Gracie Woodward of Newton School & Profession Academy and Journey Hay of Newton County STEAM Academy have been named Newton County Faculties’ (NCS) 2026 CTAE (Profession, Technical and Agricultural Training) College students of the Yr.
This recognition was unveiled in the course of the district’s 2026 CTAE Scholar of the Yr Awards Ceremony at Porter Performing Arts Middle on Feb. 26. The occasion, held yearly in celebration of Nationwide CTAE Month, showcases excellent CTAE College students of the Yr from center and highschool CTAE applications throughout the district.
Dr. John Pritchett, NCS coordinator of CTAE and Workforce Innovation, elaborated on the choice course of.
“CTAE college students have been nominated by their CTAE pathway lecturers for his or her college’s CTAE Scholar of the Yr Award,” Pritchett stated. “The scholars then participated in interviews to find out every college’s pathway CTAE Scholar of the Yr. Subsequently, every college’s pathway pupil of the 12 months engaged in district interviews to find out each the district pathway pupil of the 12 months and in the end the District CTAE Scholar of the Yr.”
The CTAE highschool pathways and center college applications acknowledged on the ceremony lined Agriculture, Meals, and Pure Sources, Enterprise Expertise, Info Expertise & Laptop Science, Profession Technical Instruction, Digital Media/AVTF, Training and Coaching, Engineering and Manufacturing, Household and Shopper Sciences, Well being Science/Bio Tech, Regulation and Public Security, JROTC, Advertising, Culinary Arts, Vitamin and Meals Science, and Work-Based mostly Studying. This 12 months the district additionally included an elementary college stage to include the agriculture program at Newton County STEAM Academy.
Elementary college district winner:
- Agriculture Award: Cayla Carpenter, Newton County STEAM Academy
Center college district winners:
- Agriculture Award: Makkah Glenn-Coffie, Indian Creek Center Faculty
- Enterprise and Laptop Science Award: Gabrielle Qualls, Liberty Center Faculty
- Engineering Award: Journey Hay, Newton County STEAM Academy
- Household and Shopper Science Award: Makenzi Carter, Veterans Memorial Center Faculty
Highschool district winners:
- Agriculture, Meals, & Pure Sources Award: Sara Anderson, Newton School & Profession Academy
- Enterprise Expertise Award: Belisse Munakwa, Eastside Excessive Faculty
- Profession Technical Instruction Award: Luke Shipton, Alcovy Excessive Faculty
- Digital Media/Video Award: Violette Campbell, Newton School & Profession Academy
- Training & Coaching Award: Akeelah Fletcher, Newton School & Profession Academy
- Engineering Award: Derek Gawlinski, Newton School & Profession Academy
- Well being Science/Biotechnology Award: Robyn Asbell, Newton School & Profession Academy
- IT/Laptop Science Award: David Mansfield, Newton School & Profession Academy
- JROTC Award: Angelina Thomas, Newton Excessive Faculty
- Regulation & Public Security Award: Kylei Moore, Newton Excessive Faculty
- Advertising Award: Myles Mims, Eastside Excessive Faculty
- Vitamin & Meals Award: Miangel Rosiles-Flores, Alcovy Excessive Faculty
- Expert Trades Award: Jordan Sharp, Newton School & Profession Academy
- Work-Based mostly Studying Award: Gracie Woodward, Newton School & Profession Academy
Along with recognizing CTAE college students, the district additionally introduced the 2026 Work-Based mostly Studying Employer of the Yr Award to Snapping Shoals EMC.
“Our CTAE college students proceed to impress me with their expertise, creativity, and dedication to their chosen pathways,” stated Dr. Tim Schmitt, director of CTAE and Workforce Innovation for Newton County Faculties. “Throughout our district, college students are gaining invaluable technical expertise, exploring profession alternatives, and creating the arrogance wanted to succeed after commencement.
“As Newton County continues to develop and appeal to new business, it’s thrilling to see the following era of expertise creating proper right here in our colleges. These college students symbolize a powerful future workforce that may assist drive innovation and alternative all through our group.”
Superintendent Dr. Duke Bradley, III weighed in as nicely.
“Our CTAE applications are opening doorways for college kids to find their passions, construct real-world expertise, and put together for the alternatives that await them after commencement,” Bradley stated. “These college students symbolize the perfect of Newton County Faculties, and their accomplishments replicate the dedication of our lecturers, our business companions, and our group. We’re extremely pleased with them and excited to see the paths they may pursue.”
