2026 Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize for Teaching Excellence
Honoring Outstanding U.S. Public High School Skilled Trades Teachers
2026 Grand Prize Winners
2026 Prize Winners
2026 Finalists
Ken Acton
Construction, Plumbing
J. Everett Light Career Center – Indianapolis, IN
James Allen
Construction
Huntley High School – Huntley, IL
Harris Allen
Agricultural Mechanics
Joplin High School – Joplin, MO
Randy Barnard
Automotive
Tri Valley ROP/Livermore High School – Livermore, CA
Durwin Bass
Automotive
Hannah-Pamplico High School – Pamplico, SC
Weston Berndt
Welding
Green Bay Preble High School – Green Bay, WI
Lyle Boner
Construction
Wells High School – Wells, NV
Jerry Edens
Welding
Thunderbolt Career and Technology Center – Walterboro, SC
Cameron Frazier
Agricultural Mechanics
South Putnam Middle/High School – Greencastle, IN
Peter Giampa
HVAC/R
Upper Cape Cod Regional Technical School – Bourne, MA
Nathan Hataj
Industrial Technology
Edgerton High School – Edgerton, WI
Nathan Hooper
Automotive
Parkside High School —Salisbury, MD
Travis Lucero
Welding, Automotive
Bingham High School — South Jordan, UT
Jamie Mack
Automotive
Lee County Career & Technology Center — Bishopville, SC
John Park
Agricultural Mechanics
Fairfield High Schools — Fairfield, MT
Rob Parker
Automotive
Bradley Central High School — Cleveland, TN
Alan Parker
Agricultural Mechanics
Hagerman High School — Hagerman, NM
Bob Parmley
Automotive
Sheridan High School — Englewood, CO
EJ Pilarski
Automotive, Welding
Jefferson High School — Jefferson, WI
Tyler Power
Agricultural Mechanics
Council Jr-Sr High School — Council, ID
Clinton Reeser
Construction
Happy Valley High School — Elizabethton, TN
Jeff Rittenhouse
Construction
Chelsea High School — Chelsea, MI
Daniel Sartin
Agricultural Mechanics
East Burke High School — Connelly Springs, NC
Tylor Sorgert
Automotive
North Branch Area High School — North Branch, MN
Marty Supple
Automotive
Artesia High School — Lakewood, CA
2026 Final Round Judges
Jerry Agan
2025 Grand Prize Winner
Kate Cinnamo
Executive Director
Explore the Trades
Ted Dintersmith
Author, Filmmaker, Education Advocate
Ziven Drake
Executive Director
The North Atlantic States Carpenters Training Fund
Michael Driscoll
2025 Grand Prize Winner
Peyton Holland
Executive Director
National Technical Honor Society
Terry Holliday
Commissioner of Education (Retired)
Kentucky Department of Education
Irma Livadic
Director of Programs
Entertainment Industry Foundation
Jo Mackiewicz
Professor of Rhetoric and Professional Communication
Iowa State University
Kayleen McCabe
Contractor, TV Host, Advocate for Trades Education
Alicia Ortiz
Co-Business Unit Leader
DPR Construction
Phenna Petty
Chair
Georgia State Board of Education
Monica Pfarr
Executive Director
AWS Foundation
Dana Rapoport
Director of School Partnerships & Volunteers
Tech Force Foundation
Hugh Roberts
2025 Grand Prize Winner
Brandon Russell
President-Elect
ACTE
Terrell Taylor
2025 Grand Prize Winner
Casie Wise
Senior Program Director
National Indian Education Association
2026 Round 2 Judges
George Arrants
ASE Education
Alaina Berg
Arete Rising
Dallas Bergstrom
2023 Prize Winner
Andrew Bias
2024 Prize Winner
Travis Black
2025 Prize Winner
Sarah Burtner
City of Seattle
Gerald Chaleff
LAPD (Retired)
Kurt Chapman
2025 Prize Winner
Anthony Christian
2024 Prize Winner
Brian Copes
2023 Prize Winner
Shelby Fishman
2025 Prize Winner
Sam Garson
2025 Prize Winner
Melvin Gill
Chesapeake High School (MD)
Stacey Holsinger
CHAT CTE
Rob Hunter
2024 Prize Winner
Konner Keller
2023 Prize Winner
Erica Leipmann
Inclusive Action for the City
Joshua Mermolejo
2025 Prize Winner
Brian McDonnell
2025 Prize Winner
Jodie Melancon
2023 Prize Winner
David Moye
2022 Winner
Johnny Ortiz
DPR Construction
Penny Soat
Kreg Tools
Katie Southard
SashCo
Sheila Stalberger
2025 Prize Winner
Miles Tokheim
2025 Prize Winner
Beth White
Habitat for Aviation
2026 Round 1 Judges
A special thanks to our colleagues at the Association of Career and Technical Education (ACTE) for their stewardship of Round 1 judging.