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June 4, 2012

CareerTech head Berkenbile to retire

Stillwater NewsPress

STILLWATER, Okla. — Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education Director Phil Berkenbile announced Monday he will retire next year. The official date will be determined by the state board depending on the hiring of a new state director.

Berkenbile has been head of CareerTech since January 2004. He began his career in Oklahoma as an agricultural education instructor for Morrison Public Schools and later became the superintendent of schools in Morrison.

He has served in various positions at ODCTE, including agricultural education northwest district supervisor and curriculum specialist, agricultural education assistant state supervisor, associate state director for education services and chief of staff.

He serves on several boards and task forces, including chairman of the Governor’s Taskforce on Healthcare, and past chairman of the Oklahoma Education Technology Trust Foundation. He received his bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in agricultural education from Oklahoma State University, and in 2006, he received the OSU Graduate of Distinction Award in Agricultural Education.

Berkenbile has held several national positions including president of the National Association of State Directors of Career Technical Education Consortium. He assumed this role at a pivotal time as national and state leaders in education, including those at NASDCTEc, implemented a range of strategies to prepare students to compete in the global economy.

Berkenbile recently received the 2012 VIP Award from the Oklahoma FFA Association and the 2010 VIP Citation from the National FFA Organization.

During his tenure at the agency as state director, Berkenbile has seen sweeping changes in education and the economic climate.

“Our mission at CareerTech is to prepare Oklahomans to succeed in the workplace, in education and in life,” Berkenbile said. “We are working with young people who are digital natives and adults who need to transition into new career fields. This has occurred at a time when several Oklahoma industries are demanding a highly skilled workforce.”

 

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