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Winter Quarterly News Update

Greetings ACTE Administration Division Members,

I hope everyone’s 2025 is off to a fantastic start! As we dive into the new year, I trust that many of you are already putting to good use some of the incredible resources shared during ACTE's CareerTech VISION conference. It was an absolute pleasure to connect with so many of you in Portland, Oregon at the ACTE and NCLA Best Practices conference, and at VISION in San Antonio, Texas last year. Your passion and dedication to advancing career and technical education (CTE) is truly inspiring.

Your Administration Division Policy Committee remains committed to supporting you with valuable resources and high-quality training sessions, noted below. We are hard at work curating content that meets your needs as leaders in CTE. This quarter’s sessions promise to deliver actionable insights and strategies to enhance your programs and empower your teams. Be sure to explore these opportunities and share your feedback—we’re here to serve you.

ACTE also just released two updated fact sheets – "What is CTE?" and "CTE Works!" – to equip CTE leaders with essential information and resources. We encourage you to share these resources with students and families, CTE teachers and others interested in learning more about CTE and advocating for it. Spanish language versions of these fact sheets will be available soon. 

Lastly, as we move into the HOSA, ProStart, and SkillsUSA contests, we want to wish all CTE leaders, educators, and students the best of luck. These competitions showcase the incredible talent, hard work, and dedication within the CTE community. Your efforts continue to inspire excellence and set the standard for future professionals.

Thank you for your continued dedication to shaping the future of CTE. Together, we’re making a difference for students, communities, and the workforce.

Here’s to a successful and impactful year ahead!

Warm regards

Sandra Adams, Ph.D

VP, ACTE Administration Division

Administration Division News

We are already requesting proposals for Nashville, Tennessee Dec. 10-13. Please encourage your best teachers and staff to submit their proposals by March 15!

A big thank you to Kristy Volesky for being our guest speaker for the January “It’s Worth it, Wednesday” call. She shared her experiences and tips from her new book, "Transformational WBL".

Our live Wednesday Zoom sessions are gaining momentum! If you haven’t had the opportunity to join a call yet, please mark your calendars for Feb. 5 and March 5 at 3:00 p.m. EST.

In February, our guest expert will be Kent Prosser, business manager for UA Local 166, who will share his visionary work in providing off-site instruction for welding and industrial maintenance students. If you’re looking for innovative ways to expand beyond your four walls, this session is a must-attend.

In March, our focus will shift to bridging the secondary and postsecondary gaps with Ivy Tech's Vice Chancellor, Heidi Fowler. Don’t miss this insightful discussion on creating seamless transitions for students.

We hope you can join us!

Additionally, don’t miss these two must-attend AI training sessions designed to expand your knowledge and capabilities in this rapidly evolving field.

AI in CTE Administration: Managing Staff Usage and Enhancing Productivity

This webinar is designed specifically for CTE directors and supervisors, focusing on the crucial role they play in managing their staff's use of AI technologies and leveraging AI tools to enhance their own administrative duties. The session will provide practical insights and strategies for effectively overseeing AI integration in CTE programs while exploring productivity and boosting AI applications for administrative tasks.

Same session- choose which date is best for you:

• Feb. 10, 3:00-4:00 p.m. EST
• Feb. 14, 3:00-4:00 p.m. EST 

Using Generative AI as a Strategic Thought Partner – How AI Can Help You Become a Better Leader

This workshop is crafted for leaders in CTE who want to leverage AI to elevate their strategic thinking, decision-making, and leadership capabilities. This three-hour deep-dive workshop will allow participants to explore how generative AI can serve as a powerful tool for ideation, problem-solving, and scenario analysis, enabling them to make more informed, creative, and proactive decisions. Attendees will learn to use AI as a thought partner in key areas of leadership, from strategic planning to day-to-day decision-making, transforming AI into a valuable asset in their leadership toolkit.

Feb. 24, 2:00-5:00 p.m. EST

Registration is on the rise for this year’s National Policy Seminar (NPS) and we would love for you to join us in Arlington, Virginia!

Attending NPS is invaluable for CTE leaders. First, it provides direct access to policymakers, allowing leaders to advocate for policies that support CTE. Second, it offers in-depth updates on federal legislation and funding, equipping attendees with the knowledge needed to effectively navigate and influence the future of CTE.

Join us for the Administration Division Networking Reception on Sunday, March 16, at 6 p.m. during NPS. This is a great opportunity for all administrators to connect and network. Don't miss out!

I would personally like to thank the entire Administration Division Policy Committee for all of the work they gave during ACTE’s CareerTech VISION in December. We are fortunate to have such a dedicated team.

Your policy committee members include:

Stephen Weltsch

Martin Hanley

Jayme Fitzpatrick

Robyn Castleberry

Brent Casey

Toinette Outland

Alan Kirby 

Scott Rogers

Joe Sieczkowski

Gina McPherson, and our two newest members are the 2025 selected fellows, 

Ethan Dado & Randa Pirrong

From ACTE

ACTE Announces Board of Directors 2025 Election Results

ACTE recently held its board of directors’ election, which was open to the Association’s membership of approximately 28,000 CTE professionals. We sincerely thank all of the candidates for their dedication and willingness to serve the Association. Congratulations to the newly elected Board members:

• Brandon Russell, President-Elect
• Jonathan Walker, Business Education Division Vice President
• Michael Herrera, Region I Vice President-Elect
• Michael Ogas, Region IV Vice President-Elect
• Robert Torres, President (appointed by the ACTE Board of Directors)
• Lavyne Rada, Agricultural Education Division Vice President (appointed by the ACTE Board of Directors)

Celebrate CTE Month!

Generously sponsored by NAHB

Each year in February, we celebrate professionals like you and educate the public about the importance of career and technical education (CTE). Here are some ways to get involved!

• Share our CTE social media messages by following ACTE @actecareertech and @actecareertech1 on Instagram, and then share your own success stories on social media with #CTEMonth.
• Download graphic resources, including the CTE Month logo, available in English and in Spanish, for use with any of your print and digital outreach.
•  Gear up with festive CTE Month merchandise. 

Join Us at Our Annual WBL Conference  

Happening April 2–4 at the Hyatt Bellevue on Seattle’s Eastside in Bellevue, Washington: the ACTE Work-Based Learning (WBL) Conference 2025! ACTE’s fastest growing event offers focused professional development for WBL professionals in secondary and postsecondary CTE programs and institutions.  

Key topics 

• Partnership engagement and relationship management 
• Equitable access to WBL opportunities 
• Compliance with insurance and worker’s compensation-related laws and regulations   
• Internships, job shadows and apprenticeships 
• New and innovative WBL initiatives
• WBL advocacy and learning how to market and grow your program 

CTE Educators: Encourage Your Students to Enter ACTE’s Student Design Contests!

This year, ACTE is delighted to host three student design and video contests:

• CTE Month-NASA HUNCH Student Video Challenge: The theme for this year is “What is Artemis?” Encourage your students to create and submit videos, two minutes or less in length, by April 1.
• Student Merch Design Contest: In honor of ACTE’s 100th anniversary in 2026, we invite students to submit original artwork for a chance to be featured on our official centennial merchandise! Entries are due by May 1.
• Student Trophy Design Contest: Have your students design the 3D-printed trophies for ACTE’s prestigious Excellence Awards. Submissions are due by May 1.

Encourage your students to showcase their creativity and talent in these exciting contests!