ACTE Announces Alabama Program Coordinator and Instructor as National Award Finalist

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 10, 2019

Contact: Jarrod Nagurka
jnagurka@acteonline.org, 703-683-9312

ACTE Announces Alabama Program Coordinator and Instructor as National Award Finalist

ALEXANDRIA, VA—Today, the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) announced Beth Brumley, RN, CNA Program Coordinator and Primary Health Science Instructor at Colbert County Schools System in Tuscumbia, Alabama, as the 2019 ACTE Region II New Teacher of the Year. This award recognizes new career and technical education (CTE) teachers who have made significant contributions toward innovative and unique CTE programs and shown a professional commitment early in their careers.

Five years ago, two weeks before the first day of school, Colbert County Schools hired Brumley to start the very first Health Science Program in the system. Immediately upon her hiring, she began building the program from scratch starting with facilities. In less than one month, Brumley had successfully and completely renovated the entire old home economics department at Colbert Heights High School from a fully equipped food preparation area into a complete simulation lab and classroom. Stoves, refrigerators, and dishwashers were replaced with hospital beds and medical equipment. She visited Health Science programs, colleges and elsewhere to learn how their simulation labs were set up so that Brumley could observe and follow best practices to ensure students have the best educational experience.

Everything about the new Health Science Program has been built from scratch, including the student population. The first year, the program began with only students from Colbert Heights High School. A few students were enrolled in Foundations of Health Science, and a small group of eighth graders in Health Explorations. Classes consisted on average of about twelve students per class the first year. Foundations of Health Science, Medical Terminology, Sports Medicine, and Health Science Internship with Certified Nursing Assistant and Certified Patient Care credentialing are now being offered to every high school in the system, with students being transported to Colbert Heights High School from other campuses across Colbert County. Current classes are completely filled with 25-35 students in a class, aside from the actual senior internship experience. This class is chosen by a rigorous application and interview process. The first year, fifteen students applied to the program. That number has nearly doubled last year with 27 applicants. Realizing the importance of partnerships with industry, Brumley involve the local healthcare industry as a partner with the program. Physicians, nurse practitioners, and other healthcare professionals from all over North Alabama serve as evaluators for students to be accepted into the senior internship program. In the first internship program in 2015, nine out of fourteen students obtained the Certified Nursing Assistant credential. Since that time, 60 total students have went on to accomplish the Nursing Assistant certification from the school system. The previous four years, one hundred percent of the students passed the Nursing Assistant certification. Last year there were ten students from the internship program to credential for the first time as Certified Patient Care Technicians.

Brumley is one of five finalists for the 2020 national title. The national winner will be announced at the ACTE Awards Gala, a dinner and award presentation recognizing the best CTE educators in the country. The event will take place on Wednesday evening, December 4, during ACTE’s CareerTech VISION 2019 in Anaheim, CA. The 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.