FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 1, 2021
Contact: Megan Kmiotek
mkmiotek@acteonline.org

ACTE Announces Washington Director as 2022 National Winner

ALEXANDRIA, VA—Today, the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) announced Shani Watkins, director of West Sound Technical Skills Center at Bremerton School District in Bremerton, Washington, as the 2022 ACTE National Administrator of the Year. 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.

Shani Watkins serves as the director of West Sound Technical Skills Center in Bremerton. Watkins found her passion working in career and technical education (CTE) after graduating with a bachelor’s degree in accounting. Her journey as a reformed accountant, took her back to school earn her bachelor’s degree in Business Education, Master’s in Education with a focus on business and marketing education, Master’s in Organizational Systems, and an MBA. For more than twenty years, Watkins has served in career and technical education as a teacher, instructional facilitator, assistant CTE director, principal, and director. Throughout her career, Watkins has been actively involved in various CTE associations. She served as the secretary, president-elect, president, and past president of the Washington Association for Career and Technical Administrators, the president-elect, president, and past president of the Washington Association for Career and Technical Education, a member of the ACTE Region V policy committee, and was just nominated as the ACTE Region V vice president beginning July 1, 2021.

“Thank you to the Administrator of the Year award winners and finalists for being leaders in the powerful world of Career and Technical Education. G-W Publisher is excited to honor you and recognize your outstanding achievements,” said Todd Scheffers, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer for G-W. “As a proud sponsor of the ACTE Excellence Awards, this partnership reinforces our longstanding commitment to preparing students for success while also reminding us of our good fortune to work alongside amazing educators like each of you for the past 100 years. Together, we build careers.”

Watkins was one of five finalists for the 2022 national title. The national winner was announced at the virtual Awards Gala, recognizing the best CTE educators in the country. The event took place on November 30, prior to the start of ACTE’s Hybrid CareerTech VISION 2021. The virtual Awards Gala was sponsored by Express Employment Professionals, CareerSafe, Goodheart-Willcox, 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.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 1, 2021
Contact: Megan Kmiotek
mkmiotek@acteonline.org

ACTE Announces Kentucky Agriculture Educator as 2022 National Award Winner

ALEXANDRIA, VA—Today, the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) announced Ashley Rogers, Agriculture Educator, FFA Advisor at Nicholas County Middle/High School in Carlisle, Kentucky as the 2022 National ACTE New Teacher of the Year. This award recognizes new CTE teachers who have made significant contributions toward innovative and unique career and technical education programs and shown a professional commitment early in their careers. The New Teacher of the Year Award is sponsored by Goodheart-Willcox.

Rogers is a 6-year agricultural educator at Nicholas County High School. When hired, the program had on average 60-65 students enrolled in Agricultural Courses out of 514 students 7-12^th grades. Since that time, her two-teacher department has grown the program to over 185 students enrolled in agricultural education courses with over 120 members involved in the FFA organization. In the agricultural education program, 98% of graduating seniors are Career Ready through Rogers’ program because of their passing rates on the End of Program assessment and industry certifications. With her co-teacher, Cameron Earlywine, they founded a middle school program to complement their high school program. During Rogers’ short tenure, the program has had numerous FFA state winners, and Top 10 National Finishers. The Nicholas County Agricultural Education program has raised significant funds through grants and events to utilize to better education and provide scholarship opportunities.

Rogers currently serves as a National Agriscience Teacher Ambassador, National Association of Agricultural Educators National By-Laws and Policies Secretary, Kentucky Association of Agricultural Educators Scholarship Committee Chairman, and Kentucky Association of Agricultural Educators Region 4 Meeting Planning Committee member. Within her school, she serves as the Agricultural Education Co-Op coordinator, Greenhouse Coordinator, Chairman of the Efficiency committee, Co-lead Class Sponsor of the Class of 2022, SBDM Council Elections coordinator, Trauma and Resilience Team Member, Local District Facility Planning Committee Election Coordinator, SBDM Secretary, and a Substitute Bus Driver. Through her work she has earned the National Association of Agricultural Educators Region 4 Early Career Teacher, Kentucky Association of Agricultural Educators Outstanding Early Career Teacher of the Year and the Teachers Turn the Key award.

“Congratulations to the New Teacher of the Year award winners and finalists—what an amazing accomplishment to be honored so early in your teaching career,” said Todd Scheffers, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer for G-W. “As G-W celebrates its 100^th anniversary, we are thankful to have worked alongside so many outstanding educators like each of you over the years. Your commitment to education and the dedication of industry partners such as ACTE help us in our mission to help students build careers.”

Rogers was one of five finalists for the 2022 national title. The national winner was announced at the ACTE Virtual Awards Gala recognizing the best CTE educators in the country. The event took place on November 30, prior to the start of ACTE’s Hybrid CareerTech VISION 2021. The Awards Gala was sponsored by Express Employment Professionals, CareerSafe, Goodheart-Willcox 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.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 4, 2021

Contacts:
Megan Kmiotek
mkmiotek@acteonline.org

Georgia Power Named ACTE Business-Education Partnership Award Winner

ALEXANDRIA, VA – The Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) and its Board of Directors is pleased to announce Georgia Power as the ACTE Business-Education Partnership Award Winner. The Business-Education Partnership Award celebrates the contributions and achievements of schools and businesses that aid in the development and maintenance of partnerships supporting high-quality career and technical education (CTE).

Recognizing workforce needs such as Electrical Line Workers, Georgia Power understands the necessity of a strong educational system that cultivates the skilled workforce that attracts businesses to the state and the impact those efforts have on economic development in Georgia. Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education (CTAE) needs strong business and industry partnerships to grow and develop pathways on both state and local levels.

Georgia Power and Georgia CTAE have been partners for over twenty years. However, new relationships and opportunities for engagement have emerged based on the needs of the state. From developing opportunities within a variety of advisory boards to working with CTSO’s, Georgia Power is always at the table to help improve CTAE.  Both parties recognize the same understanding of the importance of workforce development in Georgia and how it supports? economic growth and prosperity. Georgia Power’s investments locally and regionally strengthen their position as a statewide partner for Georgia CTAE. They are a foundational business and industry partner, whose support has enabled Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education to grow and develop into what it is today.

Georgia Power was part of the Georgia Energy and Industrial Construction Consortium (GEICC) collaborative to establish the CTAE energy pathway.  This pathway represents employers across the electric and gas utility industry as well as private contractors. This engagement started the relationship with the Georgia DOE which has spearheaded multiple opportunities for Georgia Power to support high-quality CTAE programs in Georgia.

First, the Energy Pathway was developed and implemented based on standards that are aligned with expectations from our partners in the Energy Industry.  Clear guidelines for “Should We Start an Energy Pathway Here” were written and published. Educator externships for Energy Instructors are provided free of charge (including hotel expenses) so that participants can experience all aspects of Georgia Power’s business model.  In 2020, approximately $240,000 in Georgia Power Foundation grants were administered to workforce development programs in 14 school districts across the state support CTAE programs. Collaboration between GEICC, GA CTAE and the Technical College System of GA creates opportunities for students to have access to dual enrollment options that align K-12, post-secondary, and entrance to workforce.  The company provides grant funding to districts that pursue the Economic Development Partnership designation which recognizes a school district with an economic development culture, stakeholder partnerships, and pathway alignment that meets the need of their local and regional labor market. Georgia Power engages high school students as interns (WBL) as well as serves as a resource to GaDOE CTAE at a corporate level when their skills and abilities are aligned with GaDOE CTAE needs. Joseph Lillyblad, Georgia Power’s Manager of Education and Workforce Development currently chairs the CTAE Business and Industry Advisory Council focusing on innovation and the path forward for CTAE as well as serving on GA FIRST Robotics board of directors, providing leadership and investment in the organizations. Georgia Power maintains a significant manpower and financial investment in GA CTSO’s.

The relationship between the Georgia DOE CTAE Division and Georgia Power is the pinnacle of a business and industry partner for GA CTAE. The partnership impacts student success daily in Georgia.

Georgia Power will be recognized alongside other national ACTE award winners virtually on November 30, 2021, at 5:00 p.m. ET, at the annual ACTE Awards Gala. For more information on the Excellence Awards and the Awards Gala, visit https://www.acteonline.org/awards.

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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.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 4, 2021

Contact: Dominique Frascoia
dfrascoia@acteonline.org

Mississippi Student Wins ACTE National Student Trophy Design Contest
Student of St. Martin High School Wins National Award

Alexandria, VA – Today, the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) announced a St. Martin High School student Nathaniel Bryan as the national student trophy design winner in its sixth annual student trophy design contest. He is taught by Richard Humphreys, an instructor at St. Martin High School. The contest is sponsored by ACTE and Stratasys, Ltd., a manufacturer of 3D printers and production systems.

Since 1954, ACTE has awarded those who have made exemplary contributions in the field of career and technical education (CTE). The student trophy design contest is a competition for students to design the 3D trophy to be used to award the national winners at the Awards Gala. This year’s gala will be held in virtually on November 30 at 4:00 p.m. CT/5:00 p.m. ET, all are welcome to attend. Nathaniel’s submission was selected by ACTE’s Board of Directors out of entries from students all across the country. In addition to having his design used to create this year’s trophies, Nathaniel will receive a $1,000 scholarship and St. Martin High School will receive a free one-year lease of a 3D printer, courtesy of Stratasys, Ltd.

Nathaniel Bryan is a senior at Saint Martin High School. Though he has only been at Saint Martin since his 8th grade year, he was granted the opportunity to take all three

years of engineering under the direction of Dr. Richard Humphreys, and, through engineering, has been able to engage in subjects he enjoys–such as math, science, and logical thinking–as well explore new activities that he has taken quite a liking to, like 3-D modeling!  Even before his foray into engineering during high school, Nathaniel has always favored subjects like math and science, and the evolution of his prospective career choices reflect that.  Since he was young, he has loved watching documentaries on subjects like space and the universe and is enamored with people such as Stephen Hawking.  Consequently, Nathaniel used to go around spouting about how he would be a groundbreaking Astro-quantum physicist.  By the time he was in middle school, he had chosen something he had determined to be more realistic, an aerospace engineer, where he would have a good job and be able to use 3-D software to design and simulate rocket ships and their components. This did not last long. Now in his final year of high school with a 35 ACT score, 4.00 GPA and 5.28 QPA, and now a national award under his belt, Nathaniel has his sights set on colleges such as Stanford, Rice, and even the University of Washington, where he wishes to get degrees in both Physics and Astronomy and accomplish his dream of becoming an astrophysicist!

“The Student Trophy Design Contest has successfully helped promote CTE classrooms across the country for the next generation of innovators, entrepreneurs, engineers, and more,” said ACTE Executive Director LeAnn Wilson. “Nathaniel’s outstanding achievements, and his passion for CTE, are further evidence of the critical role high-quality CTE plays in maintaining and growing America’s role in the global economy. We are very proud of Nathaniel and his accomplishments, and we are honored to have him as a public ambassador for all that today’s CTE has to offer.”

Jesse Roitenberg, Stratasys Americas Director of Education shared his thoughts on the contest over the years, “Stratasys is pleased to partner with ACTE to create this contest for the students. It is clear that the educators are doing an outstanding job immersing the students in Additive Manufacturing and Computer Aided Drafting.  The trophy entries we have judged over the past 6 years are phenomenally designed and could not be created by any other manufacturing process.

Nathaniel, ACTE and Stratasys are available for interviews upon request. Nathaniel’s trophy design and headshot (courtesy Nathaniel) are attached to this email.

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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.

Click here to view this press release on ACTE’s website.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

August 11, 2021 

Contact:

Jori Houck, jhouck@acteonline.org 

ACTE Statement on Nomination of Dr. Amy Loyd as OCTAE Assistant Secretary 

Alexandria, VA – Today, ACTE released the following statement on the nomination of Dr. Amy Loyd to serve as Assistant Secretary for the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education (OCTAE) after serving as the Acting Assistant Secretary in this role since April:

President Biden’s selection of Dr. Amy Loyd to serve as OCTAE Assistant Secretary represents a strong choice that will support career and technical education (CTE) across the country. Dr. Loyd has extensive experience across the CTE field, including her work at Jobs for the Future (JFF) that focused on state, regional and federal policies and practices, K-12 education, community colleges, adult education, workforce development, economic development and college and career pathways. 

Additionally, Dr. Loyd has prioritized diversity, equity and inclusion throughout her career, including through providing culturally-responsive education, training and wraparound services to Alaska Native and Native American communities through her role as Director of Education at the Cook Inlet Tribal Council.

Since April, she has been serving in the Acting Assistant Secretary role for OCTAE after being appointed as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy and Strategic Initiatives, and has been overseeing national CTE programs, community colleges, adult education and literacy and correctional education programs in this role.

“ACTE is pleased to celebrate President Biden’s nomination of Dr. Amy Loyd to officially serve as OCTAE Assistant Secretary,” said ACTE Executive Director LeAnn Wilson. “Dr. Loyd is an exceptional advocate for equitable access to high-quality CTE, and has already proven to be a strong leader in this role. We look forward to strengthening our relationship and to her dedicated, focused leadership of the Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education.”

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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.