FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Marlen Zarcone
mzarcone@acteonline.org
ACTE Announces Wyoming Industrial Technology Teacher as National Award Finalist
ALEXANDRIA, VA—Today, the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) announced Troy Reichert, Industrial Technology Teacher, Guernsey-Sunrise Public School as the 2025 ACTE Region V Carl Perkins Community Service Award. This award recognizes the finest career and technical education (CTE) teachers at the middle/secondary school level who have demonstrated innovation in the classroom, commitment to their students and dedication to the improvement of CTE in their institutions and communities.
Troy Reichert has been teaching Industrial Technology for 27 years now and has also coached a variety of sports along with being the SkillsUSA advisor at Guernsey-Sunrise Public School. He believes in teaching outside the classroom, and that has led him to creating a summer skilled trades camp in Sunrise for boys and girls from across the nation to work on the oldest YMCA in the state. His students are also doing a full remodel of the VFW Post 4471 building in Guernsey to improve their skills and help the community.
Because of this work, he has received numerous awards over the years including the Wyoming VFW Teacher of the Year (4th Nationally), Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Teacher Excellence national winner, and the Congressional Medal of Honor Society’s Excellence in Character Education Award.
Reichert is one of four 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, 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.
Patricia Downing has dedicated nearly 40 years to the restaurant industry, building a career rooted in both hands-on experience and academic achievement. She holds an Associate of Applied Science degree in Hospitality Administration with a concentration in Culinary Arts, along with certificates in Hospitality Management, Restaurant Management, Event Management, and Bar and Beverage Management from Ivy Tech Community College in Indianapolis. Patricia furthered her education with a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education from Urbana University in Ohio, an Executive master’s in hospitality administration (MHA) from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and a Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction from Grand Canyon University.
Regina Birch’s journey in education began at Dongola High School, where her passion for family and consumer sciences was nurtured through 4-H and FHA. Inspired by her love for sewing and cooking, she pursued a bachelor’s degree in Home Economics with teacher certification from Eastern Illinois University, graduating in 1989. She later returned to Eastern for an endorsement in Special Education and furthered her expertise with a master’s degree in educational leadership from McKendree University in 2010.
Shannon Roberts is dedicated to fostering student success both in and out of the classroom, firmly believing that meaningful relationships are key to achieving this goal. As a Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) teacher at Mason County High School in Maysville, Kentucky, Shannon has made a lasting impact by establishing the Culinary Arts Career Pathway in 2012. Since its inception, the program has seen a remarkable 557% increase in student participation, providing over 300 students each year with opportunities to complete work-based learning, earn industry certifications, and receive dual college credit.
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.
A native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Dr. Brittney Baptiste Williams is committed to strengthening educational opportunities for students in both vision and scope. She earned her undergraduate degree from Louisiana State University and her graduate degrees from Southeastern Louisiana University and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.
Keith Olander is the Executive Director of AgCentric, Minnesota State Northern Agriculture Center of Excellence. He also oversees strategic agricultural partnerships at Central Lakes College as a Dean of Agricultural Studies.
Rhonda Samples is a champion for Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education (CTAE) in Hall County, with over four decades dedicated to the field. As the former CEO of Lanier College Career Academy and the current Executive Director of CTAE, she has consistently empowered middle and high school students through career pathways, work-based learning, and student organizations. Rhonda actively supports Georgia Department of Education initiatives and collaborates with the Hall County Chamber of Commerce, local colleges, businesses, and community organizations to bridge the gap between education and the workforce.
Lucas Schrauben is a visionary leader and Career and Technical Education (CTE) administrator, currently serving as the Director of Secondary Programs at Holt Public Schools since 2018. With a master’s degree in Career and Technical Education from Western Michigan University, Lucas’s journey is rooted in a deep passion for education. His path began as a CTE student and entrepreneur, leading to a role as District Manager at Aldi Foods before he ultimately answered his calling to serve as an educator.
In 1999, after meeting a young boy who shared that his goal in life was to go to prison, Dein felt compelled to make a difference and became an elementary school teacher. While teaching full time in 2006, he founded a nonprofit ministry organization called Faith Logistics, which provided free truck driving training to individuals exiting the prison system.
