Pioneer Tech to launch new program in August 2017

Pioneer Technology Center announces a new program to launch in August 2017.

The Pioneer Tech Board of Education approved the addition of a new program on Nov. 8.  The Criminal Justice/Emergency Services Academy will be an option for students enrolling in the 2017 fall term.

The new program addition has been considered since as early as 2013, but has now come to fruition due to increasing demand and the need to diversify Pioneer Tech’s program offerings.

“We’ve considered adding a new program for some time.  Many of our programs have been filled to capacity and have waiting lists; we felt that the expansion was necessary,” said Bruce DeMuth, Superintendent/CEO of Pioneer Tech.

“Criminal Justice and Emergency Services continues to be a suggestion that our community and student surveys request from us each year.  We have strong support here for this program; so launching it was a natural next step,” DeMuth said.

The proposed Criminal Justice/Emergency Services Academy will combine firefighter and emergency medical skills along with criminal justice training opportunities.  This career major will serve as an introduction to these fields and prepare students for testing and registration through the Oklahoma State Department of Health as an Emergency Medical Responder, along with an American Heart Association Healthcare Provider First Aid/CPR certification, Hazardous Material Awareness and Operations certification and Firefighter 1.

This is a certification and one of the most basic classes to help a prospective candidate obtain a firefighter certificate.   These are all through the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress.

Students wanting to pursue the firefighting pathway can enroll in the EMT certification following graduation from the new program.  There are post-secondary opportunities in Criminal Justice with Northern Oklahoma College and Northwestern Oklahoma State University.

There are currently 12 fire service agencies in Kay County and 10 law enforcement agencies. Other surrounding counties offer even more opportunities for graduates of this program.  Students from all five partner school districts will have the opportunity to enroll, as well as adult students.

Pioneer Tech is actively looking for an instructor at this time.

“We’re looking for someone with a background in both of these areas,” said Traci Thorpe, Deputy Superintendent. “Of course they would have to pursue a Trade and Industry CareerTech degree or have a Bachelors in one of the fields.”

Thorpe also said the instructor is crucial to how the program will be designed.

“They will be designing the curriculum and making adjustments.  We are hoping to hire someone very dynamic to make this program successful,” said Thorpe.

Pioneer Tech has not launched a new program since the Biomedical Sciences Academy began in 2008.

For more information about Pioneer Technology Center’s programs and initiatives, call (580) 762-8336 or visit www.pioneertech.edu.