ACTE Excellence Awards
The ACTE Excellence Awards recognize those members who have made extraordinary contributions to CTE, programs that exemplify the highest standards and organizations that have conducted activities to promote and expand CTE programs. Award winners serve as inspirational leaders to ACTE: they embody the core values of serving their students and being committed to CTE. All ACTE Excellence Awards are presented at the ACTE Awards Gala in conjunction with ACTE’s CareerTech VISION.
Congratulations Region I Award Winners

Terence Richards
Teacher of the Year

Patrick Lamb
Administrator of the Year

Tyler S. Love
Teacher Educator of the Year

Karmin Olds
Counseling & Career Development
Professional Award

Cynthia Thomas
Postsecondary Professional of
the Year

Rick Villano
New Teacher of the Year

Katherine Manley
Lifetime Achievement Award

Clinton Burch
Carl Perkins Community
Service Award
Congratulations Region II Award Winners

Matthew Nanny
Teacher of the Year

Chris Kennedy
Administrator of the Year

Ulla Carr
Teacher Educator of the Year

Robert Jason Davis
Postsecondary Professional of
the Year

Michelle Hill Williams
New Teacher of the Year

June St. Clair Atkinson
Lifetime Achievement Award

Claire Minto
Counseling & Career Development
Professional Award

Tiffany Barney
Carl Perkins Community
Service Award
Congratulations Region III Award Winners

Matt Erbach
Teacher of the Year

Brittany Kloer
Administrator of the Year

Jill L. Conlon
Teacher Educator of the Year

Angeleic Huth
Postsecondary Professional of
the Year

Kelly Paige
New Teacher of the Year

Jay Davis
Lifetime Achievement Award

Margaret Janke
Counseling & Career Development
Professional Award

Eric Sawatzke
Carl Perkins Community
Service Award
Congratulations Region IV Award Winners

Clint Young
Teacher of the Year

Christina Lloyd
Teacher Educator of the Year

Sheri Deaton
Postsecondary Professional of the Year

Paden P. Hagler
New Teacher of the Year

Rex Buckhaults
Lifetime Achievement Award

Heather Monks
Carl Perkins Community Service Award

Donna Prudhomme
Administrator of the Year

Valerie Tibbs
Counseling & Career Development Professional Award
Congratulations Region V Award Winners

Matthew Waynee
Teacher of the Year

Tina Gudvangen
Administrator of the Year

Xue Xing
Teacher Educator of the Year

Tyson Sorensen
Postsecondary Professional of the Year

Leah Ferguson
New Teacher of the Year

Curt Bertelsen
Lifetime Achievement Award

Jonathan Burke
Counseling & Career Development Professional Award

Nikki Melius
Carl Perkins Community Service Award
The ACTE® Excellence Award candidates and winners are recognized at three levels: state, regional, and national. As of 2017, the Excellence Awards program has been integrated with ACTE’s High Quality CTE Framework. New nominations will follow updated guidelines, which can be found below.
All Excellence Awards are administered by the ACTE Awards Committee, which comprises one representative from each of ACTE’s five Regions and a chair. The Awards Committee is responsible for recommending awards programs to the Association’s Board of Directors, setting criteria for awards, reviewing applications, recommending award recipients to the Board and overseeing all aspects of the recognition program for award winners. Applications for the ACTE Excellence Awards are accepted online via the ACTE Awards Portal. Watch a brief overview.
Learn More About the Eight Excellence Awards

This award recognizes the finest career and technical 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.
This award recognizes administrative CTE professionals at the school, district, county, state or federal level who have demonstrated leadership in ensuring teacher and student success and have made significant contributions toward innovative, unique and effective career and technical education programs.
This award recognizes the finest career and technical professionals at the postsecondary level who have instructed and educated students involved in career and technical education pathways, demonstrated innovation in the classroom, and exhibited dedication to the improvement of CTE in their institutions and communities.
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.
This award recognizes new CTE teachers who have made significant contributions toward innovative and unique career and technical education programs and shown a professional commitment early in their careers.
This award recognizes teacher educators, secondary or postsecondary, who are committed to preparing teachers to deliver high quality CTE programs, demonstrated innovation in teacher education, and leadership in improving CTE.
This award recognizes individuals who have used CTE to make a significant impact on their community and demonstrated leadership in programs and activities that promote student involvement in community service.
This award recognizes CTE professionals for their leadership on behalf of ACTE, their innovations in CTE and their contributions to the field over an extended period of time.