Students and staff at Lawton Public Schools’ Life Ready Center had the chance to show off for U.S. Congressman Tom Cole on Oct. 27.

Cole, LPS’ afternoon guest at its specialty learning center, liked what he saw.

“I like the whole idea – engaging students,” Cole said, as he toured classes ranging from art to building construction, after coming inside from the Pumpkin Patch that gave the district’s younger students a chance to play and to see agriculture in action.

District officials wanted to give Oklahoma’s Fourth District congressman a close-up view of the Life Ready Center classes that are designed to stoke student interest – with a career path as the potential payoff.

Cole was a willing participant, asking questions of educators and students as he learned what they were learning. That’s why he didn’t have a favorite; he was intrigued by everything.

“I love it,” Cole said as he walked through the Life Ready Center, explaining he likes the fact the school goes beyond traditional teaching methods to catch student interest and help them learn.

The questions started at the Pre-K Pumpkin Patch, a collaborative Fall event the Life Ready Center hosts to provide students with Fall-themed activities, such as navigating a maze built from hay bales, playing in a tub full of corn kernels, and admiring and playing with farm animals.

MacArthur High sophomore Blayklee Livingston bragged on her lambs and goats, introducing her latest acquisition – a wether who arrived last month – as she answered Cole’s questions.

“How long will you have him?” Cole asked, prompting Livingston to answer “I’ll have him until we go to market.”

Around the corner, Ayden Ruhe, a MacArthur High freshman, demonstrated why adults acknowledge him as the fowl expert. He also got to brag a little.

“He’s a ‘26 baby,” Ruhe said, of his young rooster, who was pecking the ground with others in his flock.

After a stop at the hay bale maze, Cole headed inside to tour classes, starting with John Cullison’s construction trades. LPS Superintendent Neal Weaver explained the hands-on nature of that class, whose students have built everything from shelves for other classes to their own classroom. Weaver said the district’s goal was a construction trades class taught by someone with experience in the field, a further enticement for students.

Cole had a lot of questions, including exactly what students were learning and how many there are. Cullison has a total of 42 students, noting he works hard “to try to keep them with all their fingers.”

“Safety is important,” he said.

So is hands-on learning, Cullison said, pointing out the classroom has examples of walls, plumbing and roof (every stage of roof construction is visible, he told an appreciative Cole).

As Cole walked, six students selected by principal Brittani Mahan accompanied him, answering questions.

“Do you enjoy it?” Cole asked of the students.

“Absolutely,” one responded, prompting nods from her classmates who represented disciplines as varied as photography/audio production, patient care and art.

Art teacher Scott Smith was eager to brag on his students, who are preparing for two fund-raising events: Pumpkins for Pets (selling hand-made pumpkins to raise money for a pet care organization) and a Willy Wonka-themed fundraiser for the district’s special needs prom. The pieces are made by students as part of a process that includes an end-of-year art show comparable to those offered by art galleries. Where is it held, Cole wanted to know. Here, Smith said.

“It’s a luxury to have this space,” he said.

In video design, Daniel Billings explained his class project, answering Cole’s questions about what students learned and what they could do. Billings said he has two or three students who are in their second year, with plans to proceed to year three.

“What’s next for them?” Cole asked.

Billings said three plan to attend Oklahoma City University; one student is planning a double major of video design and animation.

Gerardo Bello, video production teacher, pointed out some of the work Cullison’s students provided when he was showing off his new production studio. Student Jacob Pantoja, setting aside his camera for a moment, explained some of that work, which entailed decorative wood framing on the walls.

In health sciences, seniors Payton Maness, Alexa Gray and Jayda Davis portrayed a patient with a cardio problem being examined in the ER. The assessment by Maness and Gray showed student learning, said teacher Angela Howard, adding every piece of equipment that Cole could see was funded with a Lawton Public School Foundation grant.

In the robotics lab, Cole got a quick overview of high tech skills, including a demonstration from Junior Jacob Jones. Jones, who had been eager to meet Cole, is planning a career in aviation and wants to attend the Air Force Academy.

“I hope I’ll be seeing you,” he told Cole, as the group left.

“There’s no limit to the enthusiasm here,” Cole said.