Honored to Receive the 2025 ACTE Postsecondary Award

This month, I had the incredible honor of receiving the 2025 ACTE Postsecondary Award during the National Postsecondary CTE Summit in Austin, Texas. This national recognition from the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) celebrates “advancing visionary professional development and innovation in postsecondary education.”

I feel deeply grateful for this acknowledgment, which represents not only my personal journey but also the collective effort of countless educators, mentors, and colleagues who have inspired and collaborated with me over the past 26 years…and we are just getting started.

Why This Recognition Matters

This award is far more than a professional recognition; it symbolizes the growing movement within education to expand and prioritize CTE, career-connected learning, and personalized learning. Throughout my career, I have dedicated my energy to redefining how we prepare learners for the modern economy. From classrooms to boardrooms, from policy discussions to practical implementation, I have worked to connect purpose with skill, passion with employability, and learning with opportunity. Career and Technical Education (CTE) has always been the bridge that makes this alignment possible, and I am proud to be part of a national movement that Makes Education Relevant.®

My Journey in Redefining Education

While traversing from the classroom to the executive cabinet, I realized (the hard way) that traditional academic pathways often failed to prepare learners for real-world success. That realization became my mission to help education systems value both knowledge and application, both theory and skill. Over the years, I have been fortunate to collaborate with institutions and agencies - to produce viral animation videos - and speak with audiences across the nation, all with one goal in mind: to help learners discover purpose and equip themselves with practical skills and social networks that lead to meaningful careers and impactful lives.

Continuing the Work Through Catapult Masterclass

One of my proudest accomplishments is founding Catapult Masterclass, a learning community for educators. With a focus on meaningful professional development and local implementation tactics, Catapult has created a new category of hybrid learning dedicated to equip, inspire, and empower members with high-impact, skills-based learning experiences Our expert masterclasses truly elevate instructional excellence, strengthen educator collaboration, and build stronger bridges between education and life after graduation. Catapult helps educators translate theory into action, spark classroom innovation, and sustain lasting transformation. Together, we are creating a new culture of professional learning that is both relevant and empowering.

Sharing the Message: Books and Keynotes

In addition to Catapult, my journey has taken me around the world (2.2 times this year so far) through keynote presentations and publications that challenge the status quo of education. My bestselling books, (Re)Defining the Goal and Maintaining Strategic Relevance, guide educators and leaders in aligning both academic programs with workforce needs and learners with their purpose. Through keynotes and my TEDx, I continue to engage audiences in reimagining how we define student success and prepare the next generation for a rapidly changing world.

The Broader Impact of ACTE

The Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) plays an essential role in this work and has been a huge source of inspiration for me over the past decade. With nearly 30,000 members, including educators, administrators, and industry professionals, ACTE leads the national effort to develop a skilled, adaptable, and competitive workforce. I attend multiple conferences and events they host annually (and encourage you to join me)!.  ACTE Awards honor those who embody the core values of this mission: service to students, commitment to professional growth, and innovation in career and technical education. To be recognized by such an esteemed organization is both humbling and motivating.

Looking Ahead

As I reflect on this recognition, I am filled with gratitude and renewed purpose. Education must continue to evolve to meet the needs of a dynamic, technology-driven world. I remain committed to working alongside educators, institutions, organizations, and industry partners to ensure every learner gains not just knowledge, but the clarity, confidence, and competitive advantage to thrive. Together, we can build pathways that are not only relevant but transformative, empowering learners to define their own success stories.

The work continues, and the future of education has never looked more promising.