ACTE Announces Illinois Teacher as National Award Finalist
ALEXANDRIA, VA—Today, the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) announced Matt Erbach, Precision Manufacturing Teacher at South Elgin High School in South Elgin, Illinois as the 2026 ACTE Region III Teacher of the Year. 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.
Matt Erbach, a veteran Precision Manufacturing teacher at South Elgin High School in Illinois, brings 18 years of classroom experience and a dynamic approach to Career and Technical Education (CTE). Since 2007, he has led the district’s precision manufacturing program, inspiring students through project-based learning in both manual and CNC metalworking.
Matt is known for turning his classroom into a hub of creativity and innovation. His students have taken on real-world challenges—machining components for Project Lifechanger’s low-cost prosthetic leg, customizing Electrathon vehicles, and even producing billet aluminum electric guitar bodies and sandals. He has maintained National Institute for Metalworking Skills (NIMS) site accreditation and student certifications since 2012.
A national leader in manufacturing education, Matt currently spearheads an international collaboration where students from the U.S., Wales, and Germany contribute to shared manufacturing assemblies, learning to design and problem-solve across borders. He also serves as the national president of the Haas Technical Education Community (HTEC), having previously held roles as Vice President and Secretary. Matt developed the first publicly available classroom projects for the Haas Desktop Mill and Lathe, incorporating advanced features like tool-change integration.
Matt is also a curriculum contributor and panelist for Autodesk, where he created the widely used training resource Learn Fusion CAM 2.5 Axis in 90 Minutes. He holds a BA in Education and an MS in Workforce Development and Education and was named a Fellow in the prestigious Transatlantic Outreach Program in 2017.
His dedication to excellence has been widely recognized. Matt was the first Precision Manufacturing teacher to receive the Illinois Golden Apple Award and was a 2018 winner of the Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize for Teaching Excellence. Under his mentorship, SkillsUSA teams have earned national accolades, and his students continue to thrive in a classroom culture that fosters creativity, skill development, and a passion for advanced manufacturing.
Erbach is one of five finalists for the 2026 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 9, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. The Awards Gala is sponsored by 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.
