David Holt is a distinguished educator and leader with over four decades of unwavering commitment to student achievement and the advancement of Career and Technical Education (CTE). A tireless advocate for excellence in education, David has played a pivotal role in shaping CTE programs that equip students with the skills and confidence to thrive in today’s workforce.

As President of the Guidance Division, David has earned respect for his visionary leadership and strategic communication. Under his leadership, the division has strengthened its support for counselors and educators, promoting best practices in career guidance and student development.

David’s career reflects a deep dedication to mentorship and advocacy. As a career coach, he has guided countless students toward meaningful and sustainable career paths, transforming aspirations into tangible outcomes. His impact extends statewide through his service as Past Vice President and Board Member of the Alabama Education Association (AEA), where he championed policies that uplift educators and advance the quality of public education across Alabama.

A vital force behind workforce development initiatives, David serves on the Leadership Team for the Alabama SkillsUSA organization, working alongside high school and college officers to develop innovative programming that fosters technical proficiency and leadership excellence. His steadfast commitment to CTE and student empowerment continues to shape the future of Alabama’s workforce.

David Holt’s career is marked by a legacy of service, leadership, and an enduring belief in the transformative power of education.

Teresa Billingsley is an accomplished educator with 26 years of experience in Alabama’s public-school system. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Athens State University, as well as a Master’s degree and an Ed.S. in Business/Marketing Education from Alabama A&M University. Teresa currently teaches Career Preparedness, Hospitality Management and Marketing at Colbert Heights High School in Tuscumbia. Her leadership roles include serving most recently as president-elect of the Alabama Association for Career and Technical Education (ALACTE) Executive Board, following her previous role as the Marketing Section President. She also advises Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA) and Future Teachers of Alabama (FTA), and serves as a CHHS Upward Bound tutor with Northwest Shoals Community College. Prior to becoming a DECA advisor in 2018, she served as a Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) advisor. Under her leadership, two of her DECA students, Samuel Ray and Noah Sanderson, won first place in Sports and Entertainment Marketing at the Alabama DECA Career Development Conference.

Teresa is an EVERFI Champion Teacher, Jump$tart advocate, and participant in the Teen Teach- In program. She has also received extensive economic and personal finance training through the Alabama Council on Economic Education (ACEE) and the Federal Reserve Bank of Birmingham. Recognized for her contributions, Teresa received the 2018–2019 State DECA New Teacher of the Year award along with numerous other awards and honors. She is deeply passionate about preparing middle and high school students for success in college and careers. Her hands-on teaching approach emphasizes real-world applications, and she continuously seeks innovative methods to engage and inspire her students. A particularly memorable moment of her career was being elected “Faculty Queen” by her students.

Outside of teaching, Teresa enjoys dancing, reading, and spending time with her daughter, Mi-Tresa, who recently graduated from Alabama A&M University with a degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD), specializing in Speech-Language Pathology.

Dr. Jason Morgan, a native of Cherokee, Alabama, grew up on a family farm where he developed a strong work ethic and an appreciation for agriculture. A graduate of Cherokee High School (1996), Jason earned a degree in Landscape Design Horticulture from Auburn University in 2002. After returning to his family farm, he discovered his passion for teaching while substituting for his father in Agriscience Education.

Jason pursued a Master’s in Agriscience Education from Alabama A&M University, earning his teaching certificate in 2008. In 2009, he joined Florence Middle School (FMS) as a Career Discoveries teacher, where he has taught for 16 years. During this time, he earned both an Ed.S. (2012) and a Ph.D. (2015) in Career and Technical Education from Auburn University. He also serves as the FMS Technology Student Association advisor and Robotics Team sponsor.

Jason, his wife Brooke, and their five children enjoy spending time outdoors hunting, fishing, and boating. As a passionate advocate for Career and Technical Education (CTE), Jason serves as ALACTE president, championing the critical role of CTE programs and teachers in preparing Alabama’s workforce for the future.

Cynthia S. "Cindy" McConnell is a dedicated healthcare and education professional with an impressive 46-year career as a registered nurse and over three decades of involvement in career and technical education. She currently serves as the Interim Executive Director of the Alabama Association for Career and Technical Education (ALACTE), a position that allows her to continue her advocacy for career development and workforce readiness. Cindy has been a passionate member of ALACTE for more than 30 years, contributing to the organization's growth and impact across the state.

As a retired Health Science Teacher from Etowah High School in Attalla, Alabama, Cindy spent 26½ years shaping the careers of countless students. She was instrumental in founding the high school’s Health Science program, which has produced many healthcare professionals who work in hospitals, long-term care facilities, veterinary practices, mortuaries, and other medical settings.

Throughout her career, Cindy has held numerous leadership roles within ALACTE, including serving as Health Science Division President, President Elect, President, Past President, and Secretary/Treasurer. She has also contributed at the national level as Health Science Vice President on the National ACTE Board. Her exceptional contributions to education have earned her two Lifetime Achievement Awards from the State and Region II, and she was proudly inducted into the inaugural ACTE Hall of Fame.

Cindy's lifelong commitment to health science education and workforce development continues to make a lasting impact on students, educators, and healthcare professionals across Alabama.

Felicia Williams, a native of New Site, Alabama, is a dedicated Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) educator. She graduated with an Advanced Diploma from Horseshoe Bend School in 1993, an Associate’s Degree in Arts from Central Alabama Community College in 1995, and a B.S. in Home Economics Education from Auburn University in 1997. Felicia began her teaching career at Elmore County High School before returning to Horseshoe Bend School, her alma mater, in 2006.

Over the years, she has revitalized the FCS program and FCCLA at Horseshoe Bend, introducing innovative courses such as Sports Nutrition and securing impactful credentials like ServSafe Manager and Guest Services for her students. Felicia's work has helped students succeed in state and national competitions, gain valuable skills, and participate in meaningful community service projects.

As a leader in the profession, Felicia has served as President of AATFCS (2015–2017), participated in numerous professional committees, and actively promotes FCS and Career and Technical Education. She resides in Alexander City, Alabama, with her husband, David, and enjoys sewing, decorating, crafting, and yard work in her free time.

Kimberly Mitchell is the current ALACTE Secretary and the ALACTE Region II Policy Committee representative. She is a past president of ALACTE and a 2016 ACTE National Leadership Fellow. Ms. Mitchell is the immediate past President of the Alabama Association of Teachers of Family and Consumer Sciences (AATFCS). She has served in various leadership roles on the national level as a member of the ACTE FCS Division Policy Committee and the National Association Teachers of Family and Consumer Sciences (NATFCS) Board of Directors. Ms. Mitchell has taught on the k-12 level for over 20 years before moving to her current role as CTE Program Chair (FCS Education & Business Marketing Education) at Jacksonville State University in Jacksonville, Alabama.

Ms. Mitchell is honored to assist future CTE teachers as they move through their educational programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels. She believes in educators becoming advocates for themselves, their students, their programs, and their profession. She knows the importance of having a quality mentor. She has spent her career providing mentorship to other educators to pay forward all that has been given to her during her career. A product of career technical education herself, she knows there is true power in CTE, and what opportunities it can provide for students.

Bio coming soon!

Bio coming soon!

Laycie Bunt is an experienced agriscience educator and FFA advisor, currently in her 24th year of teaching at Pell City High School. Throughout her tenure, Laycie has had the privilege of educating multiple generations of students, instilling in them a deep understanding of the vital role the agricultural industry plays in providing the world with food, fiber, and natural resources.

A proud graduate of Auburn University, Laycie holds dual degrees in Agricultural Business and Economics and Agricultural Education. Her dedication to the field extends beyond the classroom. Over the years, she has contributed to the revision of Alabama's state agricultural curriculum and actively participates in several professional organizations, including Auburn University Women in Ag, the St. Clair County Farmers Federation, and the Alabama FFA Foundation Board. Laycie has also served as the Central District FFA Advisor, further demonstrating her commitment to shaping the future of agricultural education in Alabama.

Laycie and her husband, Rodney, are members of Cropwell Baptist Church. As a member of the ALACTE Board, she is passionate about advocating for agricultural educators across the state, striving to bring a strong, unified voice for agricultural education within Career and Technical Education.

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Bio coming soon!

Amethyst Vineyard is a graduate of the University of Alabama at Birmingham with a degree in Professional Writing and Public Discourse and of the University of Montevallo with a Master's in Secondary Family and Consumer Sciences Education. Amethyst began her teaching career at Sylacauga High School before transitioning to Chilton County High School. Throughout her teaching career, she has had the opportunity to teach in all three FCS career clusters: Human Services, Hospitality and Tourism, and Education and Training.

Amethyst served on the Course of Study committees for Education and Training and Human Services and helped to craft Plans of Instruction for the new Hospitality and Tourism course of study. In 2024 Amethyst was installed as the President of ALACTE's FCS Division, the Alabama Association for Teachers of Family and Consumer Sciences (AATFCS). Amethyst also serves as the secretary for the Alabama Association for Family and Consumer Sciences.

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Chevelle Thomas is an experienced military professional and educator with over 28 years of leadership in the U.S. Army and education. She currently serves as the Director of Army Instruction for Mobile County Public School System where she has direct oversight of 12 JROTC high school Army and Navy JROTC programs and 15 LOTC middle school programs. Prior to moving to the district level, she was the Senior Army Instructor for Murphy High School in Mobile, Alabama, where under her leadership, the program earned Honor Unit with Distinction for five consecutive years.

A dedicated advocate for education and youth development, Chevelle has mentored hundreds of students, helping them secure ROTC and academic scholarships, while fostering leadership, discipline, and civic responsibility. Her military career includes key roles in strategic communications, media relations, and crisis management, notably as the Director of Communications and Public Affairs at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, where she led media initiatives that achieved a 23-year high Nielsen rating for the Army-Navy game.

Chevelle holds a Master of Science in Administration from Central Michigan University and a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Xavier University of Louisiana. She is also a certified Army JROTC Instructor and has completed extensive professional development in leadership, education, and public affairs. She has received numerous honors over the years to include the Golden Apple Teacher Award and the Ancient Order of Saint Gabriel Medal for Public Affairs, recognizing her outstanding contributions to education and service. She is also a two-time Bronze Star recipient from her deployment to both Afghanistan and Iraq in support of the Global War on Terrorism.

Bio coming soon!

Bio coming soon!