Ann Tew, Health Science Technology teacher at Brownwood High School (pictured above) was named the 2013 Outstanding New Career and Technology Education (CTE) Teacher for Texas on December 18th, 2013. Each of the seven professional CTE organizations of Texas submitted a nominee for this award to the Texas Career and Technology Council (TCTC). The purpose of TCTC is to have one unified voice supporting CTE programs. The board of TCTC is made up of two representatives of each of the seven organizations:
• Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers Association of Texas
• Marketing Educators of Texas
• Texas Business Technology Educators Association
• Texas Health Occupations Association
• Texas Industrial Vocational Association
• Texas Technology and Engineering Educators
• Vocational Agriculture Teachers Association Texas
To be considered for this award, Mrs. Tew was responsible for creating an extensive portfolio explaining and documenting the implementation and progression of the Health Science Technology program at Brownwood High School. The portfolio also included personal and professional accomplishments throughout her 33 year career as a registered nurse. Mrs. Tew was selected by the TCTC as the recipient of the award and will represent Texas CTE at the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) Region IV annual conference to be held in New Orleans, LA April 9 – 11, 2014.
The National ACTE is divided geographically into five regions. Texas is one of six states in ACTE Region IV. The other five states, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Mississippi also will send a nominee to the annual ACTE Region IV Conference in April. The winner of Region IV awards will advance to the National ACTE Awards ceremony.
The Health Science Technology program at Brownwood High School is in it’s fifth year and continues to increase in student involvement. The Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) produced a record membership this year of 110 students. Eighty of these students participated in the district level online testing in December, with 25 of these students advancing to the area competition in Abilene January 17th and 18th. A total of 51 students will be competing in Abilene, though not all students are required to take an online district exam to qualify for area.
Four students took the Area Officer Exam in December, with Brady Taylor and Journey Buitron advancing to Area 5 for officer elections. Journey will be running for Area 5 Vice-President and Brady will be seeking the position of Area 5 Secretary. This is the first time Brownwood students have been eligible to run for an area officer position.
So far this year, Brownwood HOSA has raised money for Hope From the Heart, a children’s non-profit organization that lends monetary assistance to Brown County children afflicted with cancer, and The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. HOSA students manned the dunking booth at the Brownwood Reunion with the help of numerous BISD employees, and were able to present a check for $300 to Hope From the Heart.
Another event, Movie Night at Gordon Wood Stadium, raised additional funds allowing Brownwood HOSA to present $100 to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
Besides raising funds, Brownwood HOSA, under the leadership of Ann Tew and Annalyn Deen, has volunteered at Northwest Elementary School’s Fall Festival and the Santa Store.
“They [TCTC] were very impressed with the fact that this program is only five years old, and that we’ve grown exponentially,” said Tew. “Our program’s success wouldn’t be possible without the incredible support we receive from our district.”