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 to the 2025 Award Winners
Rhonda Samples
Gainesville, GA
Region II
Administrator of the Year
Wyatt Gerth
Bartlesville, OK
Region IV
New Teacher of the Year
Nickolas Lebo
Austin, TX
Region IV
Teacher of the Year
Jennifer Kline
Phoenix, AZ
Region V
Postsecondary Professional of the Year
Shelley Kaler
Pell City, AL
Region II
Counseling and Career Development Professional
Cindy Stover
Lincoln, IL
Region III
Lifetime Achievement Award
April Blackwell
Pryor, OK
Region IV
Teacher Educator of the Year
Troy Reichart
Guernsey, WY
Region V
Carl D. 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.
