ACTE Announces Illinois Assistant Director as National Award Finalist

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 28, 2018

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

ACTE Announces Illinois Assistant Director as National Award Finalist

ALEXANDRIA, VA—Today, the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) announced Krista Paul, Assistant Director of Career and Technical Education in Township High School District 214 of Arlington Heights, Illinois, as the recipient of the 2018 ACTE Region III Career Guidance Award. This award recognizes school counselors and career development professionals who have demonstrated commitment to connecting students with opportunities for success, shown innovation in career exploration and development, and have advocated for CTE as a viable option for all students.

Paul is the assistant director of career and technical education at High School District 214. Paul has significantly elevated the CTE framework and, specifically, the district’s internship opportunity experience. Indeed, the model has been recognized by the White House. Her work has focused on District 214’s mission to ensure all students are college, career and life ready. She has done this in part by supporting educators and ensuring they have the resources to meet the needs of all students, regardless of a student’s social, emotional or academic status.

Paul played a key role in the development and continued enhancement of the district’s career pathways model, which provides early college credits, workplace learning opportunities and credentials for district students. Paul plays a significant role in matching students with areas of interest aligned to their career paths, building community partnerships and awareness, and creating learning opportunities targeted to industry trends.

She has also worked to help collaborate a comprehensive career pathways handbook, and she has built a system for targeted outreach to increase workplace learning experience opportunities for students.

Paul is one of 5 finalists for the 2019 national title. The national winner will be announced at the ACTE Awards Banquet, a dinner and award presentation recognizing the best CTE educators in the country. The event will take place on Wednesday evening, November 28, during ACTE’s CareerTech VISION 2018 in San Antonio, TX. The Awards Banquet is sponsored by Express Employment Professionals, the US Army, 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.