2023 Award Winners
ACTEN Outstanding New CTE Teacher of the Year
Sarah Hubel, Family and Consumer Science Teacher, Cross County Schools
Sarah Hubel has taught FCS and advised FCCLA members for 3 years. During her years of service, she has emphasized student personal growth through career exploration and FCCLA involvement. She strives to make content connections with students’ interests and CTSO opportunities. She recognizes student potential to succeed and will encourage them to use their skills and classroom success for FCCLA recognition. The importance of FCS and FCCLA opportunities motivates Sarah to make classroom and life connections with her students.
During the 2 years she has been as Cross County, she has re-written and updated the curriculum for all FCS classes and aligned them to state standards. She created social media campaign materials highlighting FCS career pathways for the students and incorporated career readiness standards in her classes.
Her principal writes, “Besides being an outstanding FCS teacher, she is a phenomenal FCCLA sponsor. Each and every day she is impacting students and teachers. She is providing cutting-edge opportunities for our students in her classroom.”
ACTEN Member of the Year
Dan Phillips, Previous Director of Innovation for Career and College Readiness for Grand Island Public Schools
Daniel Phillips served as the Director of Innovation for Career & College Readiness for Grand Island Public Schools. In this position, he was responsible for the Academies of Grand Island Senior High, all career and technical education programs, and dual education partnerships within the district as well as curriculum implementation and managing partnerships for all CTE programs. Prior to this role, he was an Academy Principal for the Academy of Technical Sciences, which received NCAC National Model Status in 2019, andDirector of the Career Pathways Institute since its inception. Before moving into administration with Grand Island Public Schools, Daniel taught Drafting and Architecturefor 10 years in Wichita, Kansas.
Daniel was active on several local and state boards. He has served as the president-elect, president, and past-president of the Association for Career and Technical Education of Nebraska (ACTEN). He was on the Nebraska Career Academy Advisory committee to help establish and monitor Career Academy standards statewide. Daniel has presented at numerous state and national conferences about the formation and successes of the Career Pathways Institute, the Academies of Grand Island Senior High, and Registered Apprenticeships.
Dan has been a strong supporter of CTE not only through his professional career, but he has also advocated for CTE in Washington DC by personally visiting with our members of Congress to ask for their support of CTE.