2021-2022 Industry Certification Teacher of the Year

Savanah Rhine - Pajaro Valley USD

Savanah Rhine, agricultural science teacher at Watsonville High School, has been a CTE educator for five years, in which industry certifications support everyday learning in the courses she teaches. Rhine implements the AMSA Food Safety & Science Certification in her agricultural chemistry courses and successfully certified 102 students during the 2021-2022 school year. Rhine shared one of her proudest moments this past school year was when one of her special-needs students went above and beyond to earn their certification. The student came from a challenging home environment and had significant learning disabilities to overcome in order to pass the certification test at the end of the course.

“Against all odds, this student put in the work and completed every activity and test early and became the expert in the room,” Rhine said. She also shared the student asked to present to the class to help them review for the upcoming certification exam, and the following week was the first student finished and to pass the exam. “Implementing industry certifications has built a community and culture amongst our department as students motivate each other and share success,” Rhine said. As this year’s AMSA Food Safety & Science Certification Teacher of the Year, iCEV congratulates Rhine and her students for their achievement and dedication to career success.

Robert Bollier - Lexington Technology Center

Robert Bollier, an agriculture teacher at Lexington Technology Center, has been a CTE educator for 30 years. Talk about dedication! Bollier believes CTE is “a valuable resource for ALL students who are college-bound or even to join the workforce.  Students in CTE programs are able to learn skills that they will be able to fall back on throughout their life.” Bollier implemented the AMSA Meat Evaluation Certification in his Animal Science courses becoming the top certifying teacher for the certification for the 2021-2022 school year.

To Bollier, industry certifications have allowed “students to see their own success no matter their academic level, has given them a goal to work for”. Being able to hand students their certification certificate and to see their smiles on their faces is worth all the effort that they have put forth to achieve this goal.” Some of Bollier’s students have even utilized their industry certifications to gain employment within the animal science industry. Bollier only has one piece of advice for CTE educators on the fence about implementing industry certifications into their own classrooms, “What have you got to lose?” As this year’s AMSA Meat Evaluation Certification Teacher of the Year, iCEV congratulates Bollier and his students for their achievement and dedication to career success.

Gabriel Ponce - Pioneer Valley High School

iCEV congratulates, agricultural science teacher, Gabriel Ponce and his students at Pioneer Valley High School for their accomplishment and dedication to academic and career success. 

Jessica Sweet - Watsonville High School

Jessica Sweet, an agriculture teacher at Watsonville High School, has been a CTE educator for 7 years and believes that industry certifications give her students confidence inside and outside of the classroom. Sweet implemented the BASF Plant Science Certification in her Advanced Sustainable Agriculture, Agriculture Economics and Agriculture Communications courses successfully certifying 93 students and becoming the top certifying teacher of the certification for the 2021-2022 school year. In fact. Sweet shared that one of her favorite success stories is a student that earned the Plant Science Certification that determined that “this was a career or path that interested them and decided to change their plans after high school to go on to get an internship with a plant science company and go on to become a PCA.”

The impact of industry certification didn’t stop there. When implementing certification Sweet found that students found “confidence in themselves and their ability to learn and apply that learning. They also got more confident when it comes to speaking and interacting with industry members as they now know the terms and information about that industry.” How can you find similar success in your programs? Sweet says it’s simple “Be consistent and it will become a part of your class and department culture.” As this year’s BASF Plant Science Certification Teacher of the Year, iCEV congratulates Sweet and her students for their achievement and dedication to career success.

Tracey Roder - Robert E. Lee High School

Tracey Roder, an agriculture teacher at Robert E. Lee High School, has been a CTE educator for 23 years and believes that CTE gives students knowledge that will prepare them to be successful adults. Roder implemented the Benz School of Floral Design Principles of Floral Design Certification in her floral design class and successfully certified 90 students becoming the top certifying teacher for the certification for the 2021-2022 school year. Roder shared that the iCEV platform is easy to use, even for special population students. In fact, when asked what a success story she was most proud of was, Roder stated that she is “most proud of my Spanish learners. They overcame so much in a year. This year I had three students that really struggled with the language barrier. All three became certified in floral design.”

Roder follows a year-long implementation plan when utilizing industry certifications in the classroom, giving her students “a goal, something to achieve towards.” “In August every student logs in and creates their account. Then the lessons are what we follow the entire year. We work up until March to complete the interactive portion. Once we return from Spring Break we begin to study. Mid-April we start sitting for the test. I am very fortunate that my school will allow me to stop teaching for one day and administer the online test,” said Roder. As for her piece of advice? Roder states that “You have to know the material before you expect the students to learn it.” As this year’s Benz School of Floral Design Principles of Floral Design Certification Teacher of the Year, iCEV congratulates Roder and her students for their achievement and dedication to career success.

Jerri Woodson - Arkansas Correctional School District 

Jerri Woodson, an instructor in the Arkansas Correctional School District, has been an educator for 20 years in which she believes industry certifications are an invaluable opportunity for both students and adults. Woodson implements the Center for Financial Responsibility Personal Financial Literacy Certification in numerous of her courses and successfully certified 35 students during the 2021-2022 school year. “I think financial literacy is something every student and adult should be exposed to,” Woodson said, “this certification allows my students to sharpen financial skills that will support their career and everyday life.” In the Arkansas Correctional School District, after students earn their GED, they are offered enrollment in the financial literacy course. After going through the course and certifying in financial literacy, students may enroll in career-specific courses to gain more knowledge and skills to pursue job opportunities upon release.

Woodson believes by earning this certification, her students are creating support for and adding value to many facets of their lives. “I’m so proud of my students and the determination they have to earn this certification,” Woodson said, “it’s an amazing opportunity for our adult students to leave here with an education, job skills, and the confidence to succeed in the workforce. As this year’s Center for Financial Responsibility Personal Financial Literacy Certification Teacher of the Year, iCEV congratulates Woodson and her students for their achievement and dedication to career success.

 Nicole Costello - Penta Career Center

Nicole Costello, a lab animal science instructor at the Penta Career Center, has been a CTE educator for 14 years and believes that implementing industry certifications in her classes has helped ensure that her students are prepared for the workforce. Costello implemented the Ducks Unlimited Ecology Conservation & Management Certification in her classes, becoming the top certifying teacher for the 2021-2022 school year.

One of her favorite moments this past year was “watching students practice and help each other study. One young lady made flash cards and would practice when all her class work was complete.” She was also inspired by her students’ support and motivation stating that “once one student earns the credential, it really motivates the other students to earn theirs too!” As this year’s Ducks Unlimited Ecology Conservation & Management Certification Teacher of the Year, iCEV congratulates Costello and her students for their achievement and dedication to career success.

Brittany Smith - Adair County High School

Brittany Smith, an agriculture teacher at Adair County High School, has been a CTE educator for thirteen years and believes that Career and Technical Education prepares students for life outside of the classrooms with a skill set that can apply to a variety of areas. Smith implements the Elanco Fundamentals of Animal Science Certification in not only her animal science classes but her Greenhouse Technology class as well and successfully certified 56 students, becoming the top certifying teacher for the certification during the 2021-2022 school year. One of Smith’s proudest moments was preparing students to become college-ready through implementing industry certifications.

“Seeing the smile on their faces and knowing how much it meant to them to be able to graduate Career-Ready made all of the work in the classroom worth it. Now, they have jobs and are contributing to our community in ways that I know have been strengthened by the content they learned through iCEV,” Smith said. When asked what motivates her students, Smith shared that her “students know that they have a purpose in what they are learning beyond the requirement it is for class. They see the success of students that have come before them, and they want that same badge of accomplishment to follow them into the workforce as well. This gives them motivation for their work and a drive to become a more skilled employee in the future.” As this year’s Elanco Fundamentals of Animal Science Certification Teacher of the Year, iCEV congratulates Smith and her students for their achievement and dedication to career success.

Lara Ann Whitehead - South Carolina Virtual Charter High School

Lara Ann Whitehead, science teacher at South Carolina Virtual Charter High School, has been an educator for ten years and has seen the value certifications add to students’ lives after high school. Whitehead implements the Elanco Veterinary Medical Applications Certification in her Introduction to Veterinary Medicine course and successfully certified 65 students during the 2021-2022 school year. Whitehead shared that students are enrolled in her class because they are interested in a veterinary medicine/science career, love animals and want to learn more, or were placed because they needed an elective credit. This past school year, Whitehead had four students become interested in the Governor's School for Agriculture and were accepted as well as three students who applied and got accepted into accredited veterinary technology programs in South Carolina.

“All of those students expressed to me at the beginning of the year that they were not interested in careers in agriculture or veterinary science!” Whitehead said. During the certification process and while taking Whiteheads course, these students were able to identify an interest, develop knowledge and skills and pursue real-world opportunities that put them ahead in their workforce careers. Whitehead said she believes industry certifications are valuable because “It’s a way for students to explore careers and possibly find an industry that they love all while developing highly employable skills.” As this year’s Elanco Veterinary Medical Applications Certification Teacher of the Year, iCEV congratulates Whitehead and her students for their achievement and dedication to career success.

Emilee Graves Black - Union County High School

iCEV congratulates, agricultural science teacher, Emilee Graves Black and her students at Union County High School for their accomplishment and dedication to academic and career success. 

Tammy Griffith - Bullard ISD

Tammy Griffith, career preparation instructor at Bullard ISD in Texas, has been an educator for 12 years in which she believes industry certifications broaden students’ career horizons. Griffith implements the Express Employment Professionals Career Preparedness Certification in her Career Preparation 1 and 2 courses and successfully certified 48 students during the 2021-2022 school year. Griffith shared that students taking her courses either have a good idea of the career path they intend to pursue or have no idea where their interests connect to a career. “Not all students are college bound,” Griffith said, “the Express Career Preparedness certification allows my students to explore diverse career opportunities and align their interests and skills to a possible career.” By earning this certification, Griffith believes her students broaden their career horizons by expanding their perspective of available career opportunities and how their interests lead to a career.

After Griffith’s students earned their certification, they then create a professional portfolio outlining what the students learned during the certification process. At the end of the portfolio, students include their physical certification and are able to use the portfolio when pursuing jobs while in high school or upon graduation. Griffith said, “industry certifications open students’ eyes and provide them with the knowledge and skills necessary to help them see just how many options are available to them.” As this year’s Express Employment Professionals Career Preparedness Certification Teacher of the Year, iCEV congratulates Griffith and her students for their achievement and dedication to career success.

Molly Hall - Fruitvale Senior High School

Molly Hall, agricultural science teacher at Fruitvale Senior High School, has been a CTE educator for five years and believes implementing certifications helps students find their passion and place in education. Hall implements the HBAA Residential Construction Skills Certification in her principles of construction course and is the top certifying teacher for the certification in the nation for the 2021-2022 school year. Hall shared that last year she had a student who was extremely reserved, shy and always seemed to be the odd one out in class. As the school year went into full swing, Hall began to notice a gradual shift in the student as they began pursuing their certification.

“By their senior year last year, you wouldn't even recognize they were the same student,” Hall said, “She was not your typical ag student, but she found something she wanted to make a career out of and found her place in our department, and for that, I’m so proud,” Hall believes implementing a certification in her course not only made learning more engaging for her students but helped those students who perhaps struggle in core classes find their place in education. As this year’s Home Builders Association of Alabama Residential Construction Skills Certification Teacher of the Year, iCEV congratulates Hall and her students for their achievement and dedication to career success.

Audrey Bonomi - Sanger High School

Audrey Bonomi, agricultural science teacher at Sanger High School, has been an educator for 25 years, in which she implements the NCLCA Principles of Livestock Selection and Evaluation certification in her animal science courses. Bonomi successfully certified 55 students during the 2021-2022 school year and believes industry certifications benefit how students approach their education. “Earning a certification is challenging work for students,” Bonomi said, “however, the connection between school and the career world created by industry certifications widens students’ perspective and understanding of how learning supports their future career.” Bonomi shared that she had a student this past year who went above and beyond to earn their certification. “I had a student who was extremely intelligent but lacked focus in terms of career preparation,” Bonomi said, “as soon as I started certification work, he began staying after school and studying in his spare time because he began to see how the opportunity could affect his career journey.”

Bonomi implements industry certification work into everyday learning to reinforce the hands-on learning component of modern CTE programs. “I think my students better understand the career world and what is expected of them as a result of earning this industry certification,” Bonomi said. As this year’s National Collegiate Livestock Coaches’ Association Principles of Livestock Selection & Evaluation Certification Teacher of the Year, iCEV congratulates Bonomi and her students for their achievement and dedication to career success.

Stephanie Brock - John M Stuart Career Tech High School

Stephanie Brock, agricultural science teacher at Stuart Career Tech High School, has been an educator for eight years and believes implementing certifications better engaged her students in their learning. Brock implements the National Horse Judging Team Coaches’ Association (NHJTCA) Equine Management & Evaluation Certification in her equine science class and is the top certifying teacher for the certification in the nation for the 2021-2022 school year. “I infuse certification work into all of my lessons; my students gain a lot of knowledge and experience when I intertwine certification and everyday class work,” said Brock.

iCEV congratulates its 2021-2022 Certification Teacher of the Year award winners for their dedication to implementing industry certifications in their classrooms and passion for developing students’ knowledge and skills to advance their career readiness. Learn more about industry certifications and how to implement them in your CTE classroom, by visiting our website for more information or to contact your local curriculum consultant.