Pryor Public Schools has many reasons to celebrate our Information Technology Department. They are the team that keeps our schools connected, informed, and secure across the District—but their work extends far beyond computers and networks.

A recent project at Tiger Stadium is a great example.

Last week, IT Director Dalton Trout teamed up with students in the Pryor High School unmanned aircraft class to investigate potential locations for a new antenna. Working alongside members of the District’s aviation and maintenance teams, Trout enlisted students to use a drone to capture video and evaluate possible antenna locations around the stadium.

The new antenna will improve coverage for the Transportation Department, strengthening communication and supporting safety and security for students who rely on District transportation.

Relocating the antenna onto District property will also make routine maintenance easier while providing greater security for both the equipment and the network.

For students, the project offered something equally valuable: an opportunity to apply their classroom skills to an authentic District need.

Our IT Department regularly works with and mentors students interested in technology, giving them opportunities to participate in real-world problem-solving alongside professionals. Experiences like this allow students to see how technology, aviation, communications, and infrastructure work together while developing skills they can carry into future careers.

It is one more example of how learning at Pryor Public Schools can extend well beyond the classroom—and how our staff members across the District help make those opportunities possible.