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.

View the 2025 Excellence Awards Gala Sponsor Flyer

View Award Archive

Awards Resources

Awards Cycle Flowchart

Meet the Region Award Winners

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

Submit a Nomination

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.

View the Guidelines

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.

View the Guidelines

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.

View the Guidelines

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.

View the Guidelines

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.

View the Guidelines

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.

View the Guidelines

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.

View the Guidelines

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.

View the Guidelines
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