Athens, Georgia- Southern Regional Technical College Cosmetology instructor Cora Walden was among 38 Career, Technical, and Agricultural education (CTAE) educators who were honored by the Georgia Association for Career & Technical Education (GACTE) during its Summer Summit, which met July 14, 2021 at the Classic Center in Athens, Georgia. Over 1,800 CTAE educators from around the State attended the conference. Nominated by their division peers and selected by the GACTE Awards Committee, each nominee was presented with a plaque naming them as their division’s 2021 nominee for Post-Secondary Teacher of the Year.
Cora Walden was named the overall state award winner.
Cora Walden teaches Cosmetology courses at Southern Regional Technical College. An educator for more than 15 years, she earned B. S. in Education WED WTD from Valdosta State University in Valdosta Georgia. She will represent Georgia in the Association for Career & Technical Education’s Region II competition in October 2022.
******* Information about GACTE********
What is the Georgia Association for Career and Technical Education?
Founded in 1926, the Georgia Association for Career and Technical Education is the largest education association in Georgia dedicated to the advancement of education that prepares youth and adults for successful careers.
What is GACTE’s Core Purpose?
Its purpose is to provide leadership in developing an educated, prepared, adaptable and competitive workforce.
Whom does GACTE represent?
The strength of GACTE is reflected in its diverse membership composed of more than 2,700 middle and high school career, technical, and agricultural educators, administrators, researchers, guidance counselors, technical college faculty, college faculty and others involved in planning and conducting CTAE programs at the secondary, post-secondary and adult levels.
What does GACTE do?
GACTE is committed to enhancing the job performance and satisfaction of its members; increasing public awareness and appreciation for CTAE programs; and assuring growth in local, state and federal funding for these programs by communicating and working with legislators, government leaders, chambers of commerce, economic development professionals, and business and industry.
About Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education…
According to the U.S. Department of Education, students who take three or more career, technical, and agricultural education (CTAE) programs in high school are more likely to attend college and stay there to graduate. In fact, 79 percent of CTAE concentrators enrolled in postsecondary education within two years of high school graduation. In addition, students in CTAE programs have a higher-than-average high school graduation rate. Research has shown the average high school graduation rate for students concentrating in CTAE programs is 97.2 percent compared to an average national freshman graduation rate of 84.2 percent. CTAE programs teach leadership, citizenship, and character development to complement technical skill training.
CTAE At-A-Glance – GEORGIA SPECIFIC
97.2% of CTAE concentrators graduated from High School compared to Georgia’s overall Graduation Rate of 84.2%.
665,462 students participated in CTAE in 2019-2020.
More than 9,000 CTAE teachers and 4,000 school counselors delivered career-focused education to Georgia students.
188,622 students participated in career and technical student organizations (CTSOs) like FFA, FCCLA, FBLA, DECA, HOSA, etc.
26,948 students and approximately 9,000 employers participated in the Work-Based Learning and Youth Apprenticeship programs.
67.3% of all high school students and 62.9% of all middle school students participated in CTAE.