FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 15, 2021
Contact: Megan Kmiotek
ACTE Announces Purdue University Assistant Professor as National Award Finalist
ALEXANDRIA, VA—Today, the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) announced Sarah LaRose, Assistant Professor of Agricultural Education, CoA Department of Agricultural Sciences Education and Communication, CoE Department of Curriculum and Instruction at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, as the 2021 ACTE Region III Postsecondary Teacher of The Year. This award recognizes the finest career and technical education (CTE) teachers at the postsecondary level who have demonstrated innovation in the classroom, commitment to their students and dedication to the improvement of CTE in their institution and communities.
LaRose is an agricultural teacher educator in the Purdue ASEC Department in West Lafayette, Indiana, where she holds a joint appointment between the College of Agriculture and College of Education. She began her career in agricultural education with degrees in animal science (BS) and curriculum and instruction (MA) from the University of Connecticut, and then served as an agricultural education instructor at Nonnewaug High School in Woodbury, Connecticut for seven years. LaRose has a long history of involvement with the National FFA Organization.
After her time in the classroom, LaRose completed her PhD in Agricultural Education and Communication from the University of Florida. Since her arrival to Purdue, LaRose has contributed to revising the undergraduate Agricultural Education major, adding new coursework, and bringing programming up to date to the needs of today’s teachers. She teaches undergraduate coursework in Teaching Methods, Curriculum Development, and Laboratory Practices in Agricultural Education. Additionally, she supervises student teachers as a university supervisor, helps to advise the Purdue student chapter of the Indiana Association of Agricultural Educators, and contributes to Indiana agriculture teacher professional development opportunities, including conducting workshops and offering graduate level coursework for teachers entering the profession from the agriculture industry.
Her research seeks to better understand and measure the short, medium, and long-term effects of school-based agricultural education programs upon increasing agricultural literacy and preparing a workforce to meet cross-disciplinary needs of the 21st century.
LaRose 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 virtual event will take place on November 30, 2021 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.
