Dreams Taking Flight: Education, Workforce, and Aviation Opportunities in Ada Schools

March 6, 2025 by Ada Jobs

Economic Development Newsletter Uncategorized

By: Sunnie Dawn Baker

In 2017, Ada schools took advantage of a new and unique opportunity. Committed to enhancing student education and post-high school preparation, Ada schools eagerly joined a pilot program from the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) when the opportunity arose. The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) selected Ada as one of 29 schools nationwide to field test an aviation curriculum designed to expand alongside students as they advanced through school. Guided by Chris Eckler, the program has transformed into a valuable resource, offering students educational and career opportunities.

Although the AOPA curriculum officially starts in ninth grade with aviation history and hands-on engineering projects, aviation education begins as early as Pre-K. Through the ‘A is for Airplane’ initiative, educators introduce students to aviation and take them to the airport, sparking their imaginations. STEM electives are offered as early as fifth grade and eventually become more and more focused on aviation and aeronautics, until the students can begin the aviation program in ninth grade. After the first year of the AOPA curriculum, Eckler spends the next two years focused on getting the students to pass exams for either the private pilot or drone license. In their final year of the AOPA curriculum, students complete a capstone project, selecting an area of personal interest. The program attracts a diverse mix of students, including aspiring pilots as well as those interested in aviation careers such as mechanics, engineering, and other related fields. This capstone project gives the students a chance to explore their interests and their options. Graduates of this program have pursued careers in flying and engineering, with one student even aspiring to become a private jet broker. The options for aviation are limitless.

Next year, Sophie Mater will take the next step toward her dream of becoming an international commercial airline pilot by enrolling at the University of Oklahoma School of Aviation. Sophie discovered her passion for aviation during the summer of her sixth-grade year while attending the Chickasaw Nation STEM Academy. That summer, she and her classmates took a field trip to the airport, where they had the chance to fly in Cessnas. During the flight, she had the chance to sit in the cockpit, an experience that ignited her passion for aviation. Experiencing a small plane for the first time, she loved how she could feel the air currents in a way that isn’t possible on a large jet.

When Sophie had the chance to start the AOPA curriculum as a freshman, she knew it was the perfect fit for her. However, she was not interested in flying at the time. Sophie’s experiences with the Chickasaw Nation STEM Academy sparked her interest in robotics and coding, leading her to initially focus on the engineering side of aviation. With Eckler’s encouragement, Sophie discovered in her sophomore year that her true passion lay in flying—specifically, the adrenaline rush of taking off—leading her to pursue a career as a commercial airline pilot. Although flying excites her the most, Sophie encourages anyone—regardless of their career goals—to explore Ada’s aviation program. She says, “There are so many benefits and opportunities. You can go into drones, helicopters, commercial aviation, civil aviation, air safety, the TSA—there are so many jobs in aviation. If you really want it, you can get it.”

While Sophie’s love for aviation began when she was in middle school through the Chickasaw Nation STEM Academy, this year other middle school students at Willard have the chance to be exposed to aviation through an after-school program sponsored by Oklahoma Aerospace and Aeronautics: The Bessie Coleman Aviation All-Stars. Dusti McCartney, the STEM teacher at Willard Grade Center is thrilled to provide this opportunity to her students. Impressed by Ada’s strong aviation program, Oklahoma Aerospace and Aeronautics invited Ada Schools to participate in this initiative alongside McAlester Public Schools.

Each session in this nine-week program includes a Zoom call with someone in the aviation industry and then a hands on activity related to each week’s topic. This program aims to introduce students to various careers and opportunities in aviation. Students learn about Bessie Coleman’s groundbreaking legacy as the first African American and Native American woman to earn a pilot’s license while exploring careers as commercial pilots, flight attendants, aircraft marshallers, aircraft maintenance technicians, and more. The Aviation All-Stars program enhances Willard’s existing STEM curriculum. McCartney says, “I think it lets kids see that STEM is for everyone. This is the age level where people start talking about what they want to do and what they want to be. The students can be exposed to a wide variety of things they want to do they and can also see if they are good at them.”

Since Ada launched its aviation program in 2017, it has expanded and inspired school districts in Oklahoma and across the country to develop similar programs. While Ada was originally one of 29 schools around the country, there are now about 120 schools in Oklahoma that are teaching the AOPA curriculum, with Eckler serving as one of 16 teacher-trainers for the program. Last year Eckler traveled to Seattle, Maryland, and Kentucky, as well as schools in Oklahoma, to help promote and train teachers in this curriculum. As an expert in the field, Ada is lucky to have him leading their aviation program. While the AOPA curriculum continues to be a success, Eckler continually seeks new ways to immerse students in aviation. This fall, they will launch the Tango Flight program, allowing students to collaborate on building an airplane over two years.

Aviation and Aerospace is the second largest industry in Oklahoma, right behind oil and natural gas. By exploring these opportunities, students can identify their interests and create their own workforce pathways to high-paying, fulfilling jobs. While this is an investment in our students, it is also an investment in our community that other businesses and industries will appreciate if they are looking to re-locate, making Ada stronger, more prosperous, with new opportunities made possible as young people’s dreams take flight.

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