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 Curtis Helmandollar of Roanoke, Virginia has been named the ACTE Outstanding Educator of the Year.  Helmandollar received the award at the ACTE Annual Convention and Career Tech Expo, December 9th, in Kansas City, Missouri

The ACTE Outstanding Career and Technical Educator award is given in recognition of a career and technical educator who has provided significant contributions to professional associations and career and technical education programs in their respective communities or state.

Currently, Helmandollar serves as the Associate Administrator for Career and Technical Education for the Roanoke County, Virginia School system.  He is also the Director of the Roanoke Area Tech Prep Consortium. 

Since 1991, Helmandollar has raised over $1.5 million in grant money for Tech Prep and CTE programs in his area. In the county’s Technical Center, he supervises the Special Education Program and special projects.  In this position, Helmandollar has contributed to the development of a new Engineering Center.  At the center, students from five area high schools attend a four year pre-engineering program.  The students learn about machine technology, electronics, and other CTE subjects.  The first class will graduate from the program this year.

Helmandollar has been a member of ACTE for over 17 years.  During this time, he has represented Virginia on the Region II Policy Committee.  He has also made presentations at various state and national conferences.  Outside of his experiences with ACTE, Helmandollar has directed, sponsored and hosted a twelve state regional Tech Prep conference in Roanoke, Virginia.

Helmandollar has worked hard to improve the quality of CTE for over 30 years.  His work has not gone unnoticed.   One colleague states, “Curtis’s drive and dedication are unmatched by any professional with whom I have been associated...he always gives what it takes to get the job done...”

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