POTEAU–Angel Hogan-Smith, career specialist at Kiamichi Tech of Poteau, was recognized as the national recipient of the 2022 Rising Star Award in the Counseling and Career Development Division at the Association of Career & Technical Education (ACTE)’s annual conference in Las Vegas, Nevada, last month.
The award recognizes new counselors or career development professionals at the secondary level, new to the profession, who have made significant contributions to Career and Technology Education and the counseling profession demonstrating innovation and professional commitment early in their careers.
“Angel is a dedicated educator and plays a huge role in the service to our area partner schools and middle school students,” said Michael Culwell, Campus Director at Kiamichi Tech of Poteau. “Her role is to guide students through career exploration activities that engages and introduces them to career opportunities they may not have known existed otherwise. Her passion for student success is evident and we are thrilled that her work has been acknowledged at the national level.”
As the Career Specialist at Kiamichi Tech, Hogan-Smith works with 5-8th grade students from 23 area schools and assists school districts with the newly added graduation requirement, ICAP (Individualized Career Academic Plan),by creating student accounts and guiding students through career exploration activities.
“I am able to approach my job with passion and confidence because of the support I have from my colleagues,” said Hogan-Smith. “If I could choose just one thing for students to walk away from my visit to their school with, it would be the understanding that no matter what career field they decide to pursue after graduation, Kiamichi Tech has a program they can attend during high school, for free, that is just right to prepare them for career success.”
Hogan-Smith joined Kiamichi Tech in 2022 and has been an educator since 1997, teaching at Poteau and Spiro schools. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Northeastern State University in English education and two master’s degrees from East Central University in library media and secondary school administration.
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