Watertown High School

Sarah Tarpey, Watertown Unified School District’s Family Consumer Sciences teacher and School to Career Coordinator, was named the 2025 Career to Technical Education (CTE) Teacher of the Year at the Wisconsin Career Readiness Summit held Aug. 7 in Wisconsin Dells.

Watertown High School is recognized as a leader in CTE development and for its Youth Apprenticeship program. Under Tarpey’s leadership, the Youth Apprenticeship program has grown from 37 students enrolled in 2010 to 136 students participating this past school year. This spring, 78 seniors graduated from the Youth Apprenticeship program, with many finding permanent employment post-high school with the local firms that hired them as apprentices.

Tarpey is also a key organizer of the annual WHS Career Fair held in partnership with the Watertown Area Chamber of Commerce. She was nominated for the Teacher of the Year award by WHS 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 shared that Tarpey has built a one-of-a-kind learning experience for students. From launching a dual credit child care program with Madison College to transforming her classroom into a real-life play-school, Tarpey ensures that students learn by doing – and leave high school ready for both college and career. “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,” Olson wrote. “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.”

WUSD Director of Curriculum and Instruction Jenny Borst 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 said she is humbled to accept the CTE Teacher of the Year award. “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.”