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Summer Quarterly Newsletter: Under the Hood Edition
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Howdy, Trade and Industrial Members of ACTE! | |
Every system needs a tune-up now and then. Whether you're calibrating a lathe, patching a firewall, replacing a belt, or rebooting your program goals, summer is the time to pop the hood and take a good look at what’s running smoothly and what needs adjusting.
This isn’t your typical “welcome back” message. You know the drill. Fall is coming fast, classrooms are being prepped, and students are already asking the big questions: “What’s this for?” “Will I ever use this?” “How do I get hired doing it?” That’s where we come in. Whether you're in a welding booth, a garage bay, a salon floor, a culinary lab, or behind a row of blinking servers, you are the spark in their ignition.
If you’ve ever thought about stepping into leadership beyond your program, now’s the time to take the next step. Applications are open for the ACTE National Leadership Fellowship Program, and the deadline is coming fast — Sept. 15. Fellows get firsthand experience in education policy, professional growth opportunities, and a $1,500 stipend along with complimentary registration to ACTE's CareerTech VISION and National Policy Seminar. Whether you’ve been in the classroom two years or twenty, this program builds strong voices for career and technical education (CTE). Visit https://www.acteonline.org/professional-development/leadership-development/ to learn more or apply before the deadline closes.
This issue is packed with opportunities, ideas, and connections to keep your engine running strong. Consider it your summer pit stop: refuel, then get back out there and do what you do best.
See y’all at ACTE VISION!
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Kindest regards,
Bart Taylor, Ed.D.
VP, Trade & Industrial Division
| | Opportunities from our Trade & Industrial sponsors |
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NCCER
From classroom tools to industry insights, NCCER offers resources that strengthen CTE programs and help students succeed in the skilled trades. HammerMath, free for NCCER-registered high schools, builds construction math skills through interactive, hands-on activities. High School Builder Program provides resources to launch or scale construction CTE programs. Our offerings for high schools include both print curricula and online learning and testing through NCCERconnect, and pathways to industry credentials and postsecondary CTE. New AgTech courses also offer dual agriculture and construction credentials. To inform help inform program development and student recruitment, the Women in the Skilled Trades report shares findings on women’s experiences in construction, what attracts them to the trades and how the industry can help them thrive.
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SkillsUSA
Member Registration is Open — Join Early as a Professional
The SkillsUSA registration site is officially open for the 2025-26 school year! Professional members receive many benefits when they submit membership with a valid email address, including the SkillsUSA Framework Integration Toolkit, Program of Work Toolkit, SkillsUSA Championships Technical Standards, E-Courses and opportunities for professional development.
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G-W Publisher
It’s Time to Transform Your Assessments!
Let G-W Publisher help. G-W Assessment allows you to easily create, customize, and assign assessments. No more downloads, uploads, or imports needed! Integrate with your LMS to enjoy auto grading and advanced reporting. G-W Assessment is now available for 2026 titles and beyond, including the new Modern Automotive Technology, Principles of Residential Construction, Print Reading for Industry, Electricity and Electronics, Industrial Hand and Power Tools, and other titles.
Start the School Year Off Strong with New Instructional Strategies and Free Educator Tools
Check out G-W’s on-demand, easy-to-implement instructional strategies that engage your students and increase learning in your course! A whole suite of Professional Development opportunities are available. In addition, tap into G-W’s Tools for Educators page for printable activities, infographics, and posters along with student-centered instructional strategy videos.
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Miller
Miller offers a wide range of free and discounted resources to support welding education programs, including classroom content, safety tools, and filler metal products. Instructors can access the free OpenBook learning platform, downloadable topic books, presentations, quizzes, posters, and more. Miller also provides special educational pricing, assistance with grants and scholarships, and a newsletter tailored for welding educators. For questions, contact Steve Hidden, National Account Manager–Welding Education.
Welding INSTRUCTOR e-newsletter
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Discounted Rates for the CTE Event of the Year End Oct. 13!
Don’t miss ACTE’s CareerTech VISION 2025, the premier event for CTE professionals! Join 5,000+ educators, administrators, business leaders and industry experts this Dec. 9–12 (Tuesday–Friday) at the stunning Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville, Tennessee. You'll have the opportunity to experience:
- Hundreds of high-impact sessions on teaching strategies, curriculum design, strategies for improving student success and more
- Inspiring keynote speakers and thought leaders sharing insights on the latest trends in CTE
- A bustling CareerTech Expo showcasing innovative tools, technologies and classroom resources
- Pre-conference workshops and local tours for deeper learning on focused topics
- The ACTE Awards Gala, honoring excellence across the CTE community
Whether you're new to the field or a seasoned educator, VISION offers something for everyone. Register by Oct. 13 to secure discounted rates!
| | A Heartfelt Thanks: Incoming & Outgoing Board Members | | |
ACTE is excited to welcome our new board members:
- Robert Torres, President
- Brandon Russell, President-Elect
- Carrie Giles, Past President
- Jonathan Walker, Business Education Division Vice President
- Karin Davis, Family and Consumer Sciences Education Division Vice President
- Rich Trinkwalder, New and Related Services Division Vice President
- Martin Hanley, Region III Vice President
We look forward to their leadership and collaboration in advancing CTE nationwide.
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Please join us in celebrating and thanking ACTE’s outgoing board members for their dedicated service:
- Chaney Mosley, Past President
- Sean Crevier, Business Education Division Vice President
- Katy Blatnick-Gagne, Family and Consumer Sciences Education Division Vice President
- Susan Leon, New and Related Services Division Vice President
- Brandon Russell, Region III Vice President
We are truly grateful for their leadership and professional expertise and for the lasting impact they’ve made on the CTE community
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SC ACTE Unifies with National ACTE
ACTE is pleased to announce that the South Carolina (SC) ACTE has officially unified with the national Association. Through this unification, CTE educators in South Carolina can now simultaneously join both their state and national professional associations. Members will also gain access to ACTE’s robust suite of benefits, including premier professional development resources, federal public policy advocacy and leadership development opportunities. SC ACTE will now benefit from a variety of organizational and association management services provided by ACTE, such as online membership processing, electronic communications tools and more. At the national level, this unification enhances ACTE’s engagement with the CTE community in South Carolina and strengthens collaboration on key federal public policy and shared advocacy priorities.
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Calling All CTE Administrators
Mark your calendars for the Best Practices and Innovations in CTE Conference 2025, taking place Sept. 24–26 at the Hilton St. Louis at the Ballpark in St. Louis, Missouri. Hosted by ACTE and the National Council of Local Administrators, this event offers cutting-edge strategies, innovative solutions and best practices designed to support CTE educators.
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Transformative Career Impact at the Postsecondary CTE Summit
Shape the future of CTE alongside fellow innovators at the premier gathering for postsecondary career and technical educators. The Postsecondary CTE Summit 2025, happening Oct. 5–8 at the Hilton Austin Airport in Austin, Texas, brings together practitioners, researchers and industry leaders who are redefining how we prepare students for tomorrow's workforce.
What awaits you:
- Cutting-edge professional development tailored to current industry needs
- Transformative presentations from CTE leaders driving real change
- Evidence-based strategies for emerging sectors and breakthrough technologies
- Dynamic networking with a vibrant community of forward-thinking professionals
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Apply Now for the National Leadership Fellowship Program!
The ACTE National Leadership Fellowship Program is designed to empower CTE professionals by enhancing their leadership skills, offering hands-on experience in policymaking and supporting their professional growth. The 2026 cohort will run January–December 2026, with fellows receiving a $1,500 stipend, along with complimentary registration for ACTE’s CareerTech VISION and National Policy Seminar.
Act fast! Applications are open through Sept. 15.
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Travel & Entertainment Discounts for Members!
Don’t forget to take advantage of our new Member Deals program — your new portal to travel savings and unforgettable entertainment experiences! As an ACTE member, you now have access to discounts on theme parks, movie tickets, hotels, rental cars and more. To start exploring your perks, log in to your member profile from the ACTE homepage and click the Member Deals icon.
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Make the Most of Your ACTE Benefits: Update Your Member Profile
Make sure you’re getting the most out of your ACTE membership by keeping your member profile up to date, so you never miss important news, resources or professional development opportunities.
Quick steps to update:
1. Log in at acteonline.org
2. Click the “Profile” tab
3. Confirm or update your personal email and mobile number
Tip: A personal email helps ensure you stay connected, even during job changes. For extra peace of mind, add your home contact info under “My Addresses” at the bottom of your profile page.
Take a moment today to stay connected and make the most of your ACTE benefits!
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Association for Career and Technical Education
1410 King Street, Alexandria, VA 22314
703-683-3111
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