Grand Forks educators Cara Davis and Eric Ripley named state ACTE award recipients – Grand Forks Herald

GRAND FORKS – Two educators in the Grand Forks school district have received awards from the North Dakota Association for Career and Technical Education.

Cara Davis, a career and technical education teacher, has been named the New Teacher of the Year and the New Teacher of the Year in Counseling and Career Development.

Eric Ripley, executive director of career and technical education for Grand Forks Public Schools – a position he has held since 2009 – has been named Administrator of the Year.

The awards were announced during the NDACTE Professional Development Conference in Bismarck.

The Administrator of the Year award recognizes administrative 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 to innovative, unique and effective career and technical education programs.

Ripley has served as director of career and technical education for the Grand Forks Area Career and Technology Center since 2012. In this role, he has demonstrated remarkable ability to foster collaboration among stakeholders, and advocate for increased funding and resources, according to the award announcement.

He has also been extensively involved with the Association for Career and Technical Education at the national, regional and state levels. At the national level, he has served on several key committees and task forces.

Ripley has held leadership positions in the Region V level, serving on the policy committee representing North Dakota, and as chair of the legislative committee. His contributions to the region have been invaluable in shaping CTE initiatives and fostering collaboration among states, the announcement said. “(His) dedication, vision, exceptional leadership and unwavering commitment to student success has had a profound impact on the field of Career and Technical Education (CTE) and his contributions to the field of Career and Technical Education will be outlasting.”

Contributed

As an award-winner in two categories, Davis was recognized for significant contributions in innovative and unique approaches in career and technical education programs and counseling, and showing professional commitment early in her career.

Davis is completing her third year as a career advisor for Red River High School. To her role with the school district, she brought more than 15 years of experience at UND, working as a recruiter, instructor and assistant director of the TRIO Educational Opportunity Center.

Last year, she was named a certified employee of the year, which was remarkable given it was only her second year on staff in the district, officials said.

She has developed a passion for providing students guidance as they navigate their career development options, according to the award announcement.

Davis will advance at the Association for Career and Technical Education Region V Conference in April at Salt Lake City, Utah, where she’ll compete with other state winners from Region V.

The NDACTE named state award-winners in 10 categories, including New Teacher of the Year in Business Education, New Teacher of the Year in Family and Consumer Science, Counseling and Career Development Professional Award, Teacher of the Year, Post-Secondary Teacher of the Year, Lifetime Achievement Award and Innovative Program Award.