Cindy Adams
Southern Oklahoma Technology Center
Ardmore, Oklahoma

Cindy Adams is ACTE's 2011 Teacher of the Year.

What practical advice would you give future nominees?
Take the time to reflect and make a list of contributions you’ve made to your profession and your students. The awards process forced me to take time to reflect, document and celebrate the successes that I had already experienced during my teaching career, regardless of awards recognition. I challenge you to do the same! I trust that you will find this experience rewarding and self-fulfilling in itself!

Get involved and connected, and grow with ACTE! After years of sitting on the sidelines and observing, I decided it was time to get involved. I started in a small way, as a Divisional committee member for my state association. I quickly realized that my passion for CTE is shared by many others. This common connection introduced me to friends and colleagues from different Divisions, states and Regions. It is here that I found encouragement, new ideas and classroom teaching strategies.

I challenge you to step out, start small and get involved in some way. But be forewarned, our Association is contagious, and you might just find yourself involved in an even bigger way someday! But that’s okay; you can continue to give back to your organization as it gives to you.

What was the reaction of your employer/community upon winning the award?
My students, who were eagerly awaiting the results and working hard for me at a special recruiting event, were the first to receive the news! When I returned, they surprised me with cake, and we had our own celebration!

My school administration and co-workers were so very excited to hear the great news! I called administration within minutes of the announcement, and they quickly got the word out to others. Almost immediately, e-mails and phone calls of congratulations began! When I returned to work, the school was adorned with banners, a reception was held, and I received flowers.

Media contacts were made and interviews conducted for news articles. I received phone calls from former teachers and community members, letters from state representatives and other amazing opportunities to share CTE with people who recognized me from the newspaper. One day, I had stopped at a convenience store/cafe and was approached by one of the local patrons with an unusual request for an autograph; he indicated that he was so very proud of me, the school and what our school does for our students and the community. He said “we like to keep up with you and what you’re doing up there.”

What did you learn about yourself in completing the application packet?
I hadn’t every really been forced to think about or to reflect on all of my professional activities at once, let alone write them down in one place. I found myself digging through files, calculating statistical results and compiling evidence to prove the impact of my efforts in the classroom. This rewarding process quickly became more about me taking the time to reflect, document and celebrate the successes that I had already experienced within my 17-year teaching career. Despite whether an award was in my future, I could easily see for myself that the positive impact I had made for my students, community, school and CTE.

As Teacher of the Year, the process also included an interview with the awards committee. I learned that, no matter what, I’m as still as nervous about interviews as if it were my very first job interview! Once again, I am able to empathize with my students who tell me they are nervous about their job interview. I had almost forgotten what it felt like to be so nervous! I still had butterflies in my stomach and wondered if I would be able to adequately answer the questions that were asked of me..

What guidance/encouragement would you give to those considering applying for future awards?
I would highly recommend you take inventory of your personal and professional accomplishments. This will really help you in the process. I had a great co-worker who was quick to point out some things that I didn’t recognize as being impressive, took for granted or had forgotten about over time. Don’t forget to ask your closest co-workers to help you identify your accomplishments!

Start early! The awards application process takes time to compile. Try to locate and use statistics to prove your successes. After the awards at one level, an awards committee member commented that they liked the way I had used the statistical data and research to validate the impact that I had made as a professional.

Believe in yourself and what you do! Remember, you’ve made a difference in CTE, your school, your community, your industry and, most importantly, in the lives of students! Keep these thoughts at the forefront of all you do and remember why you are a CTE educator. That in itself is the ultimate reward!

After taking a look at all that you’ve done for CTE, then why would you not consider applying for an award? You deserve to be recognized for what you do!