1564Mobile, Alabama 36633Phone: 800.531.4769Fax: 251.471.5465Central Tech is its truck driver training program. After a quick briefing, members havethe choice of whether to actually drive orsimply to observe during a ride-along: veryfew remain as observers!December: TeamworkAnother popular sessionis the DecemGREENHOUSES& EQUIPMENTServingtheHorticultureber team-building project,Industrywhich takesSinceplace in one ofthe 1946skills kitchens of thedistrict’s School of Culinary Arts. Basedsomewhat on an Iron Chef or P.O.Hell’sBoxKitch1564Mobile,Alabama36633en , concept, teams arepairedin groupswww.GothicArchGreenhouses.comPhone: 800.531.4769by Myers-Briggs type—someteams withFax: 251.471.5465opposites and some with complementarytypes. Students serve as judges and thechef/instructors are the teachers for thisprogram day, leading members throughmany switch-ups, including missing recipes, ingredients and/or utensils, causingthem to have to think out of the box andwork as a team to reach a successful conclusion.Established deadlines for teams tohave their plated meals prepared demonstrates the importance of time manage50TechniquesSeptember 2016ment and working under pressure, withadditional objectives designed to instillconfidence, commitment, a positive attitude and creativity. This session is a greatexperience for teaching how to put outfires (sometimes literally!) and maintainteam morale, all directed toward the objective of meal preparation.Cosmetology instructor Cedric Swift,an outspoken Leadership ft participant,stated, “Some might say that I’m an extreme extrovert, but I was teamed withthree introverts. The camaraderie we hadestablished, coupled with the knowledgeof our Myers-Briggs types, was beneficialwhen we encountered obstacles, so wewere able to work through the pressureto accomplish our task. It was a reallyhelpful learning experience that I havecarried into my classroom.”January: Creative PresentationsJanuary’s program reinforces that greatleaders are memorable and have presence. Communication and presentationskills are taught in a fun and participativeacteonline.org

FEATUREformat. This day is purposely scheduled toprepare the class for their April programof judged presentations. The session takesthem through steps to identify and incorporate unique skill sets, i.e., how to worka room, how to connect with an audienceand how to develop effective presentations.At the end of the day, class membersdraw for their teams and the subject matter they are to present, each an integralcomponent of Oklahoma career tech.Topics include:Farm and Ranch The session takes them throughsteps to identify and incorporateunique skill sets, i.e., how to workAn overall history of the Farm ClassifiedOklahoma cte system. Techniquesa room, how to connect with anSept2016J.B. Perky, former state directorand the person most responsiaudience and how to developTQN1609bble for creating a vision for whatcte could be in Oklahoma.effective presentations. Roy Peters, another former statedirector and national leaderwho spearheaded the more thandoubling of Oklahoma’s studentenrollment during his tenure. Francis Tuttle, the visionary leader who established the consolidated school model, along witha stable funding mechanism.TQN1609 Bruce Gray, long-time superintendent, instrumental in establishing the Francis Tuttle culture.Each of these past leaders has a richhistory in Oklahoma career tech, andthough one team is designated per topic,everyone learns of their idiosyncrasiesand respective leadership styles throughcreative presentations.February: Field TripsFebruary’s program is an excursion to theOklahoma state capitol with pre-sessionhomework instructions of knowing their legislators and researching bills relevant to cte.Aspects of this session include visits withlegislators; observing floor discussions inone or both legislative bodies; some behindthe-scenes visits; and added this past year, ascavenger hunt to help members learn theirway around the state capitol.March: Francis Tuttle ToursIn March, the class visits some of thelocations where Francis Tuttle servesstudents and business clients, which theacteonline.orgSeptember 2016Techniques51