Meridian board helps achieve mission

Doug Major



Next month marks the annual observance of School Board Recognition Month across the state.

The five members of the Meridian Technology Center Board of Education are a key force in the development of policies and are the final decision makers on complex educational issues impacting each of our partner communities.

Without their input, Meridian Technology Center would not be the thriving career and technical education institution it is.

To put their task in perspective, members of the board are responsible for decisions that influence nearly 800 high school and adult students in Meridian’s full-time programs, 10,000 people impacted by our short-term adult courses and business-related training, and more than 100 staff members and 30 adjunct instructors.

They each approach their responsibility with great thought and care.

Meridian’s five board members live in and represent their district and are elected to a five-year term. They are each a leader in their community and bring a unique perspective to their position as a member of the board.

We are grateful to have their insight to guide us as we implement our mission to provide customized education and training services to individuals, industries and communities.

I would like to recognize and express my appreciation to our board members who have given their time and more than 30 years of combined service to positively impact the opportunities we provide at Meridian Technology Center.

Dr. Joe Williams serves as the board’s deputy clerk and represents District 1, which includes parts of the Stillwater, Perkins-Tryon, Agra and Carney school districts.

He was first elected to the Meridian board in 2004 and served as board president in 2007.

Williams is a professor of agricultural economics at Oklahoma State University. He also serves as director of the Oklahoma Agricultural Leadership Program, an organization that develops future agricultural leaders in Oklahoma.

He is an active member of the Oklahoma State School Boards Association and was recently re-elected to the board of directors for the 2009-2010 year.

District 2, which encompasses Guthrie, is represented by Randy Kellogg.

He is a bank senior vice president and is a lifelong Guthrie resident, which allows him to provide insight into the needs of business and industry within his district.

Kellogg joined the Meridian board in 2004 when he filled the unexpired term of board member James Martin. He was re-elected to serve a full term on the board in 2005. During Meridian’s November board meeting, Kellogg announced he would seek re-election for the District 2 seat, which takes place in February.

Gary Johnson is the current president of the board and represents District 3, the northeastern part of Stillwater. Johnson is the longest-serving board member at Meridian, with 14 years on the board.

He was first elected in 1996 and has continued to serve with great pride. Johnson is the Stillwater Regional Airport director and is an FAA-designated pilot examiner and certified flight instructor.

He has previously served as a member of the transportation committee for The State Chamber of Oklahoma and has held numerous offices with the American Association of Airport Executives and the South Central Chapter of AAAE. Johnson is a lifelong Stillwater resident.

Joe Duerr is the newest member of the board. He was sworn into office in November 2006 to fill the unexpired term of longtime board member David Hildebrandt. Duerr is CEO at Perry Memorial Hospital and represents District 4, which includes Mulhall-Orlando, Perry, Morrison, Pawnee and Glencoe school districts.

Duerr currently serves as vice president of the board of education. He is an active member of the Perry Rotary Club and has previously served on the Oklahoma Hospital Association Board of Directors.

District 5, which includes parts of western Stillwater, is represented by Jerry Franklin. Franklin was appointed to fill the unexpired term of Myron Roderick in 2005 and was re-elected in 2009.

He currently serves as clerk for the board. Franklin is a bank president in Stillwater and brings 31 years of experience to that position. He also serves on the Stillwater Regional Airport Authority Board, the Stillwater Home Builders Association and the Stillwater Chamber of Commerce.

The time our board members invest in monthly meetings is only a portion of the time they give to lead our district. Their love for learning and concern for seeing students, staff and the community grow is what drives their desire to provide opportunities for success.

We are fortunate to have a long history of dedicated board members.

Throughout our nearly 35-year history, Meridian has relied on the input and expertise of our board members to prepare a trained workforce for Oklahoma and our district.

In addition to expressing gratitude to our current board, I would like to thank our previous board members for their guidance and vision.

Their vision and planning have provided a strong foundation to build upon today.



Doug Major is CEO/superintendent of Stillwater’s Meridian Technology Center, which serves residents in parts of Lincoln, Logan, Noble, Pawnee and Payne counties.

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