Incoming Ohio ACTE Officers

The following career-tech educators will serve on the Ohio ACTE officer team as of September 2022.  They will join current officers.

Office of President- Elect, for a one year term beginning Sept. 1, 2023 followed by a one year term as Ohio ACTE President and one year as Past President:

Brian Bontempo, Auburn Career Center, Superintendent 

As the Superintendent of Auburn Career Center, Brian has implemented many positive changes in his five years.  He has led the District through staffing reorganization, addition or reorganization of Criminal Justice, Dental Assistant programs, Technology & Engineering and Design, Computer Networking Technology and Cyber Security, and Pro Web and Game Design, a marketing rebranding process, the start of the Auburn Education Foundation, a facilities renovation plan and the resurgence of enrollment to the highest it has been in years. 

The growth includes the start-up of summer boot camp skills program for High School & Adults, as well as leading the major “growth” of the adult programming at Auburn Career Center thru creative customized models and modifying existing models.  In addition, he has led workforce and skills training committees that have launched initiatives in Manufacturing, Healthcare and Technology.  Most recently Auburn Career Center has expanded offerings in micro credentials to middle schools and a regional Certified Production Tech initiative thru Career Based Intervention.

Brian came to the Auburn Career Center after nine years as Superintendent of the Lake County ESC. Prior to joining the ESC, he  served as Principal at Willoughby South High School, a suburban school of over 1,200 students. Prior to being the principal, he was an assistant principal at Willoughby South and received the Ohio Assistant Principal of the Year Award in 2002. Brian was also recognized as the John Carroll University Alumni of the Year in 2002. His background includes working as the Director of Technology, classroom teacher, and head wrestling coach. In addition, he has served on numerous levy, facility labor management and dispute committees, and has considerable experience in curriculum and program development.

Brian is Past President of the Ohio Educational Service Center Association (OESCA) and former Chairman of the Lake County Schools Health Care Consortium. He also serves on the Kent State Geauga Advisory Board, and the American Technical Education Association Board and has an extensive network of leaders across Ohio.  He holds a B.S. in Business Education, a M.Ed. in Computer Education, a M.Ed. in School Administration, and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership. He also holds Ohio licenses as superintendent, treasurer and K-12 principal.

 Office of Treasurer, for a two year term, beginning Sept. 1, 2023:

Liz Jensen, Fairmont Kettering High School, Career Technology Principal

My journey into career technical education has been somewhat non-traditional, with my vast experience in the traditional education setting fueling my passion that career technical education is truly the correct pathway for every child.

The first 13 years of my educational experience were spent in a mathematics classroom at Fairmont High School, during which I also served as President and Negotiations Chair of the Kettering Education Association teachers union.  It was after presenting a newly negotiated contract for ratification to our 500+ members that I was approached about becoming Fairmont’s Career Tech Principal.  I distinctly remember my first question being “Why me?”.  I agreed to attend an OCTA conference to learn more and was immediately hooked.  I have found my true passion in career tech education and see the impact we are making on student lives each and every day.  During my now 11 years as Fairmont’s Career Tech Principal I have been an OACTE and Ohio CCS member and have been very positively impacted and aided by the assistance and political advocacy of the members of both organizations.  I decided 3 years ago that it was time I give back to the community which has aided me so much by serving as Professional Development Chairperson, President-Elect and now President of Ohio CCS.  The opportunity to assist others has meant a lot to me, and I have also thoroughly enjoyed working alongside our JVSD counterparts to advocate for CTE, no matter the delivery model it is packaged in.  These positive experiences on behalf of Ohio CCS have empowered me to take my service to the next level by representing the CTE community as a whole on the OACTE board.

I call my job in career tech as one of “immediate gratification” because each and every day I see career tech positively impacting the lives of students.  It is my hope and desire to continue the good work that has been accomplished to further spread this impactful, life-changing branch of education throughout our state.