ACTE Announces Mississippi CTE Director as National Award Finalist
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 15, 2020
Contact: Megan Kmiotek
ACTE Announces Mississippi CTE Director as National Award Finalist
ALEXANDRIA, VA—Today, the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) announced Wendy Suzanne Kelly, a CTE Director at Lamar County Schools in Purvis, Mississippi, as the 2021 ACTE Region IV Administrator of the Year. This award recognizes administrative career and technical education (CTE) professionals at the school, district, county, state, or federal level who have demonstrated leadership in ensuring teacher and student success and have made significant contributions toward innovative, unique and effective CTE programs.
Suzanne Kelly began her career in education by teaching Business and Computer Technology for ten years. She then implemented the Teacher Academy program where she taught for an additional six years. She served as an active advisor in FLBA, Educators Rising, and National Technical Honor Society with local, state, and national competitors. She continued her education by earning National Board Certification as well as obtained a master’s degree in Educational Administration from the University of Southern Mississippi. She advanced in her career to CTE Director in the fall of 2016. She currently serves in the Lamar County School District at a standalone center. She also supervises the district’s CTE personnel and programs within the district’s four high schools and five middle schools. Kelly has served in multiple state-level ACTE leadership roles including state president of Mississippi ACTE in 2014-2015. She was awarded the 2017 MS ACTE Member of the Year for contributions in planning professional development sessions for the ACTE Region IV Conference. Kelly continues to serve on multiple state and Region IV committees and currently serves as the past president of the MS ACTE CTE Director’s affiliate.
Kelly is one of five finalists for the 2022 national title. The national winner will be announced at the virtual ACTE Awards Gala, an award presentation recognizing the best CTE educators in the country. The event will take place on November 30 at 5:00 p.m. ET. The Virtual Awards Gala is sponsored by Express Employment Professionals, Goodheart-Willcox and Stratasys. For more information about the ACTE Excellence Awards, visit our webpage.
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About ACTE
The Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) is the nation’s largest not-for-profit
association committed to the advancement of education that prepares youth and adults for successful
careers. ACTE represents the community of CTE professionals, including educators, administrators,
researchers, school counselors, guidance and career development professionals and others at all levels of
education. ACTE is committed to excellence in providing advocacy, public awareness and access to
resources, professional development and leadership opportunities.