Celebrate the People Who Make Arizona CTE Exceptional
Award nominations open soon
Recognize Excellence. Tell the Story. Inspire the Future.
Every day across Arizona, Career and Technical Education professionals are opening doors, creating opportunities, building confidence, and helping students discover what is possible for their future.
Now is the time to celebrate them.
The Arizona Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTEAZ) invites you to nominate an exceptional individual, program, or professional who is making a meaningful difference in CTE. Whether they are inspiring students in a classroom, creating innovative programs, strengthening partnerships with business and industry, supporting educators behind the scenes, or leading CTE into the future, their work deserves to be recognized.
An ACTEAZ Award is more than an honor. It is an opportunity to tell the story of impact.
Think about the person who consistently goes above and beyond. The educator who sees potential in every student. The leader who turns an idea into a thriving program. The professional who quietly makes sure others have what they need to succeed. The business and industry partner who believes in the power of CTE. The colleague whose dedication has shaped students, programs, and communities.
Who comes to mind?
This year, we encourage you to take a moment to recognize the people who make Arizona CTE extraordinary. Self-nominations are welcome for all award categories. If you believe your own work demonstrates excellence and impact, we encourage you to tell your story, too.
Your Story Can Make an Impact
The strongest nominations do more than describe what someone does—they demonstrate why it matters.
As you complete a nomination, think about the difference this person or program has made. What have they accomplished? How have students benefited? What challenges have they overcome? How have they strengthened their school, community, or industry partnerships? What makes their work exceptional?
Use specific examples, accomplishments, and evidence to bring the nomination to life.
This is your opportunity to shine a light on the impact happening every day in Arizona CTE.
ACTE Quality CTE Framework
The ACTE Quality CTE Program of Study Framework gives CTE professionals a common definition of what high-quality CTE looks like in practice. Grounded in research and developed with input from the field, the Framework identifies 12 elements and more than 90 criteria that together describe the essential components of a strong CTE program—from curriculum and instruction to student supports, industry partnerships, work-based learning, CTSOs, career development, and continuous improvement.
For CTE professionals, that makes the Framework especially valuable as a tool for improvement, collaboration and conversation. It can help teams see their programs from a broader perspective, connect secondary and postsecondary efforts, inform professional learning and program planning, and provide a foundation for meaningful discussions about quality. ACTE’s self-evaluation is intentionally designed as a collaborative process rather than simply a score.
Ultimately, high-quality CTE is not about checking every box. It is about creating programs where learners experience rigorous, relevant and connected learning that prepares them for further education, meaningful careers and lives of choice. The Framework gives CTE professionals a shared roadmap for continually getting better at that work.
Who will you celebrate?
For questions about the ACTEAZ Awards Program, please contact:
Patti Pastor, Awards Committee Chair
[email protected]
Shelly York
[email protected]
623-826-6399