Michelle Hill Williams, a teacher at Mathews County Public Schools, has been named the Association for Career and Technical Education’s 2026 ACTE Region II New Teacher of the Year and is now a finalist for the national award.She had previously received the same honor from the Virginia ACTE.
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.
Williams is one of five finalists for the 2026 national title. The national winner will be announced at the ACTE Awards Gala, an award presentation recognizing the best CTE educators in the country. The event will take place on Dec. 9 in Nashville, Tenn.
Her story
After the challenges of teaching online during COVID, Williams knew she needed a new direction in her career. In March 2022, she passed the additional licensure test to teac...