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Through the Project Pathways program at Broken Arrow Public Schools, students are connected to a possible career path based on their personal interests, abilities and strengths. One of these career paths is through our partnership with Tulsa Technology Center. Tulsa Tech's Foundations of Engineering class is held at the Broken Arrow Freshman Academy. This class is currently accepting applications from current 8^th grade students for the 2021-22 school year.

The following links can be reviewed for more information about this program and how to apply:

• Engineering Description
• Video Link
• How to Apply

Broken Arrow's Tulsa Tech career advisor Justin Edsel has or is giving a presentation at each of the middle school sites to the 8^th grade students. Current Virtual Academy students can attend one of the school sites to participate in the presentation or view the video link listed above for information about this class. The following are the dates:

• Oct. 12 - Oneta Ridge
• Oct. 21 - Centennial
• Oct. 22 - Sequoyah 
• Oct. 23 - Childers 
• Oct. 28 - Oliver 

Each students/parents at each school site have the following deadline date to enroll in the pre-engineering class.

• Oct. 23 - Oneta Ridge 
• Oct. 30 - Centennial
• Nov. 3 - Childers
• Nov. 3 - Sequoyah
• Nov. 6 - Oliver
• Nov. 6 - Virtual Academy

If the deadline was missed or if there are any questions about this program, please contact Justin Edsel at justin.edsel@tulsatech.edu.

The Oklahoma State Department of Education named Broken Arrow High School English teacher Lesa Dickson as one of 12 finalists in the search for the 2021 Oklahoma Teacher of the Year. 

“Lesa is an incredibly innovative and contagiously energetic teacher,” Broken Arrow High School Principal Crystal Barber said. “She engages her students with rigorous and relevant content and is intentional about building relationships with her students.”

After an intensive evaluation and interview process, Dickson was named Broken Arrow Public Schools’ 2020 District Teacher of the Year in April. Then, the State Department of Education’s regional selection committees reviewed Teacher of the Year portfolios for those selected across the state and selected 12 finalists with two finalists from each region.

Dickson has been with Broken Arrow Public Schools for 28 years and currently teaches AP English and Comp I and Comp II for students who want to gain college credit. 

“My number one goal is to educate my students, to provide them with the necessary skills to become confident, intelligent, productive citizens and to appreciate the value of learning,” Dickson said. “Enthusiasm breeds enthusiasm. I have no doubt that all students can learn, but it is the ability to motivate students that separates the mediocre teacher from the outstanding teacher.”

Dickson will represent Broken Arrow Public Schools at the 2021 Oklahoma State Teacher of the Year ceremony this February.

“There is no better representative for public education in Oklahoma than our very own Ms. Dickson,” Broken Arrow Superintendent Dr. Janet Vinson said. “Her intelligence and passion for teaching is contagious to those around her. She truly understands that students learn in different ways and at different rates, yet she remains successful in reaching each and every individual who walks into her classroom. She provides a bridge for every student to have access to college credit and really encourages those that they can and will succeed in college level courses. She supports them every step of the way, and we are incredibly lucky that she is part of our Broken Arrow family.”

Parents and Guardians,

At this point in the semester, we believe our students and families have had an opportunity to see if the Virtual Academy is the right fit. It is our goal that students are placed where they experience success. If you have determined that the Virtual Academy is not the right fit for your family, Oct. 30 is the deadline to move back to your home school site for the first semester. Students who do not return to their homesite by Oct. 30 must remain in the Virtual Academy until the end of the first semester on Jan. 15. To return to a home site, please contact your site principal or counselor prior to Oct. 30. As always, we are fortunate to be serving your child. If you have any questions, please contact your roster teacher or the administration at the Virtual Academy.

Thanks!

Caleb Starr

The Broken Arrow Chamber of Commerce/Economic Development Corporation and Broken Arrow Public Schools recently partnered with OK2Grow, Tulsa Tech, Tulsa Port of Catoosa, Northeastern State University, City of Broken Arrow, OCAST and the Oklahoma Manufacturing Alliance to raise awareness about manufacturing by inviting the entire freshman class at Broken Arrow Freshman Academy to explore careers in manufacturing.

“October is National Manufacturing Month, and we are so appreciative of our partnership with Broken Arrow Chamber and Economic Development Corporation for bringing our second annual Manufacturing Day to the Broken Arrow Freshman Academy,” Broken Arrow Public Schools Coordinator of Community Development Amanda Grace said. “Through this partnership, we are able to bring in over 40 volunteers from 20+ local companies to expose more than 1,000 students to the many career opportunities within the manufacturing profession. Broken Arrow is home to over 300 manufacturers, and Broken Arrow Public Schools is dedicated to forging pathways within the manufacturing sector.”

In line with BA Schools and BA Chamber’s Project Pathways endeavor, manufacturing professionals talked with students about careers in the industry and educational pathways to those careers. They also engaged students in a hands-on activity that included designing, building and marketing their “product.”

“There are more than 7,000 employees in Broken Arrow working in various forms of manufacturing with an average wage of more than $60,000,” said Darla Heller, Broken Arrow Chamber’s VP of Economic Development. “This event strives to introduce students to those careers as well as the pathways available to obtain those positions.”

National School Bus Safety Week is Oct. 19-23. This month, students and parents will have the opportunity to submit a few paragraphs to nominate who they consider to be the “Best Bus Driver.” This year, we wanted to give you an opportunity to share your positive experiences and why you think your school’s bus driver is the best! Please send your submissions to babus@baschools.org.

Please include your name, the bus driver’s name, route number and your school site. The “Best Bus Driver” contest ends on Oct. 31.

Three drivers will be recognized in December.