NOVA Adjunct Kimberly Wilson Named ACTE Teacher of the Year

The Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) announced Kimberly Wilson, a NOVA adjunct professor, and a family and consumer sciences teacher at the Alexandria City Public School System in Alexandria, VA as the 2020 National ACTE Teacher of the Year. This award recognizes the finest career and technical education teachers at the middle/secondary school level who have demonstrated innovation in the classroom, commitment to their students and dedication to the improvement of CTE in their institutions and communities. Previously, Kimberly won the 2019 ACTE Region II Teacher of the Year Award.

In her words: “What I do, I do for us as teachers.”

‘Here we are, I just get up and do what I do every morning and I don’t think about it. I go in and enjoy being with my students. I know all of us work long hours, and we get back up and do it all over again. I’m very humbled and blessed to represent my colleagues in this. It’s hard to accept all the accolades. I just do it.

My goal is to always put the students first and to always collaborate with my colleagues. I believe that is important for us to survive. I thank them for the opportunity to be able to serve and represent that we all stand for our kids. That’s what we do.

When I reflect back on it, I think about my years in schooling, I remember all my teachers, and the impact they left. That’s the impact I want to leave. I’m an advocate of children and I’m an advocate of teachers. If we don’t stand for each other, then we can’t continue to do what we continue to do. I’m the first Family and Consumer Science teacher, and African American woman ACTE Teacher of the Year Award winner. I want to say that ‘the skies the limit’ for diverse students to do this.’

In her journey, Kimberly Wilson first won the regional award for Virginia, and then won representing region II, to then the national award. She will be going to policy council, and has been placed on the board for the ACTE.

For the past 28 years, Wilson has served students and families of the Alexandria City Public School system, first at the middle level and, most recently, for nine years at the high school level. Wilson currently teaches Early Childhood Education and Virginia Teachers for Tomorrow in the Family and Consumer Sciences Department to students who are interested in pursuing a career in the profession of education. In addition to teaching, Wilson is also a Mentor Coordinator for new teachers in her building. She understands the importance of modeling and supporting new teachers.

Kimberly Wilson will be the keynote speaker next year at the ACTE National Conference in Nashville, Tennessee at the Gaylord in December.