ACTE Announces Arkansas Director as National Award Finalist

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 28, 2018

Contact: Jarrod Nagurka
jnagurka@acteonline.org, 703-683-9312

ACTE Announces Arkansas Director as National Award Finalist

ALEXANDRIA, VA—Today, the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) announced Starlinda Sanders, Career and Technical Education Director of Bentonville School District in Bentonville, Arkansas, as the 2018 ACTE Region IV Administrator of the Year. This award recognizes administrative CTE professionals at the school, district, county, state, or federal level who have demonstrated leadership in ensuring teacher and student success and have made significant contributions toward innovative, unique and effective career and technical education programs.

As the CTE Director for Bentonville Schools, Sanders has worked to implement quality programs that meet student needs. Sanders collaborates with administrators to identify equipment needs and administers CTE program grants, in excess of $700,000, to provide ongoing professional development for staff.

Sanders has grown CTE programs in Bentonville by utilizing Perkins funds to implement high-level technologies that promote robotics, coding and programming. Together with architectural drafting & design and construction technologies faculty and students, she expanded FACS classrooms on two campuses in the district, allowing for the addition of nutrition and wellness and leadership classes.

Additionally, Sanders provides guidance, leadership and financial support to Project Lead the Way programs on five campuses, further increasing opportunities for student achievement in robotics.

Sanders is one of 5 finalists for the 2019 national title. The national winner will be announced at the ACTE Awards Banquet, a dinner and award presentation recognizing the best CTE educators in the country. The event will take place on Wednesday evening, November 28, during ACTE’s CareerTech VISION 2018 in San Antonio, TX. The Awards Banquet is sponsored by Express Employment Professionals, the US Army, CareerSafe, Stratasys, and International Baccalaureate. For more information about the ACTE Excellence Awards, visit our webpage.

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About ACTE
The Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) is the nation’s largest not-for-profit association committed to the advancement of education that prepares youth and adults for successful careers. ACTE represents the community of CTE professionals, including educators, administrators, researchers, school counselors, guidance and career development professionals and others at all levels of education. ACTE is committed to excellence in providing advocacy, public awareness and access to resources, professional development and leadership opportunities.