ACTE Announces 2026 National Award Finalists
ALEXANDRIA, VA — Today, the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) announced its 2026 national finalists from its five regions in eight different award categories. Finalists were announced for Teacher of the Year, Postsecondary Professional of the Year, Administrator of the Year, New Teacher of the Year, Teacher Educator of the Year, Counseling and Career Development Professional Award, Lifetime Achievement Award and Carl Perkins Community Service Award.
The national winners will be announced at the ACTE Awards Gala, an award presentation recognizing the best CTE educators in the country. The event will be held on December 9, 2025 at 7:00pm. The Awards Gala is sponsored by Express Employment Professionals, Goodheart-Wilcox, the Army and Stratasys. For more information about the ACTE Excellence Awards, visit our webpage.
Teacher of the Year Finalists
- Terence Richards – Washington, DC – Region I
- Matthew Nanny – Warsaw, VA – Region II
- Matt Erbach – South Elgin, IL – Region III
- Clint Young – Pontotoc, MS – Region IV
- Matthew Waynee – Los Angeles, CA – Region V
Postsecondary Professional of the Year Finalists
- Cynthia Thomas – Syracuse, NY– Region I
- Robert Jason Davis – Mount Olive, NC – Region II
- Angeleic Huth – Raytown, MO – Region III
- Sheri Deaton – Fayetteville, AR – Region IV
- Tyson Sorensen – Logan, UT– Region V
Administrator of the Year Finalists
- Patrick Lamb – Traverse City, MI – Region I
- Chris Kennedy – Dothan, AL – Region II
- Brittany Kloer – Indianapolis, IN – Region III
- Donna Prudhomme – Beaumont, TX – Region IV
- Tina Gudvangen – Willcox, AZ – Region V
New Teacher of the Year Finalists
- Rick Villano – Frederick, MD – Region I
- Michelle Hill – Mathews, VA – Region II
- Kelly Paige – Alton, IL – Region III
- Paden Hagler – Lovington, NM – Region IV
- Leah Ferguson – Dalles, OR – Region V
Teacher Educator of the Year Finalists
- Tyler S. Love – Baltimore, MD – Region I
- Ulla Carr – Athens, GA – Region II
- Jill Conlon – Mankato, MN – Region III
- Christina Loyd – Center Ridge, AR – Region IV
- Xue Xing – Las Vegas, NV – Region V
Counseling and Career Development Professional Finalists
- Karmin Olds – Traverse City, MI – Region I
- Claire Minto – Mobile, AL – Region II
- Margaret Janke – Romeoville, IL – Region III
- Valerie Tibbs – Lawton, OK – Region IV
- Jonathan Burke – Palisades, CO – Region V
Lifetime Achievement Award Finalists
- Katherine Manley – Big Rapids, MI – Region I
- June St. Clair Atkinson – Raleigh, NC – Region II
- Jay Davis – Kokomo, IN – Region III
- Rex Buckhaults – Laurel, MS – Region IV
- Curt Bertelsen – Tucson, AZ – Region V
Carl D. Perkins Community Service Award Finalists
- Clinton Burch – Charleston, WV – Region I
- Tiffany Barney – Marietta, GA – Region II
- Eric Sawatzke – Barrett, MN – Region III
- Heather Monks – Ponca City, OK – Region IV
- Nikki Melius – Faulkton, SD – Region V
