Western Technology Center (WTC) announces their new Superintendent, Kathe Corning. WTC has been serving western Oklahoma with vocational training for high school students and adults, shortterm certification and personal interest classes, and business and industry services since 1970. Mrs. Corning is WTC’s sixth superintendent and will be stepping into her new leadership role July 1, 2020.
Mrs. Corning is not new to WTC, she has been with the Oklahoma CareerTech system for 42 years. She began her tenure at WTC in 1978 as the Fashion Trades instructor. In 1981, she became WTC’s Education Enhancement Coordinator and Special Needs Representative. By 1994, Mrs. Corning was WTC’s Assessment Director, and in 2010 was named Assistant Superintendent, Director of Student Services. Mrs. Corning has proven herself as a liaison with teachers, staff, students, and community leaders demonstrating excellence in communication, organization, critical thinking, management, and fiscal accountability. Mrs. Corning has a strong vision for WTC and the leadership skills to guide and facilitate its growth.
Mrs. Corning sees that WTC has a rather large footprint in Oklahoma, serving five counties within its regional technology school district. When asked about her vision or plans for WTC, Mrs. Corning replied, “ WTC will continue to provide quality workforce education and build on our previous successes as we endeavor to become western Oklahoma’s first choice in education. WTC will systematically assess occupational and technical gaps that exist in our local workforce; then utilize this data to determine the best way to address occupational skill gaps and implement instruction, whether through WTC’s full-time or short-term delivery arms. It is both an exciting and yet challenging time for education. However, I am confident WTC will discover creative solutions for educational excellence and continue to provide opportunities for students to excel in a system of competency-based technology education.”
When asked about her thoughts of becoming WTC’s 6th Superintendent, Mrs. Corning responded, “I am excited and honored to become Western Technology Center’s next Superintendent. In my tenure at WTC I have had the privilege to work with staff on both the Full-Time and Business and Industry Services Divisions. The staff at WTC are creative, talented, and committed. I am privileged to be their leader as we work together to deliver quality workforce education. When I initially began working at WTC, I quickly recognized the positive changes technology education made in students’ lives and how WTC added value to their future. As a result, I developed a passion for CareerTech education, but mostly for the students and clients served. I look forward to providing progressive leadership as Western Technology Center diligently strives to fulfill its mission of “Educating People for Success”!”
Mrs. Corning resides in Weatherford with her husband Audie and daughter Katie. Their son, Grant and his family, wife Christina and sons: Hudson, Hunter and Noah live in Ada.