Recently, Ashley Catrett, director of Career and Technical Education for Crenshaw County Schools, received an award nomination from the Alabama Association of Career and Technical Education (AACTE) in the division of health science. Shortly after her nomination, Catrett was notified that she had officially been chosen as the AACTE winner of the Administrator of the Year Award in the division of health science.

“I guess I can say that I was lucky enough that health science chose me to represent them as their Administrator of the Year,” Catrett said.

“I was very, very surprised. It is definitely an honor to be chosen to represent the health science division, because there are so many wonderful directors in the state. And there are so many wonderful health science programs in particular that it is certainly an honor.”

Catrett has worked with Crenshaw County Schools for 10 years. During that time, she served as an administrator at Brantley High School for five years and then became a Central Office director. She has been over Career and Technical Education for three years.

Last summer while attending an AACTE conference, Catrett stated that teachers were given the chance to nominate others in their divisions for awards, such as Teacher of the Year, Administrator of the Year and more. While many received anonymous nominations, Catrett’s came from within the Crenshaw County family.

Becky Cornelius, health science instructor for Crenshaw County Schools, has worked with Catrett for five years, and cannot think of a person more deserving of this award.

“I personally have been under Mrs. Catrett’s direction for five years and she works tirelessly for Career and Technical Education in Crenshaw County,” Cornelius said.

“I know I can always call on her for her assistance and guidance, and I value her opinions and most importantly her leadership and professionalism. Her children are products of Career and Technical Education and she pushes for our county’s programs to be the best of the best. We all feel blessed to have her as our leader in Crenshaw County.”

The winner of the award will be determined at the next AACTE meeting. For now, Catrett is competing against the Administrators of the Year nominated from other divisions.

If she is selected as the state Administrator of the Year, she will then go on to compete at the national level.

While there have been many moments she has treasured over the past few years, her most rewarding came with seeing the Career Technical students and teachers recognized on the state and national levels. According to Catrett, she is proud to know that students in Crenshaw County are representing their county well in both state and national competitions.

“I definitely don’t feel worthy of the honor, but I do know that it’s easy to be the director of great program when you have great students and great teachers,” Catrett said.

“I just feel that’s what we’re blessed with here in Crenshaw County, so they make my job as director that much easier. This will serve as a reminder that good works do not go unnoticed. If you stay focused on the right things, like ding what’s right for kids and planning for the future, those good works will be rewarded.”