2021 Prize for Teaching Excellence

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

2021 Grand Prize Winners

Jeffrey Bertke

Jeffrey Bertke

2021 Prize Winner

Electrical

Upper Valley Career Center, OH

Scott Burke

Scott Burke

2021 Grand Prize Winner

Construction

Green Mountain High School, CO

Derek Wray

Derek Wray

2021 Grand Prize Winner

Automotive, Diesel

Salem High School, VA

2021 Prize Winners

Jay Abitz

Jay Abitz

2021 Prize Winner

Automotive

Freedom High School, WI

Brian Copes

Brian Copes

2021 Prize Winner

Construction, Manufacturing

Chickasaw High School, AL

Stephen Lindridge

Stephen Lindridge

2021 Prize Winner

Industrial Technology

Candor Central High School, NY

John Lockhart

John Lockhart

2021 Prize Winner

Agricultural Mechanics

South Harrison High School, WV

Casey Lunceford

Casey Lunceford

2021 Prize Winner

Agricultural Mechanics

Ronan High School, MT

Andrew Saweikis

Andrew Saweikis

2021 Prize Winner

Welding

Rockland Board of Cooperative Educational Services Career and Technical Education Center, NY

Staci Sievert

Staci Sievert

2021 Prize Winner

Industrial Technology

Seymour Community High School, WI

Eric Wagaman

Eric Wagaman

2021 Prize Winner

Construction

Franklin County Career and Technology Center, PA

Brian Welch

Brian Welch

2021 Prize Winner

Agricultural Mechanics

Madisonville North Hopkins High School, KY

2021 Finalists

John Amos

Construction
William Chrisman High School – Independence, MO

Angela Arnett

Technical Theatre
Escondido High School – Escondido, CA

Brian Bettag

Transportation Mechanics and Repair
Jefferson High School – Lafayette, IN

Dallas Bergstrom

Manufacturing & Mechatronics
Miller Career & Technology Center – Katy, TX

Matt Blomquist

Construction Taylorville High School – Taylorville, IL

Ashton Bohling

Industrial Technology
Johnson Brock High School – Johnson, NE

Kent Brady

Small Engine Equipment Technology
Dauphin County Technical School – Harrisburg, PA

Donald Brown

Automotive Technology
El Diamante High School – Visalia, CA

Josh Dickson

Carpentry
Cape Henlopen High School – Lewes, DE

Greg Ditch

Automotive Technology
Naperville North High School – Naperville, IL

Corey Dixon

Automotive Technology
Naperville North High School – Naperville, IL

Kevin Finan

Machining
Atlantic Technical College & Technical High School – Coconut Creek, FL

Coty Green

Automotive Technology
Chisholm Trail Tech Center – Omega, OK

Jay Hales

Automotive Technology
Riverton High School – Riverton, UT

Danielle Hamilton

Automotive Technology
Sidney Lanier High School – San Antonio, TX

Glenn Harrison

Manufacturing
Dr. Martin Luther King Early College – Denver, CO

Jorge Huizar

Agricultural Mechanics
Hennessey Schools – Hennessey, OK

Seth Hungerford

Construction Technology
Cold Hollow Career Center – Enosburg Falls, VT

Blair Jensen

Welding
Jordan Academy for Technology & Careers – South – Riverton, UT

Kristie Jones

Construction & Carpentry
Franklin County Career and Technical Center (MS) – Meadville, MS

Matthew Kasten

Welding
Capital Area Career Center – Springfield, IL

Jody Kemp

Agricultural Mechanics
Peach County High School – Fort Valley, GA

David Mackey

Power Sports & Equipment
Wexford Missaukee Career Technical Center – Cadillac, MI

Ian Matje

Diesel Technology
FutureForward at Washington Square – Thornton, CO

Brian McDonnell

Automotive Collision Repair
GST BOCES Coopers Education Center- Painted Post, NY

Erik Mortensen

Automotive Technology
Watauga High School – Boone, NC

David Moye

Automotive Maintenance and Light Repair
Lyman High School – Longwood, FL

Rodney Presley

HVACR
Lanier College & Career Academy – Gainesville, GA

Don Seehusen

Industrial Technology
Schuyler Central High School – Schuyler, NE

Teanna Simpson

Agricultural Mechanics
Thayer High School – Thayer, MO

Don Stock

Automotive Technology
Wichita North High School – Wichita, KS

John Stratton

Automotive Technology
Oneida-Herkimer-Madison BOCES – New Hartford, NY

Jeremy Tarbet

Automotive Technology
Canyon del Oro High School – Tucson, AZ

Robert Watkins

Automotive Technology
The Center of Applied Sciences and Technology – Bolivia, NC

Jeffrey Webb

Mechatronics
Southern Michigan Center for Science and Industry – Hudson, MI

Robbie Wise

Aviation Maintenance Technology
Tulsa Technology Center – Tulsa, OK

Adam Wood

Metal Fabrication
Bettye Davis East Anchorage High School – Anchorage, AK

Wes York

Agricultural Mechanics
Caldwell County High School – Princeton, KY

Breanna Youngberg

Manufacturing
Cascade High School – Everett, WA

2021 Final Round Judges

Shaun Dougherty

Shaun Dougherty

Associate Professor of Public Policy & Education

Vanderbilt University Peabody College of Education & Human Development

Teresa Gerton

Teresa Gerton

President and CEO

National Academy of Public Administration

Nike Irvin

Nike Irvin

Managing Director

Civil Society Fellowship

Jessica Ku Kim

Jessica Ku Kim

VP of Economic and Workforce Development

Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation

Brian Manley

Brian Manley

2020 Grand Prize Winner

Cherry Creek Innovation Campus (CO)

Kathryn Worley

Kathryn Worley

2020 Grand Prize Winner

2020 Grand Prize Winner

West Hills High School (CA)

Dan Belcher

Dan Belcher

Director of Workforce Development

National Center for Construction Education and Research; Build Your Future

Monica Pfarr

Monica Pfarr

Executive Director

American Welding Society Foundation

2021 Round 2 Judges

Alfia Anderson

2020 Prize Winner

Chet Andes

SkillsUSA Idaho

Matthew Barbercheck

2018 Prize Winner

Shawn Burns

2020 Prize Winner

Sarah Burtner

City of Seattle

Joe Campbell

Glendale High School

Robert Caylor

2020 Prize Winner

Gerald Chaleff

LA Police Department (Retired)

Oscar Cruz

Community Leader

Beth Duffield

Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce

Mireya Eavey

Mireya Eavey Company

Zach Fields

CEFGA

Ed Hughes

2017 Prize Winner

Vivian Jeffcoat

Emily Griffith Technical College

Dennis Johnson

Emily Griffith Technical College

Henrietta Jutson

2019 Prize Winner

Irma Livadic

Entertainment Industry Foundation

Karen Mack

LA Commons

Branka Minic

Building Talent Foundation

Andrew Murphy

Leadership for Educational Equity

Jennifer Park

Results for America

Eboney Pearson

Los Angeles Job Corps Center

Troy Reichert

2019 Prize Winner

Paola Santana

Lumina Foundation

Natalia Sifuentes

Cisco

Chad Sutton

2020 Prize Winner

Nicole Taylor

2020 Prize Winner

Brent Tuttle

2020 Prize Winner

Cindia Velasco

NALEO Educational Fund

Peter Wachtel

2019 Prize Winner

David White

2017 Prize Winner

Demetrius Wilson

2020 Prize Winner

John Yi

LA Walks

2021 Round 1 Judges

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