FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 13, 2005

CONTACT: Megan Reiter (703) 683-9312; mreiter@acteonline.org

ALEXANDRIA, VA- The Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) announces that Dawn Gary of Youngsville, Louisiana has been named the ACTE Outstanding Teacher in Community Service.  Gary was presented with the award at the ACTE Annual Convention and Career Tech Expo, December 9 in Kansas City, Missouri. 

The Outstanding Teacher in Community Service award is given in recognition of a career and technical education teacher who has made significant accomplishments and demonstrated outstanding leadership in programs and activities that promote community service.

A Family, Career and Community Leaders of America adviser and a FACS teacher, Gary has applied her twenty plus years of experience to improve her community.  Gary instills in all her students that “service to humanity is the best work of life.”

Gary’s students participate in many community service activities including planning and hosting workshops on Muscular Dystrophy, creating a Read Across America program, and raising money for Prevent Child Abuse America.  However, Gary is especially proud of their participation in the “Annual Make a Difference Day” event.  This event was produced by the Points of Light Foundation in order to demonstrate that one person can make a difference.  From this event sprang “Fall Fest,” a student planned event filled with food, fun, and games.  The students collaborated with other student organizations and invited children from local shelters and schools.  The Fall Fest was a success and the students learned the importance of being a good citizen.

Gary has devoted her time to ACTE for over eleven years.  She has been an Awards Chair and a Parliamentarian for the Louisiana ACTE.  Gary is also a very active member of the Louisiana Association Teachers of Family and Consumer Sciences.  She has received numerous awards from the organization including the Teacher of the Year and Outstanding Member Awards.

Gary has made a long lasting impact on her community.  One colleague states, “In and out of the classroom, Dawn possesses the gift of making students see how important and necessary it is to get involved in their community.”

For more information on ACTE’s award program and its Annual Convention, visit the Association’s Web site at www.acteonline.org.

The Association for Career and Technical Education is the national professional association for the field of career and technical education.  Now in it’s 79th year, ACTE’s membership numbers more than 30,000 teachers, counselors and administrators at the middle school, high school and postsecondary levels.