ACTE Announces Washington Professor as National Award Finalist
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 23, 2019
Contact: Jarrod Nagurka
jnagurka@acteonline.org, 703-683-9312
ACTE Announces Washington Professor as National Award Finalist
ALEXANDRIA, VA — Today, the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) announced Deborah Handy, Clinical Associate Professor at Washington State University in Pullman, Washington, as the 2019 ACTE Region V Teacher Educator of the Year. This award recognizes teacher educators who have demonstrated innovation in teacher education, leadership in improving career and technical education (CTE), and commitment to preparing teachers to deliver high quality CTE programs.
Handy is the Family and Consumer Sciences teacher educator in the Department of Human Development. She began her career in Wisconsin as a junior and senior high home economics teacher and adviser for Future Homemakers of America. Her love for the content and student interaction led her to new, but related, opportunities after moving to Washington. She completed a master’s degree in clothing and textiles and a Ph.D. in curriculum development and supervision. She assumed leadership roles through professional organizations and on departmental and campus committees. Handy was selected as the Executive Director for Washington’s affiliate of Family, Career and Community Leaders of America in 2000. She served in this role for 18 years.
Handy values the time she spends with students in class and through student leadership. She stays abreast of classroom issues through active involvement with the family and consumer sciences teachers and teacher educator associations. Her research focuses on providing high quality instructional environments. She has studied school safety, engaged and collaborative learning, bullying, student leadership, and teachers’ roles as FCCLA advisers and collaborators in the learning environment. She is actively engaged in curriculum development and assessment through departmental and university committees. She leads the Washington State efforts to recruit family and consumer sciences professionals through Say Yes to FCS. She has been honored by her students and colleagues for collaboration, teaching, and advising.
Handy 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.