Silver Spring, MD – May 31, 2023 — Advance CTE, the national advocate and policy leader for state leaders responsible for secondary, postsecondary and adult Career Technical Education (CTE), today announced the Board of Directors has named Kate Kreamer as the organization’s new Executive Director. The appointment will be effective July 1. Kreamer will serve as just the fourth executive director in the organization’s 103 year history.
Kreamer joined Advance CTE in 2013 as the Associate Executive Director and was named the Deputy Executive Director in 2015. She has nearly two decades of experience in education policy, advocacy and communications. During her tenure at Advance CTE, Kreamer launched a dedicated body of work focused on state CTE policy, starting with the first State Policies Impacting CTE: Year in Review report in 2013 and led two CTE Forward Summits, a convening of nearly 200 stakeholders co-hosted by nine national organizations that most recently led to the publication of Without Limits: A Shared Vision for the Future of Career Technical Education in 2022. She has also coordinated the development of two Board of Director-approved strategic plans in 2016 and 2018 and secured philanthropic funding for numerous initiatives to support state leaders in innovating CTE programs and systems.
Kreamer’s selection follows the announcement earlier this year of the retirement of current Executive Director Kimberly Green after 30 years of service. Under Green’s leadership, Advance CTE enhanced its reputation as an advocate for high-quality and equitable CTE and as a consensus builder toward bold, systemic innovations — both of which have led to increased visibility and support for CTE. Among the notable accomplishments during her tenure include the creation of The National Career Clusters® Framework, the CTE: Learning that Works for America campaign and the Future of CTE summits, and the strengthened state role in and increased funding for the Carl D. Perkins Act. A nationally recognized CTE expert and passionate, effective advocate, she initiated the organization’s efforts to expand its focus on equity, specifically racial equity, and has had the distinction of all states being Advance CTE members for nearly all of her tenure.
“I am excited that Kate will be leading this new era of Advance CTE during what is a very promising time for the growth and impact of CTE,” stated Advance CTE Board of Directors President and South Dakota State CTE Director Laura Scheibe. “Kate has extensive knowledge of the policies and systems impacting state CTE leaders. She has also proven herself to be highly passionate and effective in supporting our members both to maximize the value of CTE for our nation’s workforce, and to develop effective partnerships that deepen our impact. With her leadership, we will continue our progress to realize a future where every learner can make CTE the centerpiece of their education and career journey.
We would not be where we are today without trailblazers such as Kimberly Green, who built the vision and national structures to transform CTE to be truly high-quality and accessible for learners, decades before it was practice to do so. On behalf of myself and the thousands of CTE leaders who have benefitted from her vast knowledge and mentorship over the past 30 years, I offer Kim our deepest gratitude and wish her all the best on her next chapter.”
Kimberly Green, Executive Director, Advance CTE: “It has been an incredible journey to lead Advance CTE for the past 30 years. I am proud of our organization’s hard-earned reputation as a trusted national leader that asks tough questions and takes the lead in transformational – and oftentimes difficult – work necessary to ensure the quality, relevancy and visibility of CTE. Our legacy of over a century of community, leadership and impact is a wonderful foundation for Kate and the team to continue to build upon. Kate and I worked side-by-side for a decade, and I am excited to see the organization thrive under her leadership. I will always be a champion of both CTE and Advance CTE and look forward to cheering Kate and the field on in the years to come.”
Incoming Executive Director Kate Kreamer on her selection: “Career Technical Education is more important and more in-demand than ever. I am honored and thrilled to have the opportunity to lead Advance CTE in its next chapter as a respected and impactful voice for high-quality and equitable CTE as a pillar of national education and workforce policy. Kimberly [Green] not only leaves a tremendous legacy to build upon, but she has also been a wonderful mentor to me in my journey to expand Advance CTE’s expertise and initiatives at the local, state and national levels. I am deeply committed to working with our members and partners to ensure every learner gets the full benefit of CTE and can find career success.”
Contact:
Stacy Whitehouse, Communications Manager
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Advance CTE is the longest-standing national non-profit that represents State Directors and state leaders responsible for secondary, postsecondary and adult Career Technical Education (CTE) across all 50 states and U.S. territories. Established in 1920, Advance CTE supports state CTE leadership to advance high-quality and equitable CTE policies, programs and pathways that ensure career and college success without limits for each learner.
