ACTE educators recognized at Annual Convention: ACTE's Annual Convention, held in December in Charlotte, North Carolina, was not only a forum for learning, sharing knowledge and commiserating with our career and technical education (CTE) comrades, it was also a time for honoring the CTE educators who've made it to the top of the class and serve as role models for their peers.

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TEACHER OF YEAR:

James Scott, of Plain City, Ohio, is the ACTE Teacher of Year. \Scott teaches turf, landscape and greenhouse management at Tolles Career and Technical Center (TCTC) in Plain City, Ohio. He manages a 20-acre land laboratory on site, and he serves as a co-adviser and mentor for the FFA chapter. Scott has developed an advisory committee of 21 representatives--including businesses, colleges, parents and students--that assists in making decisions about expanding facilities and/or purchasing equipment. In 2006 Scott created Ohio's Sequenced Horticulture Curriculum Model. He has gotten more than $190,000 in new equipment and $60,000 in donations from the green industry. Scott's students volunteer in the community working on various projects, including "Breakfast with the Superintendent" when the students share program goals for the school year. His students have created a state-of-the-art greenhouse facility where they grow seasonal flowers and plants; this facility has generated nearly $12,000 in sales.

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OUTSTANDING CAREER AND TECHNICAL

EDUCATION PROFESSIONAL: Linda Laverty of El Reno, Oklahoma, was named ACTE Outstanding Career and Technical Education Professional. Laverty has been involved in CTE for more than 38 years. In 1999, she became the instructional services coordinator for Canadian Valley Technology Center (CVTV) in El Reno, Oklahoma, and is responsible for coordinating the Technology Center Instructional Service department, which provides instructional, curriculum and media support to staff and instructors. She has developed projects that give instructors more time to teach. With her staff she has developed a nine-week standard syllabus for instructors, a required orientation for substitute teachers, and program reviews for the school to address technology needs before they become critical.

OUTSTANDING NEW CAREER AND TECHNICAL TEACHER: Britt James, of Springdale, Arkansas, was named ACTE Outstanding New Career and Technical Teacher. James teaches Jobs for America's Graduates (JAG) at Springdale High School. JAG serves at-risk students and aims to reduce the dropout rate. When James joined Springdale in 2004, the JAG program was expanding to a multiyear program, allowing juniors to enroll. Students enroll in a CTE class and the student organization associated with the class during the program. In order for students to understand the 40JAG competencies, James uses games and videos to help them grasp these concepts. His students receive some of the highest scores on the end-of-course test given by the Arkansas Department of Workforce Education.

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OUTSTANDING TEACHER IN COMMUNITY SERVICE: Carol Dvorak, of Stillwater, Oklahoma, was named ACTE Outstanding Teacher in Community Service. She teaches business technology at Meridian Technology Center in Stillwater, Oklahoma.

Before becoming a teacher, Dvorak worked as an officer at a local bank and volunteered to canvas the community for the United Way fund drive. As a teacher, she wanted to use her experience to instill the importance of giving back. Dvorak's students have volunteered for the United Way, Special Olympics, American Red Cross, Chambers of Commerce, reading and literacy programs, March of Dimes, Oklahoma Blood Institute, Red Ribbon Week Campaign, Big Brother Big Sisters, and the American Heart Association to name a few. Her literacy program won the National Federation of Republican Women Barbara Bush Literacy Award in 2002.

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Also recognized were: Arch of Fame: Allan Sulser, Heber City, Utah

Carl Perkins Humanitarian Award: Carolyn Warner, Phoenix, Arizona

Outstanding Service Award: Terry Price, Bountiful, Utah

Award of Merit: Amy Wisilosky, Virginia Beach, Virginia, Flint Hills Resources, Corpus Christi, Texas