Whitewater Times

Sarah Tarpey, a Family Consumer Sciences teacher and School to Career Coordinator at Watertown Unified School District, has been named the 2025 Career to Technical Education (CTE) Teacher of the Year. The award was presented at the Wisconsin Career Readiness Summit on August 7 in Wisconsin Dells.

Watertown High School is recognized for its strong CTE programs and Youth Apprenticeship initiative. Since Tarpey took on her leadership role, enrollment in the Youth Apprenticeship program increased from 37 students in 2010 to 136 this past school year. This spring, 78 seniors completed the program, with many securing permanent jobs with local employers who initially hired them as apprentices.

Tarpey also helps organize the annual WHS Career Fair in partnership with the Watertown Area Chamber of Commerce. She was nominated for the award by Watertown High School Counselor Erikka Olson. “Sarah Tarpey maintains a unique role within our school, district, and community as the CTE Coordinator,” Olson wrote in her nomination. “She is the number one reason why our students at Watertown High School have access to an education career pathway.”

Olson described how Tarpey has developed distinctive learning opportunities for students, including starting a dual credit child care program with Madison College and turning her classroom into a real-life play-school environment. Olson added, “She is the only teacher in our district to initiate, plan, and deliver CTE-focused professional development for staff, including field trips to local businesses and job sites to enhance relationships between our school and community. She truly lives and breathes CTE - she is passionate about lifelong learning, and she inspires students and co-workers to join her pursuits every day.”

Jenny Borst, Director of Curriculum and Instruction for WUSD, said: “We are grateful for the valuable contributions that Ms. Tarpey has made to both our district and the broader community. We are fortunate to have such a passionate and dedicated educator - one who champions access to high-quality career and technical education and builds meaningful connections that strengthen our community.”

Tarpey expressed appreciation for receiving the honor: “I absolutely love what I do,” she said. “This award is a reflection of everyone working together within the WUSD and the Watertown community. Watertown Unified School District values career readiness, which allows my role to exist, whereas in other schools it doesn’t. I am truly blessed to be a part of the WUSD CTE program.”