Awards & Recognition

Great organizations understand the value of awarding and recognizing their members. We hope you consider nominating someone or yourself for one of the many awards the DC ACTE Excellence Awards.

Through the DC ACTE awards program, we hope to meet the following goals:

  • Acknowledge, promote, and celebrate great work within the District.
  • Set the standard for high-quality CTE within the District.
  • Increase member engagement and retention.

DC ACTE Excellence Awards

The District of Columbia Awards program seeks to promote excellence in career and technical education (CTE) by recognizing members who have made extraordinary contributions within the discipline through leadership, service, programs that exemplify high standards, and activities conducted to promote and expand CTE in the District. District of Columbia Association for Career and Technical Education (DC ACTE) administers the ACTE Excellence Awards annually. Awards open in October and close in January for DC nominations and winners are announced and recognized in February during CTE month! Join our elite honorees exemplifying DC ACTE Excellence in CTE.

Awards Process

All District of Columbia ACTE Excellence Awards must be submitted by July 15, 2024. If you have questions about the District of Columbia ACTE Excellence Awards program, please contact the DC ACTE President or DC ACTE Awards Chair for additional information. All nominees must have an active membership by the close of applications. Please contact us if there is a membership question or if you are interested in becoming a member of DC ACTE. Winners will be announced and recognized at the DC CTE Summer Professional Development Conference on August 20th, 2024.

DC ACTE Excellence Award winners are forwarded for consideration at the Region I level in March. Winners are then recognized at the Region I conference and forwarded to the ACTE National awards level. National winners are announced and recognized at the ACTE Awards Banquet during CareerTech VISION. Click here to learn more about the ACTE Excellence Awards system (rubrics and guidelines) or begin a nomination by selecting one of the Excellence Awards below. Nominees must be winners at the close of the awards cycle.

Awards Descriptions

Apply Online

Teacher of the Year
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.

Administrator of the Year
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.

Postsecondary Teacher of the Year
This award recognizes the finest career and technical teachers at the postsecondary level who have demonstrated innovation in the classroom, commitment to their students and dedication to the improvement of CTE in their institutions and communities.

Counseling & Career Development Professional Award
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.

New Teacher of the Year
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.

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.

Carl Perkins Community Service Award
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.

Lifetime Achievement Award
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.

2024 Best in CTE Region I Awards

Every year, the Region I Policy Committee administers the Region I Best in CTE Awards to recognize outstanding business partnerships, innovative programs, change agents, and distinguished service. Nominations for the Best in CTE Region I Awards must be submitted in the awards portal by March 1, 2024, to qualify. Winners are announced and recognized every March at the Region I Conference.

Advisory Board Member of the Year
This award recognizes advisory board members who have made significant contributions to CTE within Region I.

Innovative Career and Technical Education Program Award
This award recognizes NEW secondary or postsecondary innovative CTE programs within Region I.

Outstanding Business Partnership Award
The outstanding business partnership award recognizes a supportive partnership that has made a significant contribution to CTE in Region I.

Outstanding School Board Member Award
This award recognizes outstanding school board members that have made a significant contribution to CTE within Region I.

Dr. Scott Westbrook III Humanitarian Award
This award was established in 1998 in honor of the late Dr. Scott Westbrook III. Dr. Westbrook exemplified humanitarianism in CTE and was the first black president for Michigan ACTE. This award recognizes individuals who have dedicated themselves to improving our communities, education, and society through CTE.

National ACTE Impact Awards

The ACTE Impact Awards recognize groups and individuals from the education, business and industry communities who enhance career and technical education by contributing to the improvement, promotion, development and progress of CTE. Individuals or entities (from within or outside the field) that have contributed to the success and promotion of CTE, thereby positively impacting the image of CTE, are eligible recipients of these awards. While there is no membership eligibility restriction for applicants, all must be nominated by an ACTE member.

The Business-Education Partnership Award
ACTE’s Business-Education Partnership Awards were created for business and education leaders who understand that economic livelihood is linked to the success of career and technical education (CTE) programs. Businesses and CTE programs across the country have already created successful partnerships that support student achievement, economic and community development, quality of life and more. ACTE is dedicated to supporting and recognizing best practices in CTE business-education partnerships.

ACTE Champion for CTE Award
ACTE’s Champion for CTE Awards were created to recognize education leaders, business and industry executives, celebrities and thought leaders who support and champion CTE programs as a vital part of developing a prepared, adaptable and competitive workforce. The words and actions of a few dedicated and influential individuals have the power to further best practices, foster supportive policies, and shape a more positive public opinion of CTE. These awards showcase outstanding champions-from local leaders to national figureheads-who have leveraged their influence to expand, improve, and promote CTE.

Evaluation Criteria

All nominees are evaluated based on the following criteria:

  • Significant accomplishments related to CTE that have contributed to the improvement, promotion, development and progress of CTE.
  • Actions that have enhanced the growth and quality of CTE. Considerations can extend to sponsored programs, publications, financial support, and other activities.

For more information on how applications are scored, please see the ACTE Impact Awards Scoring Rubric. For more information on awards committee procedures, please review the national committee’s Guiding Principles. Nominees are reviewed at the national level only; winners are selected by the ACTE Awards Committee and approved by the Board of Directors in July.

Application Process

All nominations must be submitted on the ACTE Awards Portal by June 30. The application requirements can be downloaded here (note: this is not an application form; applications must be submitted electronically via the Awards Portal). Awards are presented at the ACTE Awards Banquet during CareerTech VISION.

Awards Tips

Please be sure to check out our tip sheet for nominators: Writing a Strong Nomination.