FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Marlen Zarcone
mzarcone@acteonline.org
ACTE Announces Illinois FCS Teacher and FCCLA Adviser as National Award Finalist
ALEXANDRIA, VA—Today, the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) announced Regina Birch, FCS Teacher and FCCLA Adviser, Alton High School CUSD 11, as the 2025 ACTE Region III 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.
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.
Over her distinguished 33-year career, Regina taught in seven different school districts across central Illinois before finding her true home at Alton High School in 2011. As a dedicated Redbird, she revitalized the school’s FCCLA chapter, producing four state officers, numerous STAR event participants, and securing two national awards. Regina’s leadership extended beyond the classroom; she served as the FCCLA adviser, head of the FCS Department, and treasurer for IFACSTA. She was also a respected workshop presenter for IACTE, IFACSTA, and Illinois FCCLA.
Regina’s excellence in teaching has been recognized with multiple honors, including the IFACSTA Teacher of the Year Award, the Illinois ACTE Lifetime Achievement Award, the FCCLA Teacher Mentor Award, and the Illinois State Board of Education’s Those Who Excel Award for 2021-22. After a remarkable career, she retired in May 2024, leaving a lasting legacy in the field of family and consumer sciences education.
Birch 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.
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.
Hillwood created AllianceTexas, a 27,000-acre master-planned community. It’s an economic engine powering a region where businesses big and small are embracing innovation. They are unique in having a dedicated customer experience team. This provided them with the perfect landscape for student work-based learning experiences that have partnered with a variety of corporations from a vast array of career clusters.
Fullerton Tool, a third-generation, family-owned business, specializes in designing and producing solid carbide cutting tools for various industries, including high-quality end mills, drills, reamers, burrs, saws, key seat cutters, and custom tooling.
