Published: August 30, 2007 11:51 am         

FCCLA success part of CareerTech award

Kari Lollis proudly lifts the eagle trophy that Tuttle schools received for their outstanding Career and Technology Education programs. Tuttle received the State Superintendent’s Award for outstanding delivery of CareerTech programs at the 40th Annual Career and Technology Education Summer Conference in Tulsa.

Lollis is responsible for Tuttle’s consumer science program and Family, Careers and Community Leaders of America chapter.

“I teach students skills they can use for the rest of their lives,” Lollis said. Examples included cooking, sewing, creating a functioning family and consumer education.

These programs, and Tuttle’s agriculture education programs, serve more than 250 students. Their high level of achievement led to the superintendent’s award.

Part of the success in family and consumer science has been Tuttle’s FCCLA chapter.

“I have a very active FCCLA chapter,” Lollis explained. “I have great officers and supportive parents.”

Lollis explained that members of her chapter have competed on the district, regional and state level in numerous events, including creed speaking, illustrated speaking, interpersonal communication, job interview, career investigation, and national service project. Competitors must place first on the district level before they can advance to regional, where they must place first to advance to state.

Lollis explained that it was an accomplishment to even compete at the state level.

In addition to competition, Tuttle’s FCCLA chapter is also participate in numerous service projects.

“We collect pop can tops for the Ronald McDonald house,” Lollis said. The McDonald house is a charity that provides parents who have children in nearby hospitals a place to stay.

“We plan on making meals this year to serve the families,” Lollis said.

The chapter also volunteers with the food bank in Oklahoma City.

Lollis also has a number of members participate in leadership activities and workshops.

“They’ve attended the national cluster meeting, so they can bring back ideas that help other members become leaders,” she said.

The Tuttle FCCLA chapter has had a district officer for each of the past four years.

“It’s a big deal, because they represent Tuttle High School and all of the Southwest Region,” Lollis said.

Lollis gave credit for much of the chapter’s success to the support they receive from parents, the community and the administration.

“The administrations and school board are real supportive of all our activities,” she said. “They let us travel and compete.”

“Everything we do, the community supports us,” she added.

In addition to offering quality CareerTech programs, Tuttle schools have met other criteria that include providing evidence of integrating academic and career and technology instruction, appropriate career guidance and implementation of a comprehensive school-to-work system.