CHICKASHA – Deja Stubbs has known since childhood she wanted to become an elementary teacher. She pursued that interest by enrolling last year in Canadian Valley Technology Center’s Early Care and Education program.
Stubbs, 18, and a recent graduate of both Chickasha High School and CV Tech, wanted to prepare as best she could for pursuing a teaching degree and is enrolled next fall at the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond.
At CV Tech, Stubbs got immediately involved in Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA), which is a student organization in schools that boasts over 160,000 members in more than 5,300 chapters nationwide.
Stubbs said she was encouraged by CV Tech instructor Mary Beth Carver to compete in a district contest to display her skillset. She then competed at the recent state FCCLA contest, where she won a state championship medal with a contest entry that details teaching a children’s lesson about the alphabet and letter recognition.
Later this month, Stubbs and eight other area CV Tech students and recent graduates will participate in various national contests. Stubbs will be competing in Anaheim, Calif., against many of the very best future educators in the nation.
“First, just going to CV Tech has increased my confidence,” Stubbs said. “My teacher, Mrs. Carver, has always pushed me to do more than I thought I could. She has always told me that. Without her or without FCCLA or CV Tech, I don’t know where I would be.”
Stubbs enrolled at CV Tech on the urging of an older cousin. This past school year, Stubbs participated in a unique mentoring program organized by CV Tech called Mentor Match. She observed and assisted in a kindergarten class at Bill Wallace Early Childhood Center. She is convinced that kindergarten teaching will be a part of her future.
She also draws inspiration from her grandmother, Dolores Bowens, of Chickasha, who was a longtime Headstart teacher. Stubbs is the daughter of Jacqueline Jackson and Deante’ Stubbs, both of Chickasha.
“I did put in a lot of work, but I was still very surprised after I heard the results at state,” Stubbs said. “This is the first time that I have done anything like this ever.”
As for her plans in Anaheim, Stubbs said she wants to go to Disneyland, among other things.
“And I am definitely going to the beach,” she said, “because I love the sand.”
State Contest Results
Business Professionals of America (BPA)
3. Katelynne Cornell, Pocasset, Cleotress Euwins, Chickasha, Samantha Maldonado, Lindsay, Jayden Winters, Chickasha, Bethany Faulkinberry, Chickasha, Admin Support Team, adult
FCCLA
1. Jason England, Alex
1. Kandice Roberts, Chickasha
1. Amy Russell, Chickasha
1. Deja Stubbs, Chickasha
HOSA
1. Shelby Johnson, Rush Springs, Medical Terminology, adult
1. Rachel Burton, Lindsay, Pharmacology, adult
1. Allison Winn, Pocaasset, Hannah Winn, Pocaasset, CPR/First Aid, adult
SkillsUSA
1. Sierra Lohr, Tuttle, Digital Media
1. Falcon McDoulett, Tuttle, Precision Machining
State Officers: Dylan Laumbach, Chickasha, Ethan Tucker, Tuttle
