ACTE Announces Alabama Career and Technical Education Specialist as National Award Finalist
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 5, 2019
Contact: Megan Kmiotek
mkmiotek@acteonline.org
ACTE Announces Alabama Career and Technical Education Specialist as National Award Finalist
ALEXANDRIA, VA—Today, the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) announced Kimberly Lee Mitchell, Career and Technical Education Specialist and Program Chair in Jacksonville, Alabama, as the 2020 ACTE Region II Postsecondary Teacher of the Year. This award recognizes the finest career and technical teachers at the postsecondary level who have demonstrated innovation in the classroom, commitment to their students and dedication to the improvement of career and technical education (CTE) in their institution and communities.
Kimberly Mitchell was the first in her family to attend college and in August of 1997, she received her B. S. Degree in Education from Jacksonville State University. Several jobs and degrees later she still loves teaching just as much as she did the very first day. She is energized by her students and her fellow professionals in Alabama and across the country. She enjoys serving as a mentor to CTE professionals, focusing on the opportunity to work with students on the post-secondary level who have the desire to become future teachers. Mitchell has worked in the secondary and post-secondary levels during her career. She currently works at Jacksonville State University as the Career Technical Education Specialist and Program Chair. Prior to her time at Jacksonville State, she taught in the Talladega City, Talladega County, and St. Clair County School systems.
While teaching in St. Clair County, Mitchell earned her Masters of Arts degree in Human and Environmental Sciences from the University of Alabama. Once she began teaching in the Talladega City School System, she then completed her administrative certification from Jacksonville State University in 2005. She is currently a Doctoral candidate at the University of West Alabama in Rural Education: Organizational Leadership. Mitchell strives to combine her experience in Career Technical Education and leadership with the knowledge gained from her work in rural education to help better the lives of students who come from similar backgrounds as she did while training teachers to deal with the challenges they will face in their classrooms.
Mitchell is one of five finalists for the 2021 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 Thursday, December 3, during ACTE’s Virtual CareerTech VISION 2020. The Awards Gala is sponsored by Express Employment Professionals, Goodheart-Willcox, CareerSafe, 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.