Hugh Roberts, 2014 Excellence in Action Award winner

CHARLESTON, W.V. - The West Virginia Board of Education (WVBE) during its monthly meeting applauded Tolsia High Career and Technical Education (CTE) carpentry teacher, Hugh Roberts, for his instrumental role in achieving the 2014 Excellence in Action award at the National Career Clusters Institute in Phoenix, Arizona.

The National Association of State Directors for CTE honors and recognizes superior CTE programs from around the nation based on their unique, inventive and effective approaches to stimulating student learning, raising student achievement, offering extensive work-based learning experiences and increasing students' postsecondary and career prospects through career-ready skills. As a result of Roberts' leadership and dedication, Wayne County's Tolsia High School's Carpentry Program, The Rebel Construction Company, won in the Architecture and Construction Career Cluster for its highly successful integration of its existing program of study into an innovative Simulated Workplace.

The West Virginia Department of Education's (WVDE) Simulated Workplace is an initiative created by the Division of Technical, Adult and Institutional Education to enhance CTE programs across the state by bringing together numerous businesses, post-secondary institutions, Workforce West Virginia and educators. Simulated Workplace creates a classroom environment that mirrors a professional workplace and integrates ongoing career counseling services into students' overall program of study.

"Simulated Workplace added a whole new dimension of personal responsibility and accountability for Mr. Roberts and the students in the Tolsia High's CTE program," said Dr. Kathy D'Antoni, Associate State Superintendent of Schools Division of Technical, Adult and Institutional Education Services for the WVDE. "They deserve the national Excellence in Action award and recognition for their hard work and successfully living up to the high expectations of the program.”

"Mr. Roberts is an outstanding teacher and leader and has a consistent record of high achievement and postsecondary placement among his students," said WVBE Board President Gayle Manchin. "The Excellence in Action award is a true testimony to Robert's success in leading the way in improving both the practice and perception of CTE programs."

"I am so honored to receive this prestigious award," Roberts said. "However, the award is more of a reflection of our program and school than it is of me. I wouldn't be able to do it without these students."

Details about Tolsia Carpentry/Rebel Construction Simulated Workplace and the Excellence in Action award can be found at http://static.k12.wv.us/news/2014/tolsia-cte.pdf.

For more information, contact Liza Cordeiro in the WVDE Communication Office at (304) 558-2699.

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