Meet Michael Herrera

ACTE Region I Vice President

Division: Administration

Occupation: Executive Director

Employment history: Executive director, assistant director, supervisor of CTE, Upper Bucks County Technical School: 2013–present; principal, Hudson Catholic Regional High School: 2012–13; director of CTE and assistant principal, Somerset County Vocational and Technical High School: 2003–2012

Education
Doctor of Education, educational leadership, Saint Elizabeth University; Master of Education, leadership, management, and policy, Seton Hall University; Bachelor of Arts, education, Kean University

National ACTE involvement
Member, bylaws committee: 2023; fellow, National Leadership Fellowship Program: 2022; mentor, National Leadership Fellowship Program: 2023; presenter, ACTE’s CareerTech VISION: 2022; attendee, VISION: 2022–24; delegate, ACTE Assembly of Delegates: 2022–23; attendee, National Policy Seminar: 2022; Techniques contributor: 2020, 2024

Regional ACTE involvement
Member, policy committee: 2023–present; chair, conference committee, Pennsylvania leadership: 2023; chair, bylaws committee: 2023–present; conference presenter: 2024; conference attendee: 2023–24

State ACTE involvement
Member, board of directors, Pennsylvania ACTE: 2023–present

Other CTE involvement
Advisory board member, HealthWorks Academies: 2024–present; member, legislative and comprehensive strategic plan committee, Pennsylvania Association of Career and Technical Administrators: 2022–present; subject matter expert, CompTIA TechTown: 2023– present; member, National Career Development Association: 2021–present Offered testimony and spoke on numerous occasions to advocate for CTE; appeared on the NCLA Podcast to discuss prioritizing skilled trades education; served on College in High School Alliance to ensure student participation and success; recognized for innovative best practices in education and community development

Platform statement
As Region I vice president-elect, my goals are to leverage my extensive experience and passion for CTE to achieve the following goals. Enhance workforce readiness: Promote innovative curricula and forge industry partnerships to equip students with the skills needed for family-sustaining jobs. My initiatives, including developing micro-credentials for educators, illustrate my commitment to this mission. Advocate for CTE-friendly policies: I champion policies that address the skills gap and mitigate the impact of unfunded mandates. My experiences, in national forums and with legislative testimony, equip me to advocate effectively for these critical issues. Strengthen collaboration and networking: Foster collaboration among CTE leaders, educators, and industry partners through impactful events and initiatives. My leadership in the Region I Conference showcases my ability to unite diverse parties for meaningful dialogue. Promote skilled trades: Elevate the status of skilled trades in education and workforce development. My contributions to the NCLA Podcast and other publications highlight the urgent need to prioritize these elds in our agendas.