ACTE Announces Illinois Executive Director as National Award Finalist
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 15, 2020
Contact: Megan Kmiotek
mkmiotek@acteonline.org
ACTE Announces Illinois Executive Director as National Award Finalist
ALEXANDRIA, VA—Today, the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) announced Martha Eldredge Stark, Executive Director of the Illinois Career and Technical Administrators, as the recipient of the 2020 ACTE Region III Lifetime Achievement Award. This award recognizes career and technical education (CTE) professionals for their leadership on behalf of ACTE, their innovations in CTE and their contributions to the field over an extended period of time. For the second time ever, at the Virtual Awards Gala, ACTE will be inducting all five Lifetime Achievement national finalists into the new ACTE Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame honors the leadership of CTE professionals who have made enduring contributions to CTE throughout their career.
Martha Eldredge Stark recently retired as the Executive Director of NSERVE, the Education for Employment region comprised of nine high schools in the northern suburbs of Chicago with a total enrollment of more than 24,000 secondary students. Stark has devoted her entire 46-year working career to education. Her career began as a teacher for deaf children before she began her work in CTE. She was the School-to-Work Coordinator for Maine Township. High School District 207 before she went on to become Education to Careers Director for the northern Chicago suburbs. When that grant closed, she initiated the position of Coordinator for Experiential Education at Mundelein High School, placing students in internships and apprenticeships, significantly increasing the district’s business partnerships. She went on to become Regional Coordinator for Business Service for the Workforce Boards of Metropolitan Chicago, and 16 years ago became the NSERVE Executive Director.
Stark 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.