Alison Reece
ALEXANDRIA, Virginia — The Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) announced recently that Alison Reece, early childhood education teacher at Region Two School of Applied Technology in Houlton, as the 2016 Region I New Teacher of the Year.
This award recognizes CTE teachers with 3-5 years’ experience (at the middle, secondary or postsecondary level) who have made significant contributions toward innovative and unique career and technical education programs and shown a professional commitment early in their careers.
A former alum and student of the year at Region Two School of Applied Technology in Houlton, Maine, Reece returned after earning her bachelor’s and master’s degrees to lead the school’s Early Childhood Education (ECE) program.
In her four years as an instructor, she has coached two of the school-wide students of the year, as well as the school’s first two state SkillsUSA gold medal winners. She has instituted national/state standards within her program — National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and Maine Roads to Quality (MRTQ) — which have created more opportunities for dual enrollment and articulation agreements with higher education institutions while raising the level of proficiency for her students.
More than 75 percent of Reece’s students have aspired to careers in ECE or post-secondary advanced studies with full student completions for her graduating seniors.
Reece spearheaded a unique business/education partnership when she negotiated Region Two as a host site for the county’s Head Start program. Her high school students now assist with preparing and serving lunches and providing early childhood education and care to 3-5 year old children from low-income families, putting into practice what they learn in their classroom. The partnership now serves as a model for other CTE centers in Maine, several of which are considering implementing a similar program.
Reece has chaired a committee to institute a school-wide rubric that all teachers can use in their CTE programs to meet Maine’s new proficiency-based diploma requirements.
“Alison has a solid understanding of people of all ages which has gained her respect from co-workers, staff, and students alike,” said Dale Thibodeau, educational technician at Region Two School of Applied Technology. “She is one of the best educators that I have had the pleasure to share a classroom with.”
Reece is one of five finalists for the 2017 national title. The national winner will be announced at the ACTE Awards Banquet, a dinner and award presentation recognizing the best CTE educators in the country. The event will take place on Wednesday evening, Nov. 30, during ACTE’s CareerTech VISION 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Awards Banquet is sponsored by Express Employment Professionals, the US Army, CareerSafe, Certiport, Stratasys, and International Baccalaureate.
