​Building Confidence, Building Community: Choose Aerospace Teacher Training Returns to Tulsa

Choose Aerospace educators from across the country gathered in Tulsa, Oklahoma, June 9–11 for our fifth annual Teacher Training event. Hosted by Tulsa Tech and made possible through the generous support of the Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics, the three-day workshop helped teachers prepare for another successful school year while strengthening the growing Choose Aerospace community.

One of the most encouraging signs of the program's growth wasn't found in the attendance numbers. It was reflected in the confidence of our educators. Many of our early-adopting programs have reached the point where teachers feel fully prepared to deliver the curriculum independently, exactly the outcome these annual training events are designed to achieve.

This year's training also marked an exciting milestone as Sam Madewell of Putnam City High School became the first active Choose Aerospace high school teacher to serve as a training instructor. Bringing the perspective of a current classroom teacher, Sam shared practical strategies and real-world experience with fellow educators. We hope to expand this peer-to-peer teaching model in future trainings.

Participants also welcomed members of the newly formed Oklahoma CareerTech Aerospace STEM support team, whose visit highlighted Oklahoma's continued investment in aviation education and workforce development.

We are grateful to Tulsa Tech for once again serving as an outstanding host and to the Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics for the generous grant that made this year's training possible. Their support continues to equip educators with the knowledge, confidence, and professional network needed to inspire the next generation of aviation maintenance professionals.

​As the Choose Aerospace community continues to grow, so does the experience within it. That growth was on full display in Tulsa, where educators came together to learn from one another and prepare students for successful futures in aviation.