FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 3, 2020
Contact: Megan Kmiotek
Mkmiotek@acteonline.org
ACTE Announces Illinois Associate Professor as the 2021 National Winner
ALEXANDRIA, VA—Today, the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) announced Sally E. Arnett-Hartwick, Associate Professor at Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois, as the 2021 ACTE Teacher Educator of the Year. This award recognizes teacher educators who have demonstrated innovation in teacher education, leadership in improving CTE, and commitment to preparing teachers to deliver high quality CTE programs.
Sally Arnett-Hartwick is a product of career and technical education (CTE) and is now leading a pathway program to a CTE-related career. She pursued a degree in home economics teacher education at Illinois State University. During student teaching, Arnett-Hartwick knew her career aspiration was to be a teacher educator but recognized she needed more academic attainment and professional experiences to be credible and competent in preparing future teachers. She went on to earn a M.S. in Workforce Education and Development at Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC). Then for the next decade, she taught family and consumer sciences (FCS) at two rural high schools which included being an FCCLA advisor and cooperative education coordinator. As a full-time teacher and mother, Arnett-Hartwick completed a doctoral program in Workforce Education and Development specializing in FCS teacher education at SIUC in 2008. Since graduating with a Ph.D. nearly 12 years ago, she has been an FCS teacher educator at two universities. From 2008-2013, she was an Assistant Professor in the School of Family, Consumer, and Nutrition Sciences at Northern Illinois University. Then, she returned to her alma mater, ISU in the fall of 2013 as an Associate Professor and continues to serve as the Program Coordinator of FCS teacher education.
Arnett-Hartwick was one of five finalists for the 2021 national title. The national winner was announced at the ACTE Virtual Awards Gala, the first virtual award presentation recognizing the best CTE educators in the country. The event took place on Thursday, December 3, during ACTE’s CareerTech Virtual VISION 2020. The Awards Gala was sponsored by Express Employment Professionals, CareerSafe, Goodheart-Willcox, eDynamic Learning 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.