Gulf Coast Tech Prep Consortium has begun an annual outstanding CTE administrator award this year to show appreciation for the dedicated and awesome job they perform for the students in our service Region. Nominations are received from the administrator’s peers and review by an independent panel to select the most outstanding nominee.

This year’s most outstanding nominee was Allen Kaminski from Sealy ISD. Allen was formally an Agriculture Science teacher before he became the current CTE Director for Sealy ISD. He has been at the forefront of implementing many programs and activities that are benefiting the students in Sealy ISD that not only allows them to be aware of career possibilities but have the opportunities to receive quality training in their respective career aspirations. There are career activities in the elementary school, and intermediate school; career assessments in the junior high school; "Eight Grade Career Day"; and multiple opportunities in high school to pursue their career goals. Allen and the Sealy ISD Technology Director developed an electronic career plan of study that allows students to develop their own career plan of study. The system also provides data that allows for a system of evaluating the needs and progress of students at Sealy high school. At the 2007 NCLA/ACTE Best Practice Conference, the Sealy ISD Career Plan of Study system was awarded a top ten best practice award. Allen has been successful in finding partners to provide additional resources and opportunities for the Sealy High School students. He also hosted a TSTC road show which resulted in $10,000 worth of scholarships for Sealy high school students. He organized an Austin County Industry Tour for Sealy ISD seniors and got a Target grant to cover the expenses. Allen works with the WorkSource to assist seniors who need financial aid in workforce training and many of them have received assistance in receiving forklift, machining and welding workforce training. He has coordinated a workforce/technical dual credit welding course with Blinn College at Sealy High School for adult education and high school students. A workforce grant for $10,500 provided funds for additional welding equipment that helped to accommodate the large number of enrollees. Helping students identify potential scholarship possibilities and completing the applications is one of the many activities where Allen directly assists students. Last year, the students he assisted were awarded $72,000 in scholarships. Allen has worked to add opportunities for students to earn multiple industry certifications. Students can earn industry certifications in almost any career path they pursue at Sealy High School. Allen is strong proponent of providing a workable plan of study that extends beyond high school for every student and Tech Prep is a major component of providing this opportunity at Sealy High School. He currently has Tech Pre agreements with Blinn College, Lone Star College System and TSTC.Allen is dedicated to career and technical education. He wants Sealy ISD Students to be prepared and successful for college, technical school or the workforce after graduation. Allen always says, "All students will enter the workforce one day and we need to make sure they are ready."