ACTE President-elect.

Name: Thomas N. Applegate

Occupation: Executive Dean, Austin Community College 

Employment History: Executive Dean, Austin Community College, Austin, Texas (1998-present); Faculty -- Business Management, Austin Community College (1998-present); Associate State Director -- Business/Industrial Training and Development, Ohio Department of Education Division of Vocational, Career and Adult Education (1993-1997); Assistant State Director -- Business Industrial Training and Development, Ohio Department of Education Division of Vocational, Career and Adult Education (1985-1992); Faculty-Education Policy and Leadership, The Ohio State University (1972-1997); Adjunct-Faculty -- Business Management, Columbus State Community College (1982-1997); State Supervisor -- Marketing Education, Ohio Department of Education (1972-1985); Marketing Education Coordinator, Fredericktown Local Schools (1968-1972);.

Education: MA, Vocational Administration, The Ohio State University; BS, Marketing Education, The Ohio State University

ACTE Involvement:

Division Activities: New and Related Services Division, Vice President, Legislative Committee Chairman, Policy Committee, Program Planning Committee 

Adult Workforce Education, Legislative Committee Chairman

Committees: ACTE Executive Director Search Committee, ACTE Board of Directors; Executive Committee; Program Improvement and Policy Development Subcommittee; Finance and Organization Subcommittee; Legislative Committee Chairman; Board Liaison to Legislative Committee; Board Liaison to Bylaws Committee

Other National, State and Local Involvement:

ACTE/AVA member (33 years); Adult Vocational Education Association President, Board of Directors, Program Planning Chair, ACT Work Keys Committee Chair; Ohio Vocational Association member; Ohio Vocational Association Board of Directors; Ohio Vocational Association, Post Secondary Adult Vocational Education Board of Directors; Texas Association of College Technical Educators member; Texas Association of College Technical Educators Board of Directors; Texas Career and Technology Educators; Texas Career and Technology Guidance Association; Presenter, ACTE/AVA National Conference -- numerous times; Presenter, ACTE/AVA National Policy Seminar

Platform Statement:

Career and Technical Education faces two serious issues: The ability to attract and retain quality teachers and the reauthorization of the Carl D. Perkins legislation. ACTE must be the single most influential voice on both of these issues.

Teacher shortages will become critical as thousands of current instructors reach retirement. ACTE must be active in recruiting and retaining teachers. Recruitment should be aimed at two populations, high school students and re-careering adults. Marketing the worth and virtue of teaching to the parents of high school students should be the first strategy. Secondly, we need to help teachers mentor and influence students to become teachers. The second effort to promote teaching as a career should be focused on adults who are re-careering.

Recruiting teachers is half the equation. The other half is retaining them. Just as we know that students who are involved in school activities are more likely to succeed in school we also know that teachers who become involved in professional activities and associations are more likely to stay and be successful as teachers. ACTE must design different ways to involve teachers. One way would be to design a series of "Great Teaching Summits" where experienced teachers would share best practices with other teachers.

The second issue, Perkins reauthorization, is critical in keeping Career and Technical Education a national force and responsive to workforce needs. While Perkins federal funds represent only about 10% of the state and local government investment in Career and Technical Education, they are important because they are a catalyst in generating other funding. Additionally, federal legislation keeps a national focus on Career and Technical Education.

Both of these issues require ACTE to coalesce with other educational associations so that efforts are maximized. I will act as the leadership force to accomplish these objectives.

Name: Albert G. Gasior

Occupation: Director, Barre Technical Center

Employment History: Director, Barre (VT) Technical Center (1994-present); Assistant Director, Principal, Vice Principal, Bergen County (NJ) Technical Schools (1979-1994); Vice Principal, Pompton Lakes (NJ) High School, (1975-1979); EPDA Fellow, Rutgers--The State University of New Jersey (1973-1975); Supervisor, New Jersey Department of Education (1971-1973); Co-op Coordinator, Woodrow Wilson High School (1969-1971); Industrial Arts Teacher, Gloucester City Jr-Sr High School (1967-1969); Motor Transportation Officer, United States Marine Corps (1964-1967)

Education: EdS, Vocational Technical Education Administration, Rutgers University; MA, Industrial Education, The College of New Jersey; BA, Industrial Education, The College of New Jersey

ACTE Involvement:

Division Activities: Administration Division member

Region Activities: ACTE Vice President, Region I

Committees: ACTE Board of Directors; Finance and Organization Board Subcommittee, Chairman; Board Liaison to ACTE Nominating Committee, ACTE Nominating Committee, Vermont ACTE Policy Committee; New Jersey ACTE Policy Committee, Board Liaison to Audit Review Committee

Other National, State and Local Involvement:

Executive Director, Vermont Vocational Association; President, Vermont Vocational Association; President, New Jersey Vocational Association; Barre City Rotary International; Central Vermont Workforce Investment Board, Co-Chairman; Vermont Standards Board for Professional Educators

Platform Statement:

I believe the strength of any association lies in the unity of its members, as well as the professional development activities and leadership opportunities that it provides.

The Association for Career and Technical Education has developed and maintained Regions and Divisions that continue to work together for the development of Career and Technical Education.

Awards, professional development, and conferences are all important functions of the Regions and Divisions that highlight and promote activities of the ACTE members. Involvement and participation in Region and Division activities must continue in order to sustain this organization,

We must all encourage others to join and share in our work, as well as continue to highlight our efforts and engage the public, informing them of our accomplishments.

The Association is guided by a Board of Directors comprised of members from the Regions and Divisions. There is an executive committee and three subcommittees that ensure the work of the Board is accomplished. The subcommittees are the following:

* Finance and Organization

* Professional Development and Marketing

* Program Improvement and Policy Development

Under this structure, the Regions and Divisions develop activities which support the goals of the ACTE Strategic Plan and serve as an overall framework of purpose and direction for the entire membership.

The ACTE Strategic Plan is the model for the development of the Region and Division plans for the year. The purpose is to set a course of action for members who are committed to improving and expanding Career and Technical Education, as well as to provide a framework for the association to fulfill its mission.

As the ACTE President-Elect, I will be guided by a strategic plan that will continue to build a strong and vital partnership between the Regions, Divisions, and the mission of the Association for Career and Technical Education.