Despite COVID19’s impact on schools, the Leadership Rogers County class of 2021 was able to tour multiple educational facilities on Wednesday, November 4. The class started their day at Claremore Public Schools, where Superintendent Brian Frazier gave some history of the Claremore school district and followed with information on projects that the school has on the horizon. Attendees were able to tour Claremont Elementary School, where the highlight was placed on the Innovation STEM lab, one of many located within each elementary school in the Claremore Public Schools district. The Leadership class was also treated to a bus tour that highlighted other campuses in the district and exciting new projects that are under construction.
The next stop was Sequoyah High School, where attendees were welcomed by Superintendent Terry Saul. Proud of his employees and students, Saul was quick to brag about how the school was able to pivot during the pandemic shutdown. Sequoyah Schools were able to broadcast live classes by partnering with RSU TV, allowing students easy access to education. The Leadership class then toured several classrooms at Sequoyah High School, including Family and Consumer Sciences and the Ag Building. From there, attendees made their way to the Northeast Tech Claremore campus. Superintendent Roger Crutchfield spoke to the group about all the areas that are served by Northeast Tech, from full-time high school students to adult students to business and industry. Claremore Campus Director, Liberty Shere, shared with the group about new programs coming to the Claremore campus, then took the Leadership class on a tour of several classrooms, including the EAST classroom, the CNC machining shop, and the health careers lab. To end the day, the Leadership class was welcomed at RSU by Dr. Robert Goltra, Vice President for Student Affairs. Dr. Goltra explained everything that is covered under the umbrella of student affairs and placed a strong emphasis on the community relationships that have been built between RSU and the communities served. Vice President for Development of the RSU Foundation, Steve Valencia, explained how the 501c3 organization has helped to award numerous scholarships to students, as well as fund the Hillcat Heroes program, which provided money to students in need during COVID19. Finally, RSU President Larry Rice gave a history of RSU, as well as current enrollment numbers on campus. Rice is proud of how the school has responded to the pandemic, stating that RSU “remained open due to masks, prayer, and good luck.” The key takeaway from the day is best summed up with a quote from Claremore Public School Superintendent Brian Frasier, who said, “Education is a great equalizer. It levels the playing field for everybody and evokes options for all of us.” For more information regarding Leadership Rogers County, please visit leadershiprogerscounty.org.
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The Leadership Rogers County Class of 2021 met recently for Health Day. The group heard from Eric Eaton, Director of Operations at Hillcrest Hospital in Claremore, along with George Valliere, CEO at the Indian Hospital in Claremore. The overwhelming amount of information provided by both gentlemen gave the LRC Class a much better understanding of the steps each location is taking to not only administer and care for coronavirus patients during this pandemic, but what they are doing to protect the staff and patients using strict disinfecting standards. The class traveled to the Northeastern Oklahoma Cancer Institute right here in Claremore where they were awed by the information received in regards to the state-of-the-art Varian Halcyon radiation machine. Did you know that the Varian Halcyon radiation machine at this very facility was number 19 off the production line and the first one off the line in use outside of an academic institution? This machine is incredible and has provided amazing results for our local residents. The class learned that the goal of the parent company of Northeastern Oklahoma Cancer Institute, Radiation Business Solutions, is to focus on providing quality care for cancer patients in rural settings. Research has shown that patients respond much better to treatment when they are able to receive it close to home. The precision and accuracy that this machine provides has significantly reduced treatment times, which allows patients to spend much less time receiving the treatment, and more time recuperating at home. The class also had a fun leadership activity presented by Megan Edwards of Northeast Tech. She had the class go through a stack of “Motivation” cards in which they had to narrow down the top five things that motivated them to be great leaders and/or great employees. It was interesting to hear everyone’s top five and how even those that had similar results, their varying perspectives, job roles and experiences contributed to vastly different reasons behind why they chose those motivators. All in all, it was a very informative day in which the class was able to listen to local health leaders talk about the amazing efforts going on in this community that perhaps we do not see on a day to day basis. Great things are happening in Rogers County! For more information about enrollment in Leadership Rogers County, please contact Executive Director Ashley May at [email protected]. Visit leadershiprogerscounty.org for more information. |