HURON — The South Dakota Association of Career and Technical Education announces that Jolene Konechne, Director of ESL, CTE, Federal Programs and Accreditation at the Huron School District, has been named SDACTE Administrator of the Year.  

This award recognizes administrative CTE professionals who have demonstrated leadership in ensuring teacher and student success and have made significant contributions to CTE programs.

She has implemented high quality CTE programs to ensure student and teacher success by restructuring the CTE Advisory Board to include all programs communicating with industry partners, which has led to industry tours, job shadows, internships, and financial support from those partners. She has also been instrumental in laying a strong foundation in business and community partnerships, including the creation of a Business and Career Fair for high school students as well as community members.  

She also advocates connecting students to the world of work. Under her direction, she partnered with the S.D. Department of Labor to utilize the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity program to provide ELS (English Learners) Summer School with interns.These interns completed orientation with her and completed reflections, interviews, and an evaluation with their cooperating teacher.

As a result, some of those students confirmed their desire to enter the education profession and others are exploring work-based learning opportunities in other program areas.

In fall 2022, the Health Science program was expanded to include two new courses:  Gateway to CNA and Introduction EMS.  Students were surveyed asking what CTE course they would be most interested in, and as a result two new programs were added. Konechne has also written multiple successful grants that have benefited students, staff members, and added equipment for several CTE programs.

Konechne now qualifies to compete for the Region V ACTE Administrator of the Year. The Region V Conference will be held in Honolulu, Hawaii, April 9-12, 2024.