When Paula Kedy began her career as an English teacher, she never could have imagined the heights the profession would take her. Kedy, a 1976 East Central University graduate and 2023 Distinguished Alumna, serves as the Aerospace and Aviation Education Coordinator for the Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission. She works with school districts, universities, and industry leaders in the development of aviation STEM programming designed to prepare students for careers in the aerospace industry.
Her status as an 成人B站 Distinguished Alumna will be celebrated on Friday, May 5.
鈥淭o be recognized by a university that has given me so much, is truly an honor,鈥� Kedy said. 鈥淣ot only did 成人B站 provide me with the skills necessary to build a strong career in education, it allowed me to practice leadership skills and to build life-long friendships.鈥�
成人B站 and education have been a part of her life since 1966, when her father, Dr. Joe Parsons, accepted a position in the Education Department at 成人B站.
鈥淔rom the beginning, faculty members embraced me and supported my endeavors, even before I arrived on campus in 1973,鈥� Kedy said. 鈥淎s a student, I was given the opportunity to serve in student government and in leadership positions across campus. I was provided strong instruction by faculty members that demonstrated effective teaching skills that I was later able to emulate in my own teaching career.鈥�
That support was evident throughout Kedy鈥檚 career. In 2004, she was named the Oklahoma Supreme Court Teacher of the Year and also holds the titles of Moore West Mid-High Teacher of the Year, the Ada City School District Teacher of the Year Award and was named a semi-finalist for Oklahoma Teacher of the Year. She also served as the President of the Oklahoma Council of Teachers of English.
She began the journey with the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) in 2016. At the time, she was Executive Director of Academics for the Ada City School District.
鈥淚 was given the opportunity to attend an AOPA Symposium in Seattle,鈥� Kedy said. There, she applied to field test the new 鈥淵ou Can Fly鈥� High School aviation Curriculum.
鈥淚n 2017, Ada High School was the only school in Oklahoma selected to field test the curriculum and the Ada City School district quickly began to develop a program that drew national attention,鈥� Kedy said. 鈥淎s the program grew, more Oklahoma schools wanted to learn.鈥�
In 2020, she was asked to join the Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission as the Aerospace and Aviation Education Coordinator.
鈥淚 now work with school leaders across the state in the development of high school aviation programs through the implementation of the 鈥榊ou Can Fly鈥� curriculum,鈥� Kedy said. 鈥淥klahoma is now ranked number one in the nation in the number of high schools offering the curriculum.鈥�
Kedy serves on the National Steering Committee for AOPA 鈥淵ou Can Fly鈥� High School Curriculum as well as on advisory boards for the University of Oklahoma Sooner Flight Academy, the Southeastern University School of Aviation Sciences, and the Spartan College of Aeronautics.
She also received the Oklahoma STEM Innovator Award from the Tulsa Regional STEM Alliance and Tulsa Flight Night Program in 2019 for her work in advancing aviation STEM education in Oklahoma.
She is passionate about encouraging young women to enter STEM-related career fields.
鈥淚 want young women to have confidence in their ability to work in the fields of their choice,鈥� Kedy said. 鈥淭hat is why I have been so passionate about sharing the 鈥榊ou Can Fly鈥� curriculum with schools. It provides all students the opportunity to work through a four-year pathway of high-level coursework that allows them to gain confidence in their academic ability.
鈥淥klahoma also has 鈥楪irls in Aviation鈥� and 鈥榃omen in Aviation鈥� programs,鈥� Kedy continued. 鈥淭he two programs allow young women to feel valued as learners and future industry employees.鈥�
Kedy and her husband, Mark, reside in Ada. Their son, Scott, and daughter-in-law, Audra, live in Oklahoma City where Scott practices law and Audra serves as the Senior Associate Commissioner for the Great American Athletic Conference.
The Evening of Honors and Recognition will begin at 6 p.m. Friday, May 5, at the Chickasaw Business and Conference Center at 成人B站.
Sponsorships for the event are available at various levels for the event. A Gold Sponsorship for $3,000 includes tickets and prime seating for 16 attendees, event signage, special event recognition and drink tickets.
A Silver Sponsorship for $1,500 consists of ticket seating for eight attendees, recognition in the program, acknowledge in press releases and drink tickets.
A Bronze Sponsorship for $250 includes tickets and seating for two, recognition in the program and drink tickets.
Individual tickets are also available at $75 each. Advance tickets are recommended.
To register, contact Office of Alumni Relations at alumni@ecok.edu or at 580-559-5561 or visit ecok.edu/2023EOH.