ACTE Announces Pennsylvania Networking and Cybersecurity Instructor as National Award Finalist
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 20, 2022
Contact: Dominique Frascoia
ACTE Announces Pennsylvania Networking and Cybersecurity Instructor as National Award Finalist
ALEXANDRIA, VA—Today, the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) announced Michael Refsnider, Networking and Cybersecurity Instructor at Eastern Center for Arts and Technology in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania, as the 2022 ACTE Region I New Teacher of the Year. 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.
Michael Refsnider has been employed as the Networking and Cybersecurity teacher at Eastern Center for Arts and Technology (EASTERN) in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania since the start of the 2019-2020 school year. EASTERN is regional career and technology center serving juniors and seniors from nine public school districts in eastern Montgomery County. As the teacher for the Networking and Cybersecurity program, Mr. Refsnider provides 950 hours of instruction to students over two years and this instruction includes 12 dual enrollment credits through our local community college.
Like many career and technical teachers, Michael Refsnider did not start his career in teaching. After graduating from Pennsylvania State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Telecommunications, he began a fifteen-year career with Wegmans Food Markets, working his way up to the role of IT Zone technician. In this position, he installed, maintained, repaired, and protected the regional IT infrastructure. While employed at Wegmans Food Markets, he continued to attend training opportunities to expand his skillset. He holds numerous Cisco and CompTIA certifications along with software-specific certifications. Michael quickly learned that he loved training other employees and was happiest within the Wegmans’ organization when he could develop and implement training programs for employees at stores across his region.
Refsnider is one of five finalists for the 2023 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 30, 2022, at 7:00 p.m. The Awards Gala is sponsored by Express Employment Professionals, Goodheart-Willcox 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.