Dr. Donna Crouch named Kentucky Career and Technical Education Teacher Educator of the Year
By Jillian Smith | Aug 6, 2026
MURRAY, Ky. — Dr. Donna K. Crouch, director of Career and Technical Education and assistant professor at Murray State University, has been named the 2026 Kentucky Career and Technical Education (CTE) Teacher Educator of the Year by the Kentucky Association for Career and Technical Education (KACTE).
Presented during the 2026 KACTE Annual Summer Conference, the award recognizes an outstanding postsecondary educator who has demonstrated excellence in preparing future career and technical education professionals while advancing CTE through leadership, innovation, service and advocacy.
The honor marks Crouch's second consecutive statewide recognition from KACTE. In 2025, she was named the organization's Kentucky Postsecondary Professional of the Year for her contributions to career and technical education across the Commonwealth.
At Murray State, Crouch leads the University's Career and Technical Education program, preparing future educators while working closely with school districts, the Kentucky Department of Education and statewide partners to strengthen Kentucky's educator workforce.
Crouch said the award is meaningful because it reflects the collaborative spirit of career and technical education throughout Kentucky.
“I am truly humbled and deeply grateful to receive the 2026 Kentucky CTE Teacher Educator of the Year award,” Crouch said. “This recognition is especially meaningful because I have so much respect for the educators and leaders who serve career and technical education across Kentucky. I genuinely love working with KACTE, the New Teacher Institute and the Kentucky Department of Education. These partnerships allow me to support new and experienced CTE teachers while helping prepare educators who make a lasting difference in the lives of their students. I consider it a privilege to contribute to this important work, and I share this honor with the many colleagues, teachers and students who inspire me every day.”
As Kentucky's Teacher Educator of the Year, Crouch will represent the Commonwealth as a candidate for the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) Region II Teacher Educator of the Year award. The regional competition will take place during the ACTE Region II Conference in September in Lexington, Kentucky.
To learn more about Murray State University's Career and Technical Education program, visit murraystate.edu/coehs.