Celebrate the People Who Make Arizona CTE Exceptional
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.
Nominations close: January 21, 2027
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.
Award Categories
Regional and National Award Opportunities
Recipients of the following ACTEAZ awards will have the opportunity to apply for general regional candidacy in their respective category. Regional award winners may advance to the ACTE national award review process.
Please note: Regional and national candidates must meet the ACTE and ACTEAZ membership requirements outlined in the award criteria and maintain the required membership for the specified period.
Arizona State Awards
The following awards recognize outstanding contributions to CTE in Arizona:
Submission Requirements
Before You Begin
Please review the criteria for your selected award carefully before submitting your nomination. Every required criterion must be addressed for a nomination packet to be considered complete. Incomplete nomination packets will not be considered by the awards committee.
To make the process easier, we strongly recommend drafting your responses in a Word document first. This allows you to review your answers, check your word count, and make sure you have addressed every required criterion before copying and pasting your final responses into the online nomination form.
Word Count Requirements
Please review each award nomination form carefully, as maximum word counts vary by award. Nominations that exceed the stated maximum word count may be subject to disqualification.
Our recommendation: make every word count. Focus on meaningful accomplishments, specific examples, measurable results, and the impact the nominee has made.
A Photo Is Required
All nominations must include a photo of the person being nominated.
If the nominee is selected as an award recipient, ACTEAZ will provide the opportunity for the recipient to approve the submitted photo and complete the appropriate paperwork. The recipient may also provide an alternate photo for use in award recognition materials.
Please select a photo that represents the nominee professionally and positively.
The Deadline
All nominations must be submitted by January 21, 2027.
Late or incomplete nominations will not be considered.
Before submitting, take a final moment to confirm that you have:
- Addressed every required award criterion.
- Included all required information and supporting materials.
- Included a photo of the nominee.
- Reviewed your nomination for accuracy and completeness.
- Submitted the nomination by January 21, 2027.
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.
Make Someone’s Impact Visible
There are people throughout Arizona who are changing lives through Career and Technical Education every single day. They may not ask for recognition. They may simply keep showing up, innovating, mentoring, teaching, leading, partnering, and believing in students.
You can make sure their impact is seen.
Take the time to tell their story. Celebrate what they have accomplished. Share the difference they are making for students, colleagues, industry, and communities across Arizona. Because when we recognize excellence in CTE, we do more than honor one person or program—we inspire an entire profession.
Who will you celebrate?
For questions about the ACTEAZ Awards Program, please contact:
Shelly York
[email protected]
623-826-6399