Richard Elder is Named CTAE Teacher of the Year

By: Alicia Sands Lurry

Richard Elder, a veteran construction teacher at Alonzo A. Crim Open Campus High School, was recently named the 2016-2017 Career, Technical and Agricultural Education Teacher of the Year. The CTAE Teacher of the Year selection is based on submission of recommendations from administrators, student work, and a description of how the nominee has gone above and beyond in the service of students.

Elder is the first Atlanta Public Schools Work-based Learning coordinator to receive the CTAE honor, which is awarded to the top 20 worked-based learning coordinators in Georgia.

“I work diligently to provide not only classroom instruction, but real-world experiences for my students as a CTAE construction teacher,” said Elder, who has also been recognized as a 2016 Work-based Learning Top Gun Recipient. “After years of hard work and perseverance, I am humbled and pleased to receive this award.”

Elder began his APS teaching career at Carver Comprehensive High School in 1982, and remained there for 20 years before transitioning to Crim Open Campus in 2002. The construction program at Crim is currently the only one of its kind at APS.