2018 Prize for Teaching Excellence

Honoring Outstanding U.S. Public High School Skilled Trades Teachers

$1 Million in Prize Awards

2018 Grand Prize Winners

Gary Bronson

Gary Bronson

2018 Grand Prize Winner

2018 Grand Prize Winner

Diesel

Laurel Oaks, OH

Andrew J. Neumann

Andrew J. Neumann

2018 Grand Prize Winner

Construction

Bay Arenac Intermediate School District Career Center, MI

2018 Prize Winners

Matthew Barbercheck

Matthew Barbercheck

2018 Prize Winner

2018 Prize Second Place Winner

Industrial Technology

Republic-Michigamme Schools, MI

Adam Bourne

Adam Bourne

2018 Prize Winner

Carpentry, Electrical

The NET Charter High School, LA

Jeff Cesari

Jeff Cesari

2018 Prize Winner

Industrial Technology

Bucks County Technical High School, PA

Brad DeMent

Brad DeMent

2018 Prize Winner

Welding

Delaware Area Career Center, OH

Lesford Dixon

Lesford Dixon

2018 Prize Winner

Carpentry, Construction

Construction Careers Academy, TX

William Dunham

William Dunham

2018 Prize Winner

Industrial Technology

Wapello Community School District, IA

Matt Erbach

Matt Erbach

2018 Prize Winner

Manufacturing

Streamwood High School, IL

Melissa Hageman

Melissa Hageman

2018 Prize Winner

Agricultural Mechanics

South Winneshiek High School, IA

Robert P. Leiby

Robert P. Leiby

2018 Prize Winner

Construction

Applications and Research Lab, MD

Ron Martinez

Ron Martinez

2018 Prize Winner

Diesel

Dennis Technical Education Center, ID

Joshua Overman

Joshua Overman

2018 Prize Winner

Carpentry, Manufacturing

New Orleans Charter Science & Math High School, LA

Justin Pickard

Justin Pickard

2018 Prize Winner

Agricultural Mechanics

Paso Robles High School, CA

Jerry Webb

Jerry Webb

2018 Prize Winner

Electrical, Manufacturing, Plumbing

Chattanooga Central High School, TN

2018 Finalists

Alex Adkisson, Tracy Csavina, Adam Rieter, Jane Wiater

AMPED (Manufacturing and Business)
Green Mountain High School, CO

Thomas Aubin

Welding
CEWW BOCES, NY

David Black

Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering
Clark Magnet High School, CA

Kenneth Bowlus

Automotive Collision/Customization
Warren Tech, CO

Timothy Brown, Gary Coy, Eddie Martinez, Early Murray, William Terry

Transportation CTE Cluster
South Tech Academy, FL

Shawn Burns

Mechatronics
Burton Center for Arts and Technology, VA

Robert Caylor & Scott Pfaff

Automotive Service Technician
Gulfport High School, MS

Travis Crate

Welding
Venango Technology Center, PA

Lucus Fletcher, George Rosenblad, Antonio Shelley, John Ward, Steve Waters

Architecture, Construction, Transportation
Houston County Career Academy, GA

Jim Hoover & Brian Evans

Construction Trades Technology
Heartland Career Center, IN

Dennis Johnson

Transportation Technology
Fallbrook Union High School, CA

Nicholas Jordan

Construction
Montecito High School, CA

Henrietta Jutson

Integrated Systems Technology
Jack Britt High School, NC

David Kontz

Welding, Manufacturing, HVAC
Barack Obama School of Career and Technical Education, WI

Peter Krause

Construction Technology
Tri-Cities ROP at California High School, CA

Brian Kuntz

Industrial Technology
Dexter High School, KS

Tina M. LeBlanc-Zombor

Building Trades
Lincoln Park High School, MI

David McMillen

Building Trades
West Holmes High School, OH

Jeff Merker

Building Trades
Sheldon High School, CA

Steve Owen & Andrice Tucker

Automotive Service Technology
Central Nine Career Center, IN

Troy Reichert

Industrial Technology
Guernsey-Sunrise Public School, WY

Wendy Schepman

Landscape Operations
South Fork High School, FL

Todd Sedlacek

Machine Trades
Central Westmoreland CTC, PA

Michael Shallenberger

Engines, Electronics, Manufacturing
STEM School Highlands Ranch, CO

Malcolm Stalcup

Welding
John Hinds Career Center, IN

Samuel Steadman

Fine Metalworking and Jewelry Production
Mountain View High School, UT

John Stratton

Automotive Technology
OHM BOCES CTEC, NY

Seth Thomas

Woodworking and Metalworking
Cedarcrest High School, WA

Brent Trankler

Welding
Sikeston Career and Technology Center, MO

Molly Turner

Wood Manufacturing Technologies
Ignacio High School, CO

Peter Wachtel

Product Design and Architecture
Adolfo Camarillo High School, CA

Eric Wagaman

Building Construction Trades
Franklin County Career and Technology Center, PA

David Weaver

Auto Collision Repair
Kershaw County School District Applied Technology Education Center, SC

Travis Wyrick

Agriculture Mechanics
Ann Sobrato High School, CA

2018 Final Round Judges

Dan Belcher

Dan Belcher

Director of Workforce Development

National Center for Construction Education and Research; Build Your Future

Sarah Heath

Sarah Heath

Associate Provost

Colorado Community College System

Bob Kilmer

Bob Kilmer

2017 Grand Prize Winner

Enumclaw High School (WA)

Kayleen McCabe

Kayleen McCabe

Contractor, TV Host, Advocate for Trades Education

McCabe Foundation

Ivana Nunez

Ivana Nunez

Electrical Teacher

Queens Vocational and Technical High School (NY)

Phenna Petty

Phenna Petty

Career Technical and Agriculture (CTAE) Director (Retired)

Murray County (GA) Schools

Ryan Smith

Ryan Smith

Chief External Officer

Partnership for Los Angeles Schools

2018 Round 2 Judges

Roxanne Amiot

2017 Prize Winner

Kimberly Bertocci

National Board for Professional Teaching Standards

Elyse Burden

Real World Scholars

Sarah Burtner

California Department of Finance

Gerald Chaleff

Los Angeles Police Department (Ret.)

Jason Drake

Workroom Program Alliance

Eric Hill

SkillsUSA-Illinois

Dave Huffman

2017 Prize Winner

Chris Ko

United Way of Greater Los Angeles

Anita Landecker

ExEd

Tana Lee

Richland School District One (SC)

Margaret Lester

Registered Nurse Practitioner (Ret.)

Scott Mayotte

2017 Prize Winner

Amanda Nolasco

Phoenix Union School District

Stephanie Owen

National Wood Flooring Association

David Tiensvold

CoorsTek Inc.

Patrick Wadsworth

2017 Prize Winner

Randy Williamson

2017 Prize Winner

2018 Round 1 Judges

A special thanks to our colleagues at the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) for their stewardship of this Round.

Alex Gromada

Southern Illinois Carpenters Joint Apprenticeship Program

Barb Schult

Linn-Mar School District (IA)

Bob Baird

Independent Electrical Contractors Association

Candice Mott

DC Public Schools

Colleen Kennehan

Savannah-Chatham County Public Schools (GA)

Dan Smith

Minnesota Department of Education

Dawn Lindsley

CareerTech

Debbie Moore

Deer Valley Unified School District (AZ)

Dean Baker

Francis Tuttle Career Tech Center (OK)

Dennis Harden

Missouri Department of Education

Gary Moore

North Carolina State University (ret.)

H. Roger Fulk

Wright State University

Heather Singmaster

Asia Society

Jan Bray

Bray Strategies

Jeff Travers

Butler Technical Center (OH)

Jill Ranucci

Manor Independent School District (TX)

Jon Quatman

Great Oaks Career Campuses (OH)

Kathy Cullen

Wisconsin Technical College System (WI)

Kelly Almond

Fulton County Schools (GA)

Kimberly Mitchell

Talladega County Schools (AL)

Maggie Hess

Ohio CTE Administrators Association

Martha Rotman Snider

Writer

Mary Jo Self

Oklahoma State University

Michele Macfarlane

College of Southern Idaho

Rachael Mann

#TeachlikeTED

Rebecca Pierce

Alabama ACTE

Robin McLean

Northern Burlington County Regional Middle School (MD)

Rod Boyes

Today’s Class

Ross Arnold

California ACTE (ret.)

Sherry Adrian

Francis Tuttle Career Tech Center (OK)

Toby Klinger

Johnson County Community College (KS)

Warren Lupson

Partnership for Air Conditioning, Heating, & Refrigeration Accreditation

Wayne Kutzer

North Dakota Department of Career and Technical Education (ret.)