ACTE Announces Tennessee CTE Director/Coordinator as National Award Finalist
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 23, 2023
Contact: Dominique Frascoia
ACTE Announces Tennessee CTE Director/Coordinator as National Award Finalist
ALEXANDRIA, VA—Today, the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) announced Tyra Pilgrim, CTE Director at Rutherford County Schools in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, as the 2023 ACTE Region II Administrator of the Year. This award recognizes the finest career and technical education (CTE) administrators at the middle/secondary school level who have demonstrated innovation in the classroom, commitment to their students, and dedication to improving CTE in their institutions and communities.
As an accomplished professional with more than two decades of experience in education, she has held various roles such as CTE Director, CTE Specialist, and Marketing Teacher. Her academic journey started at John A. Logan Community College in Carterville, IL, where she obtained her Associate of Arts in Business Teacher Education. She later earned her Bachelor of Science in business management from Welch College (formerly Free Will Baptist Bible College) in Nashville, TN. In 2002, she received her master’s degree in business education from Middle TN State University.
She has been an Executive Council member of the Rutherford Works division of the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce for ten years. She currently serves as the Middle TN Vice President of the TN Directors of Career & Technical Education and is a member of ACTE. Additionally, she has been a member of the TISA State CTE Advisory Committee. She has served as a mentor and presenter for the New CTE Directors Professional Development training series and a presenter at the Region II ACTE conference in 2023.
She has contributed to various grants, including the Perkins V Basic Plan, Perkins V Reserve Plan, Innovative High Schools Grant, and Innovative Schools Model Grant. In her role, she has overseen the implementation of the General Purpose Budget as part of the Rutherford County Schools CTE Department. She has also created and managed the implementation of the first-ever TDOE State Board Approved County-led EPP – Rutherford County Schools Teach Now Program. Furthermore, she has worked on the State Textbook Adoption Committee for Marketing Education and has been the TN State DECA Conference Written Event Coordinator for twenty years.
Pilgram is one of five finalists for the 2024 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 November 29, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. The Awards Gala is sponsored by Express Employment Professionals, 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.