2023 CTE Conference Program

August 2, 2023

DAY 1: WEDNESDAY

Keynote Speaker James D. King

Mr. King is a technical educator with over 40 years of experience as a teacher and an administrator. A native of West Tennessee, he was the first in his family to graduate from college. Mr. King was raised by a single parent who truly understood the value of getting an education in order to improve one’s future career opportunities. His father also impressed upon him the value of a strong work ethic.

Mr. King graduated from the University of Tennessee at Martin with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture Education and began his teaching career in 1978. He received his Master’s in Education Administration from the University of Memphis. In 1983, Mr. King became the Assistant Director of one of Tennessee’s 27 Technical Colleges. Over the next 16 years, he served as President of three Technical Colleges. In 1999, Mr. King was appointed Tennessee Board of Regents Vice Chancellor, overseeing the operations of the state’s 27 Technical Colleges. The System gained national recognition under his leadership. The Gates Foundation recognized the Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology as one of the two systems in the country “doing it the right way.” President Barack Obama called the TCATs a “national model.” Mr. King completed his 40-year career as Executive Vice Chancellor of the Tennessee Board of Regents

and President of Northeast State Community College. During his career he served as President of the American Technical Education Association, Board Chair of the National SkillsUSA, Chair of the Council on Occupational Education, and Board Member for the National Technical Honor Society. In 2020, the State of Tennessee honored him with a building naming. Mr. King now spends his time doing accreditation visits for technical colleges, riding horses, and caring for his cat, Mr. Hemingway and dog, Chester.