Battle Ground Public Schools’ director of career and technical education, Cindy Arnold, was recently named the recipient of the Region V Administrator of the Year award by the Association for Career and Technical Education.
Arnold is one of five finalists vying for the national title in 2023, which will be announced on Nov. 30, stated a news release.
Arnold launched middle school CTE programs. She created design modeling and robotics classes that combine woodworking with science, technology, engineering and math. The program is now offered at all of the district’s six middle schools, stated the release.
Besides the CTE programs, Arnold designed other classes focused on HVAC, plumbing and electrical, computer programming, and math that’s catered to health care professionals, the release stated. She also developed the district’s STEM strategic plan, which is used as a model in other districts.
Arnold previously served as the principal at Captain Strong Primary School, where she created a program to help students hone their skills. The students served as greeters when their peers entered the building in the morning, led assemblies, became recess monitors, and participated in teacher interviews, according to the release.
“We should be providing a wide range of learning experiences for all of our students, spanning many different career tracks, fields and industries,” Arnold stated in the release. “This type of learning should not be reserved for CTE and seventh through 12th grades alone.”
Arnold was also the former assistant principal and athletic director at Prairie High School, and also taught business classes at Clark College and Columbia River High School. Her experience in the private sector included work as an office manager and as a biological laboratory technician, the release stated.
Arnold holds a bachelor’s degree in business and biology education from Truman State University and a master’s degree in educational leadership from Washington State University, stated the release.
The Administrator of the Year award recognizes administrative CTE professionals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership in ensuring teacher and student success. The award also focuses on the contributions people have made toward innovative, unique and effective career and technical education programs at the school, district, county, state or federal level.
