By Bridget Nash Staff Writer
An Autry Technology Center staff member has been recognized for her hard work preparing students for the work force.
In the past year Bea Paul, Autry job developer, has been awarded state and regional awards and now she has received the national title of Outstanding Career and Technical Education Educator.
“I was very surprised and very honored,” she said.
Paul did not know she had won the award until it was announced at the awards ceremony during the National Association for Career and Technical Education convention in Nashville last month.
“I was shocked.”
Paul received the award for her contributions to Autry Tech and the Enid community.
Each day, Paul works with Autry’s students and Enid’s businesses to match graduates with industry job openings.
“I probably have the best job in the whole wide world,” she said.
Not only do students learn the job skills they will need from Autry’s instructors, Paul teaches job interview skills, how to create quality résumés and how to apply their learned skills to the job world.
“The small things make the big differences,” Paul said.
Paul may consider what she teaches to be “the small things,” but her work has made a big difference at Autry and a national impact.
“This is an incredible accomplishment for Oklahoma ACTE and ACTE Region IV,” said Patrick McGregor, executive director of Oklahoma ACTE. “The national ACTE is comprised of nearly 30,000 career and technical educators, administrators, researchers, guidance counselors and others involved in planning and conducting career and technical education programs at the secondary, post-secondary and adult levels.”
Three other Oklahomans received national honors at the national ACTE convention in November.
