Workforce Pipeline

Workforce development is a part of our culture.  Beginning in 2007, the Duncan Area Economic Development Foundation (DAEDF) began our community’s workforce development efforts by bringing industry and education together to create and meet workforce needs, in the concerted effort to establish a sustainable pipeline that benefits both students and employers. The programs that have been established and that continue to evolve are truly a community team effort, which has been coined “Learn Here. Earn Here”.

Through these efforts DAEDF is advocating for business and business leaders are engaged in a system of knowing their workforce needs are heard. Employers help to develop, lead, train, and welcome educators and students to their facilities, and upon graduation, new employees.

Area educators and institutions representing public schools, technology centers, and higher education ensure this is a true collaboration, even being designated as an Oklahoma STEM Community.

Duncan Public School (DPS) was a true catalyst when they came on board when Duncan was selected by the State of Oklahoma to pilot the Career Pathways project.  They listen to industry and are willing to adjust curriculum to meet the needs of what businesses are indicating they need in employees joining the workforce.  DPS not only exists to educate but to make good citizens of our students.  Duncan’s workforce development efforts also benefit the student by enabling their career awareness, exposure, and planning to set them up for success.  

• Duncan High School Internship Program
• STEAM Lab
• Youth Engineering Contest
• Pre-K Class at Duncan Nursing Home
• Teacher Industry Tours

Red River Technology Center promotes skilled career jobs to local industry.  Students begin their education and training opportunities as an 8th grader through a career day prior to student participation in 11th grade.  Career tech works in partnership with local industry by meeting their needs through education and training of all ages. 

Cameron University completes the workforce development educational piece with their flexibility in a two-year Associates degree, four- year Bachelor’s degree, and Graduate degree programs.  They participate in our collaboration group and their participation completes the alignment of education and training needed to prepare our workforce.

• Nursing Degrees from high school to graduate degree

Duncan is a Certified Center for Workforce Excellence

In 2020, the Oklahoma Department of Commerce, Governor’s Council for Workforce and Economic Development, and industry leaders, announced the certification of nine Centers for Workforce Excellence (CWE) under the Oklahoma Works Together program. Oklahoma Works Together identifies and certifies localized collaborations which meet and exceed superior workforce development standards as a CWE.

A CWE leverages Oklahoma’s extensive secondary and post-secondary education assets with a network of employment-related agencies with proven results to benefit employers in specific industries through the following objectives:

·      Each CWE is data driven and designed to meet the specific need of the local economy and the predominate industry sector(s).

·      The CWEs are led and supported by employer groups to ensure relevance and effectiveness.

·      Each CWE engages all stakeholders in the process and leverages the expertise and resources to increase efficiency.

·      The CWEs align educational pathways from K-12, CareerTech and Higher Education providing articulation opportunities.