WYANDOTTE, OK — Preparing area students for career opportunities and lifelong success has been a shared vision between Wyandotte Public Schools and the Wyandotte Nation, and the opening of the Wyandotte Schools Career Technology and Vocational Agriculture Building is a direct result of a strong community partnership.

On Tuesday, representatives from the Tribe and schools cut the ribbon on the new facility.

“Our Tribe believes strongly in the power of partnership,” said Wyandotte Nation Chief Billy Friend. “When we come together, Tribe, school, and community, we can provide opportunities that prepare our students not only for good jobs, but for meaningful lives of leadership and service.”

Wyandotte Public Schools Superintendent Brad Wade said the Career Tech Building is the result of a community bond planning committee that toured the campus in the fall of 2022. The group identified the most pressing need for elementary classrooms and safety concerns. However, during the tour, he said Chief Friend and school administration discussed the growing need to provide hands-on career training opportunities that prepare students not only for graduation but also for lifelong success in the workforce.

He said the facility will allow them to expand into high-demand areas of vocational education and construction programs, including a heavy equipment program incorporating heavy equipment simulators. It also includes opening the door for adult education programs, such as those in electrical, HVAC, and plumbing.

“It’s about equipping our students and community members with the skills and certifications that translate directly into good jobs and brighter futures,” Wade said. “This project is more than bricks and mortar—it’s an investment in people. For our students, it means access to career pathways that might otherwise have been out of reach. For our community, it strengthens the local workforce and creates opportunities for growth.

“I believe the Career Tech Building will become a hub of innovation, training, and opportunity for years to come, and it will have a lasting impact on Wyandotte students, families, and businesses alike.”

The Wyandotte Nation’s partnership and financial support were crucial to bringing the vision to fruition, and Chief Friend stated that the Tribe views the facility as an investment in future generations.

“The Wyandotte Nation is proud to invest in the future of our students and community,” he said. “We believe in creating opportunities, whether that’s higher education or hands-on skills that open doors for the next generation.”

Superintendent Wade said the commitment to education reflects the Tribe’s deep investment in the future of the community and the students. He said this facility stands as a testament to what can be achieved when schools and the Tribe work hand in hand.

“We aren’t just opening a building—we were opening doors of opportunity,” Wade said. “The Career Tech Building represents what can be accomplished through collaboration with partners like the Wyandotte Nation, the City of Wyandotte, BWA Architects, and MacCo Builders. Together, we’ve created a facility that reflects our commitment to excellence and our belief in the potential of every student. This is just the beginning, and I look forward to seeing the many ways this facility will transform lives in our community.”

Wyandotte Public Schools Principal Matt Robertson was also grateful. At the ribbon cutting, he said:

“First off, I’m genuinely grateful to the Wyandotte Nation for their constant investment in our kids.  I know sometimes if you’re in a neighboring district, there’s a little bit of a perception that they’re investing in our facilities, which on the surface is true, but what they’re investing in is our kids and this community that is increasingly filled with their own tribal members.

“…Our goal is to continually prepare students who will leave here and go to college or go to the workplace and make great employees who are confident in what they’ve been prepared to do.  This facility represents a huge step in that direction.

“…We want to be a place that is thinking beyond what is normally offered at a high school and continue to grow those possibilities because if we have a partner like the Wyandotte Nation who shares a big vision, we shouldn’t settle for doing things like everyone else, we should push boundaries and offer opportunities to our kids and community because we believe this is a special place.”