ACTE Announces Illinois Career Coordinator as National Award Finalist
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 15, 2020
Contact: Megan Kmiotek
mkmiotek@acteonline.org
ACTE Announces Illinois Career Coordinator as National Award Finalist
ALEXANDRIA, VA—Today, the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) announced Laura Cook, Career Coordinator at Maine Township High School District 207 in Park Ridge, IL, as the recipient of the 2020 ACTE Region III Counseling and Career Development Professional Award. This award recognizes school counselors and career development professionals who have demonstrated commitment to connecting students with opportunities for success, shown innovation in career exploration and development, and have advocated for career and technical education (CTE) as a viable option for all students.
Laura Cook has been with Maine Township High School District 207 for 15 years. Her first ten years were spent as the director of a federal grant-funded program, JumpStart which focuses on providing work-readiness and paid work experience programming for at-risk, hard-to-serve students. In 2014, Cook accepted the position of Career Coordinator focusing on the advancement of student career success, the enhancement of educators skill sets and working to expand the pipeline of talented youth to community and national industry. Prior to District 207, Cook worked in behavioral healthcare as a national study coordinator, clinical content editor and research associate. Cook also taught statistics and educational psychology courses.
Cook 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 Virtual 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.