ACTE Announces Utah Director of Career & Technical Education as National Award Finalist
ALEXANDRIA, VA—Today, the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) announced Dave Gardner, Director of Career & Technical Education at Washington County School District in Saint George, UT as the 2025 ACTE Region V Administrator of the Year. This award recognizes administrative career and technical education (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.
Dave Gardner, a seasoned CTE educator and leader, has significantly shaped Utah’s educational landscape. In the past seven years, Gardner has successfully collaborated with Utah Tech University in achieving the state’s highest combined year-over-year growth rate in the state’s higher education concurrent enrollment program. He also led one of the first districts to implement Utah’s K-12 Computer Science Initiative and built one of the state’s largest E-sports programs. For his efforts, he was awarded the State Office of Education’s 2017 Excellence in Action Award for career development innovation.
In the fall of 2023, Gardner brought his greatest vision to life: the opening of Utah’s first comprehensive Career & Technical Education High School (CTHS). This groundbreaking institution represents years of research and development, inspired by a collaboration with Kirk Lewis High School in Pasadena, Texas. The school blends academic excellence with CTE, creating an innovative environment where students thrive.
Utah State Superintendent Dr. Sydnee Dickson referred to CTHS as “the future of educational excellence and innovation.” Governor Cox, who recently toured the facility, was equally impressed, noting the high level of student engagement across pathways from construction to culinary arts.
Designed to foster collaboration between academic and CTE faculty, CTHS has already shown positive results, including increased student attendance, improved GPAs, and reduced discipline issues. The school’s success has sparked discussions on replicating this model across the district.
CTHS was built at half the cost of traditional high schools, making it not only a model of educational innovation but also financial efficiency. Students earn concurrent enrollment credits and industry-recognized credentials, connecting them directly to employment opportunities upon graduation. The school’s success has attracted strong support from local employers, who now contribute resources to enhance students’ career development.
Dave Gardner’s lifelong commitment to CTE continues to pay dividends, as his influence inspires students, teachers, and future leaders in the field.
Gardner is one of five finalists for the 2025 national title. The national winner will be announced at the ACTE Awards Gala, an award presentation recognizing the best CTE educators in the country. The event will take place on December 4, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. The Awards Gala is sponsored by Express Employment Professionals, Goodheart-Willcox, The Army, and Stratasys. 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.
Nick Lebo is a graduate of the University of Texas in Austin, where he earned both his bachelor’s degree in finance and a master’s degree in education in Sport Management. He is married to his high school sweetheart, Kelsey, and they have three amazing children: Lyla, Lily, and Shepherd. Nick is entering his fourteenth year of teaching and coaching in Austin ISD. He is currently the CTE Department Chair, Business Teacher, and Head Golf Coach at Austin High.
Chris Edgar has been a dedicated advocate for Career and Technical Education (CTE) for nearly a decade, combining his extensive background in law enforcement with a passion for teaching the next generation of professionals. As an instructor at Lake Career and Technical Center (LCTC), Chris has developed and led innovative programs in law enforcement and crime scene investigations. His goal is to provide students with hands-on learning opportunities that prepare them for careers in criminal justice while fostering a positive perception of law enforcement in their communities.
Jason Van Nus is the Director of Work-Based Learning (WBL) and Youth Apprenticeship (YA) Programs for Lowndes County Schools in Valdosta, Georgia. With over 20 years of experience in Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education (CTAE), Jason has become an expert in various instructional areas, including Business Education, Graphic Communication, and Work-Based Learning. His journey into education began as a way to stay connected to sports, but it soon evolved into a deep commitment to his students and their success.
Jared’s dedication and passion for his students have made his program one of the most sought-after at Northwest Education Services. His classes consistently have a waitlist, driven by the positive word-of-mouth from current students to prospective ones. Underclassmen, parents, and alumni often express a strong desire to see firsthand what is happening in the Power Equipment program, even if their personal ambitions lie elsewhere.
LTC Scott Caldwell has served as the Director of JROTC for the Washoe County School District since 2018. A retired Army officer with 30 years of distinguished service, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Aero Technology from Bowling Green State University and a master’s degree in international relations from Troy University. Before transitioning to his current role, his final military assignment was as the Professor of Military Science and Department Chair for the Senior ROTC Program at Florida Tech. He later spent six years as the Senior Army Instructor at Ft. Pierce Westwood High School in Ft. Pierce, Florida.
April Blackwell has been an integral part of the Northeast Tech team since 2011, and since 2019, she has served as the Instructional Services Director. As the first person to hold this pivotal position, April has been instrumental in building the department from the ground up. Under her leadership, she has expanded her team to include four instructional coordinators, one for each campus, ensuring comprehensive support across the district.
Jennifer Kline, M. Ed., served as the Healthcare Program Manager for GateWay Community College in Phoenix, AZ (Region V) and has recently joined Erie County Community College (Region I) as the Associate Dean of Academics. With more than 26 years of combined CTE experience, she has held various roles, including flight paramedic, firefighter, workforce and business development manager, and has spent ten years in higher education as both an administrator and educator.
