The South & West Washtenaw Consortium (SWWC) and Saline Area Schools are proud to announce that Trent Trout, Manufacturing Instructor for the Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) program at Saline High School, has been selected as the Michigan Association for Career and Technical Education (MI ACTE) 2026 Teacher of the Year.
This prestigious statewide honor recognizes outstanding achievement, innovation, and leadership in Career and Technical Education (CTE). The award announcement was determined following the review of nominations submitted from across Michigan. In an official letter to Trout, MI ACTE wrote that his “dedication and contributions to Career and Technical Education have truly set you apart,” affirming his exemplary impact on students, schools, and Michigan’s workforce development efforts.
Trout will be formally recognized at the Michigan Career Education Conference on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, during the Closing Keynote Breakfast at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel in Grand Rapids. The Teacher of the Year Award also advances his nomination to the regional and potentially national ACTE Excellence Awards, placing him among the top CTE educators in the country.
South and West Washtenaw Consortium Director, Kara Stemmer, said of the recognition, “Trent is the epitome of a ‘Teacher of the Year,’ and this honor is well-deserved. Every day, he transforms his classroom into an authentic reflection of the industry. He fosters an environment where students are fully engaged, learning with purpose, and working with relevant, real-world equipment. Trent runs his class like an internship: hands-on, rigorous, and grounded in high expectations. He is making a meaningful difference in each of his students’ lives, and we are incredibly proud of him and extremely grateful to have him on the SWWC team.”
Trout is widely regarded as an innovative and student-centered educator whose work has elevated the CIM program into one of the premier advanced manufacturing pathways in Michigan. A former SkillsUSA National Champion himself, Trout now leads Saline’s state-of-the-art advanced manufacturing program and has guided students to success at regional, state, and national competitions…