ACTE National Leadership Fellowship Program
The ACTE National Leadership Fellowship Program began in 2009 as an Opportunity Fund project initiated by the ACTE Board of Directors. The purpose of the ACTE Fellowship Program is to:
- help establish a leadership development program for CTE educators in ACTE and assist individuals in further developing their leadership skills in CTE and their involvement in professional associations
- provide an opportunity for CTE educators to become familiar with and participate in the processes used by policymakers in the development and implementation of laws, regulations and other public policies at the local, state and federal levels
- identify, train and motivate a cadre of leaders who will continue to position ACTE as a leader in developing an educated, prepared, adaptable and competitive workforce
In summary, the ACTE Fellowship Program is an instrument to provide professional development, policy knowledge and leadership development.
Guidelines, Program of Work and Additional Information
Detailed information can be found in the ACTE Fellowship Program Guidelines and Application. Please note that the application can be submitted electronically.
Applications are due September 15. Due to postponing the 2021 Fellows to begin their program of work in January 2022, only limited spots are available for the 2022 Fellows class.
The application can be found in the ACTE Fellowship Program Guidelines and Application.
Two Cohort Types to Enhance the Experience
ACTE’s premier leadership development program, the National Leadership Fellowship Program, is expanding its offerings by recruiting a cohort of New Professionals! The New Professionals Fellows will be targeted to members with 2-5 years CTE experience and will provide participants with the leadership, professional and policy skills they need to grow as a CTE and ACTE advocate! Just as with the original Fellows Program, participants will receive a $1,000 stipend in addition to complimentary registration for NPS and VISION! ACTE will continue to offer the original Experienced Fellows cohort, which is for members with more than 5 years CTE experience, and will continue to provide the $1,000 stipend and complimentary registration for NPS and VISION. Interested members must apply via the ACTE Awards Portal; five participants will be selected, one representing each Region, for each cohort, in addition to certain divisions who have elected to support a Fellow. Applications are due September 15.
2021 Fellows
The Fellowship Program is a one-year commitment from Jan. 1 through Dec. 31. Each of the five Regions of ACTE is represented in the program, as well as some divisions. The 2021 fellowship class is postponed until January -December 2022; the class includes:
2021 Experienced Fellows Class:
2021 New Professional Fellows Class:
Cindy Stover, Executive Director of Illinois ACTE, is currently serving as Fellowship Coordinator and was selected by the ACTE
Executive Committee to serve as the Fellowship Coordinator for 2020-2021.
2020 Fellows
Experienced Fellows Class:
Ann Rush, Region I
Lisa Martino, Region II
Joseph Sieczkowski, Region III Experienced
Laura VanWaardhuizen, Region III
Brent Casey, Region IV
Joni Simpson, Region V
Martin Hanley, Administration Division
Julie Pack, Administration Division
Jerrod Lundry, Agricultural Education Division
Fran Bromley-Norwood, Engineering & Technology Education Division
Heather Ballou, Guidance & Career Development Education Division
Maggie Cox, Health Science Education Division
Amber Gallup Rodriguez, Postsecondary, Adult & Career Education Division
Dana King, Trade & Industrial Education Division
Mark Wilson, OK PACE
New Professional Fellows Class:
Michael Grubbs, Region I
Brian Welch, Region II
Sarah Shanley, Region III
Kristal Sack, Region IV
Ashley Treat, Region IV
Kaiya Burgess, Region V
Charles Pearl, Region V
2019 Fellows
Experienced Fellows Class
- David Peltz, Region I
- Donna Shirley, Region I
- Angie Koontz, Region III
- Christi Hack, Region III
- John Kugler, Region III
- Laura Harrison, Region IV
- Jayme Fitzpatrick, Region V
- Tamra Herschbach, Region V
- Scott Rogers, Admin Division
- Annette Weeks, Ag Division
- Amanda Stults, FCS Division
- LaDonna Selvidge. Health Science Division
- Jeff Sullivan, Trade and Industrial Division
- Kristina Ropos, PACE Division
- Jason Phipps, OK PACE Division
New Professionals Class:
- Indrit Vucaj, Region IV
- Jennifer Snyder, FCS Division
- Tiauna Young, Marketing Division
- Denise Burton, Trade and Industrial Division
2018 Fellows
- James Berry, MI, Region
- Paula Boughton, NY, Region I
- Alexandra Harkleroad, IN, Region III
- Kristy Barnett, OK, Region IV
- Robert VanDyke, CO, Region V
- Jeffrey Crapper, OR, Region V
- Christopher Neff, WI, Admin Division
- Shawn Freie,OK, PACE
2018 New Professionals Class:
- Robert Kindon, PA, Region I
- Nancy Cross, NC, Region II
- Lauren Emerson, LA Region IV
- Danielle Luebke, ND, Region V
- Kaleen Barnett, CO, Admin Division
- Sahvana Mease, CO, FACS Division
2017 Fellows
The 2017 fellowship class included:
- Carrie Scheiderer, Newark, OH, Region I
- Monica Brisbon, Myrtle Beach, SC, Region II
- Mariatu Swayne, Indianapolis, IN, Region III
- Audrey Lee, Oklahoma City, OK, Region IV
- Michelle Camp, Maumelle, AR, Region IV
- Tommy Hamilton, Norman, OK, Business Education Division
- Elaine Webb, Louisburg, NC, New and Related Services Division
- Ernie Gomez, Oklahoma City, OK, Oklahoma ACTE Postsecondary Adult and Career Education Division
2016 Fellows
The 2016 fellowship class included:
- Kimberly Mitchell, Talladega, AL, FACS
- Kimberly Baldwin, Parker, CO, NRS
- Karen Gutenkauf, Broken Arrow, OK, OK ACTE PACE
- Nicole Lord, Flushing, MI, Region I
- Beyonka Wider, Columbia, SC, Region II
- Richard Flotron, Park Hills, MO, Region III
- Lacee Manus, Albuquerque, NM, Region IV
- Rachel Mann, Phoenix, AZ, Region V
2015 Fellows
The 2015 Fellowship class included:
- Candice Mott, Washington, DC, Region I
- Keio Carter, Atlanta, GA, Region II
- Leslie Bleskachek, River Falls, WI, Region III
- Jona Kay Squires, Kingfisher, OK, Region IV
- Julius (Dean) Baker, Oklahoma City, OK, Region IV
- Amanda Shively, Glendale, AZ, Region V
- Christine Nelson, Mesa, AZ, Region V
- Warren Kawano, Pearl City, HI
2014 Fellows
The 2014 Fellowship class included:
- Josh Moore, Barnesville, Ohio; Region I
- Cara LeGrys, Leesburg, Virginia; Region II
- Shelley Rust, Kokomo, Indiana; Region III
- Tamara Faulk, Carlsbad, New Mexico; Region IV
- Michael Culwell, Heavener, Oklahoma; Region IV
- Ross White, Alma, Arkansas; Region IV
- Chris Compton, Heron, Montana; Region V
2013 Fellows
The 2013 Fellowship class included:
- Carol Pelletier, Rockland, Maine; Region I
- Kim Jackson-Allen, Pooler, Georgia; Region II
- Kandy Smitha, Indianapolis, Indiana; Region III
- Marla Sterling, Cherryvale, Kansas; Region V
- Jonathan Howard, Denver, Colorado; Region V
2012 Fellows
The 2012 Fellowship class included:
- Connie S. Strebe, Plain City, Ohio; Region I
- Chaney Mosley, Nashville, Tennessee; Region II
- Patrick Biggerstaff, Indianapolis, Indiana; Region III
- Lynne Cagle Cox, Highland Village, Texas; Region IV
- Hershel Williams, Ada, Oklahoma; Region IV
- Ron Umehira, Aiea, Hawai’i; Region V
- Dawn Lindsley, Wamego, Kansas; Region V
2011 Fellows
The 2011 Fellowship class included:
- Christine Shaw, director of guidance and admissions, Shawsheen Valley High School, Billerica, Massachusetts; Region I
- David Jones, assistant professor, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina; Region II
- Mark Fuchs, program coordinator, St. Louis Carpenters Joint Apprenticeship Program, St. Louis, Missouri; Region III
- Gina Riggs, EMS director, Kiamichi Technology Center, Poteau, Oklahoma; Region IV
- Lee Smith, career and technical education coordinator, DeQueen Mena Educational Service Co-op, Gillham, Arkansas; Region IV (Sponsored by Region IV)
- Mark Bell, instructor, Denver Public Schools, Denver, Colorado; Region V
2010 Fellows
The 2010 Fellowship class included:
- Jeffrey Travers, supervisor of adult education in the public safety services division at Great Oaks Institute of Technology, Cincinnati, Ohio; Region I
- Kristina Gehrki, marketing teacher-coordinator for Fairfax County Public Schools, Vienna, Virginia; Region II
- Paul Asunda, assistant professor in the Department of Workforce, Education and Development at the Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, Carbondale, Illinois; Region III
- Angela Scott, health science technology education instructor at Gravette High School, Gravette, Arkansas; Region IV
- Joan Birdsell, business education instructor, FBLA adviser/tech coordinator at Drake-Anamoose High School, Drake, North Dakota; Region V
2009 Fellows
The 2009 Fellowship class included:
- James Scott, Plain City, Ohio; Region I
- Virginia Jones, Halifax, Virginia; Region II
- Patti Kozlowski, West Chicago, Illinois; Region III
- Sherry Adrian, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Region IV
- Katy Baltnick-Gagne, Denver, Colorado; Region V
Fellowship Coordinator
The Fellowship Coordinator is responsible for overseeing and implementing the ACTE National Leadership Fellowship Program. Facilitates all Fellowship Program activities, maintains monthly contact with the Fellows, and coordinates mentorship and personally provides mentorship to the Fellows. The Fellowship Coordinator will also work with ACTE staff to set up meetings and conference calls for the Fellows, report to the ACTE Board of Directors on the status of the program, and attend NPS and the ACTE CareerTech VISION.
Fellowship Coordinators are asked to commit to a two-year term to provide consistency in the program. At the end of the initial two years, the Fellowship Coordinator may reapply. The Fellowship Coordinator will mentor a “Fellowship Coordinator Elect” during their last year.
Additional information, as well as the application, is available here. The deadline to apply is June 15, 2022 for the next Fellowship Coordinator Elect. The Fellowship Coordinator Elect term will start in January 2023 , with the official Fellowship Coordinator term beginning Jan. 2024 and ending Dec. 2025.
Past Fellowship Coordinators
- Kevin English, Arizona, 2009-2010
- Belinda Cole, Oklahoma, 2011-2014
- Jim Comer, Oklahoma, 2015-2016
- Dr. Doug Major, Oklahoma, 2016-2019
- Cindy Stover, Illinois, 2020-2021
- Dr. Doug Major, Oklahoma, 2022-2023
- Dr. Dawn Lindsley, Nebraska, 2022-2023