Ashleigh Gibson’s career has come full circle. Her journey began as a high school student taking vocational electronics classes and it has progressed to her being named Executive Director of the Metro Tech Foundation in 2018. As a first-generation college graduate, Gibson understands the value of CareerTech programs. She shares her story with students as an example of the doors that CareerTech programs can open. Metro Technology Centers offer career and technology education at four campuses throughout the OKC metro. The Metro Tech Foundation provides resources to help Metro Tech students overcome barriers to a career education program.
Gibson shares the impact that Metro Tech Foundation is making on OKC metro students, families and communities and how community members can support its efforts.
MetroFamily’s Community Leader series highlights prominent community leaders across various sectors in Oklahoma City. Focused on topics pertinent to parents and families, each installment provides insights and perspectives from those shaping our community.
How does Metro Tech benefit individuals and communities in OKC and Oklahoma?
Today’s CareerTechs are training individuals for jobs in technology, engineering, IT and cybersecurity. We’re training the nursing pipeline from 16 years old all the way to a CNA certification. Metro Tech fills essential worker gaps that communities face. CareerTechs are growing the next generation of workforce all around, not just skilled trade.
The Metro Tech Foundation also has the unique opportunity to help end generational poverty. For individuals, earning a certification means earning exponentially more; you’re going to make an average of $15 an hour versus the $7.25 minimum wage. You’re going to have a specific skill set that gets you a job that has benefits, set work hours and paid time off. So mentally, you’re healthier. Physically, you’re healthier. Your family is healthier. You can look at having different circumstances than your parents, your grandparents, anybody else did, even if you think college isn’t an option.
What makes The Metro Tech Foundation different from other public school foundations?
We are the only full-time, independently operating CareerTech foundation in the state. We were the first ones to take on the task of removing our foundation from under the district umbrella. All our finances and operations are done by the foundation. We operate as an independent 501c3, just like the OKCPS Foundation. For years, CareerTechs were qualified under higher education which manage their own foundations. We were the first ones to step out and say, we’re going to break ours apart to be an independent organization.
How does The Metro Tech Foundation serve Metro Tech students?
Metro Tech has a high population of low-income students. Our students include high school students experiencing generational poverty and adults looking for a second job or certification to get into a career. Some are retired military or recently out of the military. So, they’re all transitional. We’ve developed our foundation around eliminating barriers for those students to graduate. I always say that Metro Tech gets the student in and it’s the foundation’s job to keep them here, make sure they graduate and get certified.
What types of assistance does The Foundation provide to Metro Tech students?
We offer five core assistance programs: Emergency Student Assistance, Certification Assistance, Driver’s Education & Licensing, College Concurrent Enrollment Assistance and Scholarships/Cash Awards. Our scholarship and cash awards are unique because they are awarded at the end of programs. The scholarships can be used toward going to college, opening a business, or buying supplies for a first job in that field. We also provide cash awards to students that normally wouldn’t get an award at their end of high school or in their adult life. We focus on their grit, success in their program, their work ethic and their drive to succeed in their field. It’s really fulfilling to get to see them succeed and shine.
What are the challenges that come with being a CareerTech foundation?
There’s a misconception that CareerTech is extremely well funded, so the foundation doesn’t need help. The Foundation doesn’t get any federal or state money. I’ve had to go on a personal mission to teach people in the OKC metro how the foundation benefits Metro Tech, what we do for students and how it’s an integral part of the CareerTech experience.
What are some of the programs or services that would be on your funding windfall wish list for the Foundation?
As a nonprofit, general operating funding is always on our wish list. We are very good at getting restricted funding, but general operating funding is always a struggle. I’m a one woman show, so we run very lean here.
I would say the second biggest funding wish that I have is that people would recognize the importance of funding the foundation’s Student of the Year awards.
How can community members support or partner with the Foundation and/or Metro Tech?
We raise money through community donations, corporate partnerships or private foundation grants that we write. Community members could consider attending Sowing the Seeds of Success, our annual scholarship fundraising gala banquet (Friday, April 11 at 7 p.m at Camp Trivera). Every year, I find two alumni who share their story about their time at MetroTech, where they are now and how the foundation helped them get there.
Another way to support MetroTech is by taking short term courses. There are classes available for the whole family, including kids cooking classes, languages and wellness classes.
Too many times, the focus is on the negative parts of Oklahoma City, CareerTech or Metro Tech. We’ve really started trying to focus on the positive parts here at Metro Tech. We are a success story. We’re the first ones in the state to pull off a partnership between Metro Tech and their foundation like we’re doing. It’s been surprisingly successful. I love it.
What is an interesting fact about you?
I was Mrs. Oklahoma International in 2020. I won a week before everything shut down. My youngest daughter was diagnosed with PANS. I couldn’t get anybody to pay attention or get approval for treatment or medication before. [As an advocate with a platform] they listened to me, and we got therapy reformed in Oklahoma so my daughter and others could get the treatment needed.
