ACTE Announces Alabama Program Chair as National Award Finalist

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 8, 2018

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

ACTE Announces Alabama Program Chair as National Award Finalist

ALEXANDRIA, VA—Today, the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) announced Kim Holdbrooks Townsel, CTE Teacher Education Program Chair at Jacksonville State University in Jacksonville, Alabama, as the 2018 ACTE Region II Postsecondary Teacher of the Year. This award recognizes the finest career and technical teachers at the postsecondary level who have demonstrated innovation in the classroom, commitment to their students and dedication to the improvement of CTE in their institution and communities.

Holdbrook Townsel chairs the CTE teacher education program at Jacksonville State University (JSU). It is Holdbrooks Townsel’s responsibility to align all six graduate programs to both Council of the Accreditation of Teacher Preparation (CAEP) and Alabama standards.

Holdbrooks Townsel’s program at JSU is the only secondary education program to admit preservice teachers into cohorts. The cohort structure maximizes use of faculty time as each cohort class is only taught once a year. The innovative cohort structure was shared at the ACTE/NCLA Best Practices & Innovations in CTE Conference. Graduation rates have soared with the implementation of the cohort structure, which promotes bonding with the members and motivation to graduate with the group.

As Alabama moves toward edTPA for teacher certification, it is worth noting that one of Holdbrooks Townsel’s students in the family and consumer sciences program was the first JSU student to complete edTPA and pass.

Townsel 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.