2023 ACTEAZ Award Winners

Melissa Veo is a CASE Certified Agriculture Teacher in both AFNR (Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources) and Animal Science Curriculum and completed 80 hours professional development training for each certification They are also able to receive the Youth for the Quality Care of Animals Certification through the Animal Science Course. Melissa’s hands-on teaching has proven highly successful for ELL and ESS students.

Jennifer Kline evaluates and aligns curriculum standards articulation and prior learning credit for secondary and postsecondary CTE completers. Jennifer works closely with MCCCD curriculum, transfer center and university transfer partners to ensure prior learning credit and credit articulation are fully transferrable and works closely with industry.

Dr. Aaron Parsons has been a leader in the delivery of High Quality CTE programs at West-MEC throughout his tenure. CTE programs have undergone successful reviews for both ADE CTE Monitoring and the West-MEC Total Quality Indictors process. In 2020-2021 all West-MEC Central Campus programs received 100% compliance and quality ratings exemplifying the elements of the ACTE High Quality Framework.

Joseph Troxel, a first year CTE Computer Science teacher, brings 15 years of industry experience to the CREST Computer Science program in the Paradise Valley USD. Joseph teaches 125 students in both Software and App Design and Network Security classes and is a mentor for two computer science clubs plus the SkillsUSA CTSO.

Jeff Samaniego provides hands on learning for community service with the Dig PINK event. His students organize, implement, lead and solicit donations for a special celebration of life for Breast Cancer Survivors. Students organize the event with the volleyball team to create a night to remember.

For 49 years, Cathie Raymond has been a part of CTE. She began as a CTE teacher, and then became a school district director before becoming the Arizona state CTE Director. Ms. Raymond is an extremely strong leader in Arizona and the nation.

Jennifer Grumbling visits classrooms, takes student leaders to middle school, and hosts workshops to present central and satellite CTE Programs. She initiated an internship program with Duncan Family Farms, recruited Boeing and Honeywell to Millennium’s Career/College Fair and others. Jennifer participated in a 2022 Externship Program to learn more about job opportunities. Jennifer ensures her students have a post-secondary plan to achieve independence and contribute to society.

This year the ACTEAZ Affiliate of the Year goes to the Arizona Marketing Educators, also known as AZME. AZME was created to improve communications between local Marketing programs; the Arizona Department of Education; CTE and academic personnel within all schools; professional organizations; the state institutions of higher learning; and others within our communities interested in Marketing Education.

Professional Photographer, Steven Meckler, has been the host of the Photography Masters’ Class for 9 years. The event is a day where Tucson area professional photographers provide workshops to Digital Photography students. Steven not only offers up his studio as a home base for the event, but he also coordinates each year with 15 different professional photographers to volunteer their time to provide free workshops to Digital Photography students from all Pima, Santa Cruz and Pinal County high schools.

Delphina Yazzie and Eric Phye are the Welding Instructors for the CTE Program of the Year at West-MEC. West-MEC’s welding program is innovative because it offers hands-on training in state-of-the-art welding technologies that are relevant to current industry standards. The program also emphasizes safety and job readiness.

Maya Comaduran is involved in every CTE project of Cochise Technology District CTED as she is integral to the success of everything they do. She provides key support for county-wide events such as: the annual CTE Director/Counselor summit, Law & Public Safety Practical and Academy Days, Cochise HOSA Health-Off, Premier Series trainings in Instructional Best Practices, Technical Skills Assessment, CTSO Officer Training, and Serving Exceptional Students, and Cochise Technology District’s most recent event, the regional SkillsUSA Law & Public Safety competition.

Kirsten Coury provides many innovative programs to Junior High School Students and has made significant accomplishments in Career Technical Education so Jr High Students have the opportunity for Career Exploration Programs. Specifically, the Technology, Life, Careers Program. The Peoria Unified School District has been extremely proud of this program that has provided this information to multiple students each year in preparation for life, career skills and planning their high school courses and choosing CTE programs.

ACTEAZ Policy Maker of the year is the City of Surprise Economic Development. Jeanine Jerkovic is the Economic Development Director, and Mike Hoover is the Economic Development Assistant Director. The City of Surprise has been a Champion for CTE. Last year at Dysart’s annual CTE program review, the City Economic Development Office announced a CTE proclamation and handed out City of Surprise/CTE pins that show the City’s commitment to CTE. Mike attends this event every year to talk about business and industry coming to Surprise and the vitality of a local CTE partnership.

The ACTEAZ Executive Citation is Awarded to Regan Medina-Pellow, who has supported and provided leadership to ACTEAZ for over fourteen years. She has served our state association in many capacities and is completely deserving. Regan has been an Exhibitor for the U. S. Army for many years at the ACTE Summer Conference and Mid-Winter. Regan has also invited U.S. Army members to also man the exhibitor booth so educators can receive more information regarding positions in the Army.