2019 Prize for Teaching Excellence

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

$1 Million in Prize Awards

2019 Grand Prize Winners

Cesar Gutierrez

Cesar Gutierrez

2019 Grand Prize Winner

Manufacturing

Desert View High School, AZ

Wendy Schepman

Wendy Schepman

2019 Grand Prize Winner

2019 Grand Prize Winner

Agricultural Mechanics

South Fork High School, FL

Brent Trankler

Brent Trankler

2019 Grand Prize Winner

2019 Grand Prize Winner

Welding

Sikeston Career and Technology Center, MO

2019 Prize Winners

Ken Cox

Ken Cox

2019 Prize Winner

Automotive

Redwood High School, CA

Eric Dyer

Eric Dyer

2019 Prize Winner

Agricultural Mechanics

Woodland Senior High School, CA

Jodi Lancaster

Jodi Lancaster

2019 Prize Winner

Welding

Livingston Area Career Center, IL

Jacob Leair

Jacob Leair

2019 Prize Winner

Welding

Grants Pass High School, OR

David Lilly

David Lilly

2019 Prize Winner

Automotive

Portsmouth High School, NH

Joel Massarello

Joel Massarello

2019 Prize Winner

Automotive

Oakland Schools Technical Campus Northwest, MI

Troy Reichert

Troy Reichert

2019 Prize Winner

Industrial Technology

Guernsey-Sunrise Public High School, WY

Derek Rowe

Derek Rowe

2019 Prize Winner

Aviation Maintenance

McGavock High School, TN

Peter Wachtel

Peter Wachtel

2019 Prize Winner

Industrial Technology, Manufacturing

Adolfo Camarillo High School, CA

Baxter Weed

Baxter Weed

2019 Prize Winner

Automotive

Cold Hollow Career Center, VT

2019 Finalists

Thomas Aubin

Welding
Clinton-Essex-Warren-Washington Board of Cooperative Educational Services, NY

Andrew Bias

Industrial Technology
Folsom High School, CA

Roy Campbell

Agriculture Mechanics
Derry High School, PA

Robert Caylor, Scott Pfaff

Automotive Service Technician
Gulfport High School, MS

Francis Carlson

Cabinet Making and Millwork
Bonners Ferry High School, ID

Anthony Christian

Manufacturing and Engineering
Arrowhead Union High School, WI

Eric Fisher

Industrial Technology
Hamilton Heights High School, IN

David Gibson

Precision Metal Manufacturing
Caprock High School, TX

J. Heather Handler

Manufacturing and Machining
Mount Pleasant High School, DE

Coley Hanes

Agriculture Construction and Small Engines
Schuyler R-1 Schools, MO

Adam Irwin, Nate Burton

Building Trades and Electrical Technology
Portage Lakes Career Center, OH

Beth James

Vocational Agriculture
Cory-Rawson High School, OH

Blair Jensen

Welding and Agriculture Mechanics
Jordan Academy for Technology and Careers, UT

David Kontz

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

Stephen Marsh

Manufacturing and Welding
Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo High School, CA

Mark Meyer

Industrial/Agricultural Education
Marion High School, KS

David Moye

Automotive Maintenance and Light Repair
Lyman High School, FL

Jared Monroe

Automotive Technology
Columbia Area Career Center, MO

Morgan Perry

Agriculture Mechanics
Bear River High School, CA

Brian Sheward

Welding and Fabrication
Springfield-Clark Career Technology Center, OH

Chad Sutton

Construction and Manufacturing
Garrett High School, IN

Jeremy Tarbet

Automotive Technology
Canyon del Oro High School, AZ

Michael Towne

Electrical Wiring and Construction
Dr. James A. Forrest Career and Technology Center, MD

Brent Tuttle

Welding
La Mirada High School, CA

Mark Valchine II

Construction
Pioneer High School, MI

Wayne Violet

Automotive Technology
Washington County Technical High School, MD

Adam Wallingford

Welding
Mason County Career Magnet School, KY

Jeff Webb, Youko Peterson, Jennifer Mason

Mechatronics
Southern Michigan Center for Science and Industry, MI

Chris Weeks

Construction Management
Bentonville High School, AR

Demetrius Wilson

Mechatronics and Manufacturing
Oakland Schools Technical Campus Northeast, MI

Kathryn Worley

Advanced Manufacturing and Woodworking
West Hills High School, CA

Jarred Wyatt

Industrial Equipment Maintenance
Siloam Springs High School, AR

2019 Final Round Judges

Dan Belcher

Dan Belcher

Director of Workforce Development

National Center for Construction Education and Research; Build Your Future

Nancy Trivette

Nancy Trivette

President (2019-2020)

Association of Career and Technical Education (ACTE)

Sarah Heath

Sarah Heath

Associate Provost

Colorado Community College System

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

2019 Round 2 Judges

Matthew Barbercheck

2018 Prize Winner

Kimberly Bertocci

National Education Association

Sarah Burtner

CA Department of Finance

Joe Campbell

Glendale High School (CA)

Gerald Chaleff

Los Angeles Police Department (Ret.)

Lesford Dixon

2018 Prize Winner

Shaun Dougherty

Vanderbilt University

Matt Erbach

2018 Prize Winner

Matthew Fieldman

The Manufacturing Advocacy and Growth Network (MAGNET)

Kathy Goodacre

Sonoma County CTE Foundation

Montez King

The National Institute for Metalworking Skills (NIMS)

Anita Landecker

ExED

Robert Leiby

2018 Prize Winner

Joseph Lumarda

Capital Group

Ron Martinez

2018 Prize Winner

Joshua Overman

2018 Prize Winner

Steve Rothenberg

Concord Regional Technical Center (NH)

Cameron Sublett

WestEd

Jerry Webb

2018 Prize Winner

Kim Yamasaki

Center for Asian Americans United for Self-Empowerment (CAUSE)

2019 Round 1 Judges

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