Sheri Deaton, U of A clinical instructor of family and consumer sciences, was recently honored as the Region IV Teacher Educator of the Year at the annual Association for Career and Technical Education conference.

This award is given to professionals who have demonstrated innovation in teacher education, leadership in improving career and technical education, and a commitment to preparing teachers to deliver high-quality programs.

Deaton had been named the Arkansas ACTE Teacher Educator of the Year in 2020, so she advanced to the regional competition this spring. Each state sends one representative per award for the regional competition. Region IV includes Arkansas, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas and New Mexico. Deaton received letters of support from students and administrators, and she completed an interview with the committee.

Deaton will now advance to the national competition at ACTE's Career Tech VISION conference which will be held in December in New Orleans. There are five regions in the United States.

Deaton is a nationally board-certified teacher with 18 years of experience in career and technical education. Prior to joining the U of A College of Education and Health Professions in 2016, Deaton taught family and consumer sciences education at the high school and middle school levels for 13 years while actively advising students involved in Family, Career and Community Leaders of America.

The last five years, she has served as an instructor, mentor and supervisor for teacher candidates pursuing teaching certifications related to business education, technology education and family and consumer sciences education at the U of A. Her role involves developing and implementing curriculum to meet the diverse needs of these teacher candidates, supervising teaching internships, serving as faculty adviser for family and consumer sciences teacher candidates, and developing content for courses offered through the college.

Deaton also serves on a variety of state boards and has assisted the Arkansas Department of Education with creating standards for courses in family and consumer sciences planned for the upcoming year. She frequently provides professional development for new family and consumer science teachers across the state.

Bobbi Bodenhamer, one of Deaton's former students, recommended her for the award. She said Deaton is an innovator who knows how to keep her students engaged and fully prepares them to lead their own classrooms after graduation.

"Sheri Deaton is a tremendous educator who works not only to serve her students and the University of Arkansas but the entire CTE community," Bodenhamer wrote. "She is pragmatic, inventive and willing to share these insights to better all teachers and students."

Betsy Orr, coordinator for the U of A Career and Technical Education program, said Deaton is an esteemed faculty member. Best of all, she said, the program's students "have a mentor who believes in doing your best, believes in best practices and is truly dedicated to the profession."