ACTE Announces Maryland Culinary Arts & Hospitality Management Teacher as National Award Finalist
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 25, 2023
Contact: Dominique Frascoia
ACTE Announces Maryland Culinary Arts & Hospitality Management Teacher as National Award Finalist
ALEXANDRIA, VA—Today, the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) announced Deanna Burch, Culinary Arts & Hospitality Management Teacher at Harford County Public Schools in Havre de Grace, Maryland, as the 2023 ACTE Region I Carl Perkins Community Service Award. This award recognizes the finest career and technical education (CTE) teachers at the middle/secondary school level who have demonstrated innovation in the classroom, commitment to their students and dedication to the improvement of CTE in their institutions and communities.
Deanna Burch is a Family and Consumer Sciences educator at Havre de Grace High School in northeastern Maryland. This is her 16th year teaching, learning, and leading students to make healthier choices, be creative, and develop the skills and knowledge necessary to lead productive lives and build up a toolbox of resources as they move into college, trade, or career. Ms. Burch has taught Social Studies in five different schools for over 9 years in Philadelphia, one year in New Jersey, and is in her sixth year here. Deanna also tutors Pre-Algebra and Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II to students virtually in the county. Currently, she teaches all the courses at her medium-sized high school in the program: Intro to Food Prep, Advanced Food Prep, Hospitality Management and Hospitality Practicum. Here at Havre de Grace, we are a family! We support our community as well. A tradition that she has continued to participate in with her students is for the high school classes to chop, cube, and dice celery, onions, and bread for the Community Projects of HdG Thanksgiving meals given to more than 1500+ people each year. This is a huge undertaking and each November we are smelling of onions and building muscles lifting 60-quart stainless steel pots and making 40 restaurant size trays.
Burch 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.
