ACTE Announces Texas Director of Career and Technical Education as the 2026 National Award Winner
ALEXANDRIA, VA—Today, the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) announced Dr. Donna Prudhomme, Director of Career and Technical Education (CTE) at
Beaumont ISD in Beaumont, TX as the 2026 ACTE Administrator of the Year – National Winner. This award recognizes administrative 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. The Administrator of the Year Award is sponsored by Goodheart-Willcox.
Dr. Donna Prudhomme serves as the Director of Career and Technical Education (CTE) for Beaumont Independent School District, bringing more than three decades of experience to her role, including 28 years within BISD and three in industry. She began her career teaching Criminal Justice and went on to serve as a high school counselor, assistant principal, magnet coordinator, and principal of Clifton J. Ozen Magnet High School. During her tenure as principal, the school earned state accountability ratings of Met Standard along with a state distinction in science.
A committed lifelong learner, Dr. Prudhomme holds five degrees from Lamar University, Prairie View A&M University, and Nova Southeastern University. She is certified as a Superintendent, Principal, School Counselor, and Vocational Trades and Industry teacher, reflecting her broad expertise in educational leadership.
Since stepping into the role of CTE Director in 2018, Dr. Prudhomme has led a transformation of BISD’s CTE programs, focusing on rebranding efforts, program expansion, deeper community engagement, and the development of strong industry partnerships. One of her signature initiatives is the Annual CTE Choice Awards—an elaborate red-carpet celebration that now attracts more than 1,000 attendees each year to honor outstanding students, educators, and community partners.
Her leadership has driven significant gains in student achievement. Industry-based certification attainment has risen across the district, culminating in a major milestone in the 2024–2025 Accountability Ratings: BISD’s CTE industry-based certification results for College, Career, and Military Readiness (CCMR) nearly match the State of Texas, with BISD at 34.9 percent and the state at 35 percent. BISD also surpasses the state average in Level I and Level II certificates, achieving 8.1 percent compared to the state’s 1.1 percent.
Beyond her work in education, Dr. Prudhomme is a REALTOR®, a Board-Certified Credit Consultant, and the founder of the Credit Education School, a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering young women through financial literacy. Her accomplishments have earned widespread recognition, including being named the 2024 CTAT Administrator of the Year and the 2025 ACTE Region IV Administrator of the Year. She remains deeply committed to preparing students for success in college, career, and life.
Prudhomme was one of five finalists for the 2026 national title. The national winner was announced at the Awards Gala, recognizing the best CTE educators in the country. The event took place on December 9, at ACTE’s CareerTech VISION 2025. The Awards Gala was sponsored by Express Employment Professionals, Goodheart-Willcox, The U.S. 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.
