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Dr. Kay Martin

Dr. Kay Martin was born in Bartlesville and grew up in El Dorado, Kan. A high school business teacher encouraged her to study business, which she did at Emporia (Kan.) State University. She earned associate and bachelor’s degrees in business education.

Martin taught in Kansas and Nebraska before settling at Little Rock Central High School for 10 years. While there, she developed and taught the first vocational business programs and then became a marketing teacher-coordinator.

She received a master’s degree in business education from the University of Central Arkansas, where she was later hired as assistant professor and developed and implemented the first distributive education/marketing programs at the associate, bachelor’s and master’s levels. A scholarship was named for her in recognition of her efforts.

As an EPDA Fellow, Martin attended The Ohio State University, where she earned a doctorate in vocational technical education, teacher education, marketing and research.

In 1982, she moved to Oklahoma to be a curriculum specialist at Francis Tuttle Technology Center. Her philosophy of learning and her ability to inspire others was a major factor in her quick rise to chief executive officer in 1996. She was only the second woman to be superintendent of an Oklahoma technology center district.

Martin has received much recognition for her professional and community efforts. To celebrate her contributions and honor her retirement, The Francis Tuttle Foundation presented her with the InnoVision award, the fourth one given. She received the Distinguished Leadership Award from Leadership Oklahoma City, the AdvancED Innovation Award, the National Council of Local Administrators Distinguished Service Award and the Francis Tuttle Career Excellence Award; was a three-time honoree of The Journal Record’s Fifty Making a Difference; and was inducted into the Oklahoma Women’s Hall of Fame. In November 2007, the Francis Tuttle Technology Center Board of Education named the main building of the Reno campus the Kay Martin Center.

Martin’s husband, John, retired from Southwest Technology Center in Altus, where he was superintendent. Martin has one son, Todd Rogers, and a daughter-in-law, Cindy; one stepdaughter, Cammi; one stepson, Mark; and four grandsons.

Martin keeps busy with board and civic activities, especially Leadership Oklahoma City, for which she has served as president of the Alumni Association and is vice president of the board of directors. She and her husband have traveled throughout the world with very special friends. Martin is also honored to have her 91-year-old father, George, a part of her daily life and activities.

Martin was inducted into the CareerTech Hall of Fame in 2013.

Last Modified on Jan 24, 2024
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