Wes Watkins Technology Center

Kiamichi Area Vo-Tech School in Atoka, OK, has been serving southeast Oklahoma since 1968, offering a variety of training options for high school students, adult learners, local businesses, and community members. With a strong focus on preparing individuals for successful careers, the school boasts a 99% graduation rate and an impressive 93% positive placement rate for its graduates. The institution provides free workforce training, customized programs for businesses, and personal enrichment classes, catering to diverse educational needs. With an emphasis on hands-on learning and valuable skill development, Kiamichi Tech is dedicated to supporting students on their journey from the classroom to successful careers. Generated from the website

History of Central TechOn July 20, 1967, the first meeting of the Central Oklahoma Area Vocational Technical School Board of Education was held. That board hired the first Superintendent for the new school district, John H. Hopper, on November 13, 1967.In August of 1968, citizens of the Central Vo-Tech school district approved a $935, 000 bond issue for construction and equipping the original building in Drumright. The first classes were held on the new campus on August 22, 1970. In the meantime, classes in Practical Nursing were conducted in a rented school building in Drumright.A second campus was developed in Sapulpa in 1978 in a former discount retail center on the city's south side. Growth continued in Drumright as an adult training facility was built in 1973, a driving range for Truck Driver Training was developed in 1974, and a 30, 000 sq. ft. Trade and Industrial Education building was built in 1977. A graphics communications building opened in 1979, an administrative and high technology addition was made to the original structure in 1983, a 4, 608 sq. ft. addition made to the north end of the main building in 1988 and a telecommunications wing was added in 2001.The legal name for the technology center was officially changed to Central Technology Center in 1995, and its marketing name to Central Tech, when the state vo-tech system became Oklahoma CareerTech. Today, Central Tech leads the state's CareerTech system in job placement for graduates and successful completers and is the only technology center to be awarded the Gold Star School Award for excellence in technology education for eighteen consecutive years.Gold Star of Excellence - Central Technology Center is the only technology center in the state of Oklahoma to receive the Gold Star of Excellence award since its inception in 1990. While meeting Gold Star Standards, Central Tech continues the tradition of nurturing // -- creativity, innovation and flexibility in the classroom and in the workplace. Central Tech provides excellence in technical education to empower individuals and elevate the workforce.Expanded Business and Industry Support: Safety, Pipeline, Operator Qualification ( OQ ), Welding, Machine Tool & Custom TrainingPre-Engineering Project Lead the Way Certified School Surgical Technology Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs ( CAAHEP )