Oil Technology Academy
Taft Oil Technology Academy
Established 2001 Career academies prepare students for both college and careers by helping them explore future pathways and opportunities within their fields of interest. Through real-world professional experiences and partnerships with postsecondary institutions, students gain insight into the many options available for pursuing their career goals.
Founded by Rick Woodson, the Taft Oil Technology Academy began development in 1998, officially opened in the fall of 2001, and graduated its first class in 2004. Following Mr. Woodson’s retirement, the academy coordinator role was passed to Ted Pendergrass in 2010, who served until his retirement in the spring of 2026. The current coordinator is Mike Goodwin, who has worked at TUHS since 1999 and has served as an OTA teacher since 2010.
Career academies prepare students for both college and careers by helping them explore future pathways and opportunities within their fields of interest. Through real-world professional experiences and partnerships with postsecondary institutions, students gain insight into the many options available for pursuing their career goals.
Vision Statement
The Taft High Oil Technology Academy seeks to guide students to realize their full potential by emphasizing high standards of academic excellence and personal growth so students become competitive, competent and contributing members of society with high moral character.
Mission Statement
The mission of the Taft High Oil Technology Academy is to develop partnerships between the petroleum industry, high school administrators and teachers to work with a group of high school students who:
- want to explore careers related to the petroleum industry, science, math and engineering;
- have the desire to become self-motivated, contributing members of society; and
- want to seize the opportunity to succeed in college or in industry after graduation from high school.
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The American Association of Drilling Engineers (AADE)
The American Association of Drilling Engineers (AADE) is a major supporter of the Taft Oil Technology Academy. This association consists of a national team of people working to promote professionalism and respect within the drilling industry. It has developed 25 Student Sections at major universities across the United States, with the Taft Oil Technology Academy Student Section being the only student section at the high school level in the system. The vision statement for the Section is to promote professionalism and respect within the Oil Technology Academy, Taft Union High School, and the Taft community.
Visit AADE's Student Section