Red River Technology Center would like to congratulate Sidney Cates for being selected as National ACTE (Association for Career and Technical Education) Trade and Industrial Divisions New Teacher of the Year for 2024. ACTE is the largest national education association dedicated to the advancement of education that prepares youth and adults for careers. Mr. Cates is one of the welding instructors at RRTC. Mr. Cates has been in the welding industry since 2005. He has experience in multiple welding processes including GMAW, GTAW, FCAW, SAW, and SMAW on multiple alloys. He has experience in both pressure vessel and structural welding. He is certified in D1.1 and ASME. Mr. Cates has a true passion for the industry as well as the development of our youth in it. He feels it is imperative to our community, as well as, our country to continue the development of skilled tradesmen and women in a substantive manner to increase the quality of individual lives and the infrastructure or our country and society. Mr. Cates has been an instructor at Red River Technology Center since 2020. He would like to recognize the amazing mentorship of Todd Ottwell and the guidance and leadership of the administrators and tenured staff, which helped him achieve this accomplishment. He traveled to San Antonio to the ACTE Vision Conference to be recognized for his accomplishments and dedication. Thank you, Mr. Cates, for your commitment to career and technical education and the students you serve.
Pictured from left to right: Steven Hidden, National Account Manager for Welding Education and Workforce Development at Miller Electric, Jennifer Wilkerson, VP of Innovation and Advancement at NCCER, Kaylee McCabe, DIY Renovation Rescue TV Star, Chelle Travis, Executive Director of SkillsUSA, Sidney Cates, ACTE T & I New Teacher of the Year, and Bart Taylor, President of the Trade and Industrial Division of ACTE and ACTE Board of Directors