Battle Ground Public Schools director earns national recognition

BATTLE GROUND — Cindy Arnold, Battle Ground Public Schools’ director of career and technical education, has been named the Association for Career and Technical Education’s Region V Administrator of the Year. She is one of five finalists for the 2023 national title, which will be announced Nov. 30. In her current role, Arnold launched middle school CTE programs by creating design modeling and robotics classes that pair woodworking with science, technology, engineering and math. All six of the district’s middle schools now offer this program. Arnold also developed several new classes and programs at the high school level, including an HVAC, plumbing and electrical program; computer programming classes; and math for health care professionals. In addition, Arnold created Battle Ground Public Schools’ STEM strategic plan, which has since been used as a model for other districts. Previously, Arnold was principal at Captain Strong Primary School, a former assistant principal/athletic director at Prairie High School, and taught business at Clark College and Columbia River High School in Vancouver Public Schools. The Administrator of the Year award recognizes administrative CTE professionals at the school, district, county, state or federal level.