ACTE Announces Virginia Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher/FCCLA Adviser as 2023 National Winner
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 5, 2022
Contact: Dominique Frascoia
dfrascoia@acteonline.org
ACTE Announces Virginia Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher/FCCLA Adviser as 2023 National Winner
ALEXANDRIA, VA Last night, the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) announced Barbara Comer, Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher/FCCLA Adviser at Page County Public Schools in Shenandoah, Virginia, as the 2023 National ACTE Teacher of the Year. This award recognizes the finest career and technical education 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. The Teacher of the Year Award is sponsored by Express Employment Professionals.
For 35 years, Comer has been the Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) Teacher at Page County High School in Shenandoah, Virginia. Being a FCS teacher is not just a career, but for Comer it is a passion. Comer works to instill in students the importance of family and a love of learning, so that they may one day effectively balance their roles at work and at home.
Comer currently teaches several courses in the Hospitality and Tourism Career Pathways. Her students have achieved 100% pass rates on three Career and Technical credential tests. She helped develop a culinary internship with a major hospitality and food management company, pairing chefs with culinary students leading to employment in their restaurants. Recently, Mrs. Comer and her students were chosen as part of a fifteen-member team to participate in a Hospitality Industry Immersion experience in Chicago, attending the National Restaurant Association show. She has served on four Virginia state curriculum writing Committees and was a participant in a VA Department of Education focus group to develop recommendations for submission to the Governor for the CTE endorsement on high school diplomas. Comer was honored to be selected to serve as a member of the Perkins V Core Stakeholders Team for the Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education in the Virginia Department of Education.
Comer is a firm believer that students enrolled in CTE classes should take part in their respective CTSOs. Her students have continued to be successful in state and national competitions and the chapter has been honored with more than 16 FCCLA National Program Awards. Comer is currently serving as the Local Chapter Adviser Representative to the National FCCLA Board of Directors. She has been the adviser to more than 30 FCCLA State Officers and 5 National Officers.
“I am inspired by the dedication and creativity of the ACTE Teacher of the Year nominees who strive to ensure students are prepared fill the skills gap in the current workforce,” said Bill Stoller, Express CEO and chairman of the board. “I extend my gratitude to this year’s honorees and my congratulations to the 2022 National Teacher of the Year. Encouraging and equipping our nation’s future workforce depends on exemplary teachers like you for the United States to thrive and move our citizens into wealth-building careers.”
Comer is one of five finalists for the 2023 national title. The national winner was announced at the Awards Gala, recognizing the best CTE educators in the country. The event took place on November 30, at ACTE’s CareerTech VISION 2022. The Awards Gala was sponsored by Express Employment Professionals, CareerSafe, Goodheart-Willcox, and Stratasys. For more information about the ACTE Excellence Awards, visit our webpage.