FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE               Contact: Megan Fitzgerald
January 22, 2003                          (703) 683-9312; mfitzgerald@acteonline.org


Alexandria, VA- The Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) is seeking nominations for the 2003 ACTE Teacher of the year, ACTE Outstanding Career and Technical Educator, as well as the ACTE Outstanding New Career and Technical Education Teacher. Presentation of these awards is scheduled for the ACTE Annual Convention and Career Tech Expo in Orlando, Florida, December 11?14 2003. Nominations for these awards must be received at ACTE headquarters before September 15, 2003.

In order to be considered for one of these awards, an applicant must first compete at the state and regional levels. Information on the state competitions is available from the career and technical association in the applicant?s state.

Guidelines for nominations, the nomination form, and complete information on each award are available on the ACTE Web site at http://www.acteonline.org/about/awards/index.cfm. You may also write to: ACTE Awards Program, 1410 King Street, Alexandria, VA 22314, to obtain the appropriate forms and instructions, indicating the awards for which you wish to make a nomination. An email request can be sent to mfitzgerald@acteonline.org or you may fax a request to (703) 683-7424.

ACTE Teacher of the Year Award. This award was created to recognize teachers who are providing outstanding career and technical programs for youth and/or adults in their respective fields and communities. Recipients of this award must have made significant contributions toward innovative, unique and novel programs that are serving to improve and promote career and technical education.

ACTE Outstanding Career and Technical Educator Award. This award is given to career and technical educators, other than full-time classroom/laboratory teachers, who have recently provided or currently are providing significant contributions to professional associations and career and technical education programs for youth and/or adults in their fields, communities and/or states. Recipients of this award must have made significant contributions toward innovative, unique and novel programs; and/or improvement, promotion, research or development of programs of career and technical education.

ACTE Outstanding New Career and Technical Teacher. This award is meant to encourage new teachers to remain in the profession. Recipients of this award must have made significant contributions toward innovative, unique and novel programs and have shown a professional commitment early in their career.

The Association for Career and Technical Education is the national association for the field of career and technical education. Now in its 77th year, ACTE?s membership numbers more than 30,000 teachers, counselors and administrator at the middle school, high school and college and university levels.

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January 22, 2003                NR#03-005