Dr. Katie Graham has served as the State Director for Career & Technical Education (CTE) at the Nebraska Department of Education since 2018. In this role, she administers the Strengthening Career & Technical Education for the 21st Century Act by providing state-level leadership in career and technical education, school improvement, instruction and data utilization for Nebraska’s schools and community colleges. Katie is adamant that every student has an equitable opportunity to participate and thrive in Nebraska’s CTE programs and that these programs afford students the academic and technical skills needed for their career pathway of choice. 

Katie is extensively involved in the coordination of activities between education, workforce, and economic development initiatives in the state and nationally. Along with serving on the Advance CTE Board of Directors, she also serves as a Trustee for the MBA Research and Curriculum Center and is past Chair of the Nebraska Partner Council – a collaboration between representatives of federal programs from the Departments of Education, Labor, Economic Development, and Health and Human Service. This Council works to create cross-sector partnerships and streamline efforts between programs to provide the most effective and efficient services to Nebraskans.

Prior to this role, Dr. Graham served as the Deputy State Director and the Data, Research, and Evaluation Specialist for Nebraska Career Education. Prior to joining the Nebraska Department of Education, she oversaw the development and administration of credit, non-credit, and continuing education programs for campus-based and online degree and certificate programs at Florida State University’s Center for Professional Development.

Thalea Longhurst, Vice President

Thalea Longhurst serves as the State Director of Career and Technical Education for Utah.  She is responsible for administering all aspects of the career and technical education programs offered throughout Utah in public education K-12. Thalea is also responsible for providing leadership for programs provided under the Strengthening Career & Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (Perkins V) which includes both secondary schools and post-secondary institutions in Utah. Thalea maintains close working relationships with schools, community and state agencies, and area businesses and industries in order to provide training consistent with needs and to obtain and communicate information required to facilitate quality CTE programs. She is an advocate for high-quality CTE and ensuring that all students have access to valuable CTE opportunities.

Prior to her appointment in 2014, Thalea served in other capacities at the Utah State Board of Education including as a Coordinator over CTE Programs and Financial Accountability and as an Education Specialist overseeing Health Science Education.  She also served on the Executive Committee and Board of Directors for the National Consortium for Health Science Education including four years as the Chair. Prior to coming to the Utah State Board of Education, Thalea taught health science courses in high school and worked in school district administration for fifteen years. She has also worked at the University of Utah Hospitals and Clinics in various management and clinical positions.  Thalea earned bachelor's and master's degrees in Exercise and Sports Science from the University of Utah along with her School Administration license from Utah State University. 

Laura Scheibe, Past President 

Laura Scheibe serves as South Dakota’s Director for Career and Technical Education and the Director of the Division of College, Career, and Student Success at the South Dakota Department of Education (SD DOE). In that capacity, she oversees secondary CTE programs and coordinates closely with the Board of Technical Education to oversee the state’s four public technical colleges. She also guides Jobs for America’s Graduates – South Dakota, school counseling, dual credit, student wellness and supports, and other initiatives that work together to ensure students are prepared for success after graduation. Previously, she was the Deputy Director of the Division of Accountability Systems at SD DOE, running the state’s ESEA accountability process and accreditation of K-12 schools.  She led the work to craft South Dakota’s Every Student Succeeds Act state plan; South Dakota’s Vision for CTE, the state’s plan under Perkins V; and works closely on the state’s educational response to COVID-19 and investment of stimulus funding.

Before returning to the Midwest, Ms. Scheibe served for more than a decade as a Foreign Service Officer with the U.S. Department of State, in assignments both overseas and in Washington, D.C. She has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln and a graduate certificate from the University of South Dakota. Ms. Scheibe serves on the boards of a variety of professional and community organizations. She and her husband Aaron are raising their two young sons in Pierre.