Jason Van Nus

Jason Van Nus serves as the Director of Work-Based Learning (WBL) and Youth Apprenticeship (YA) Programs for Lowndes County Schools in Valdosta, Georgia, bringing more than 21 years of experience teaching Career, Technical, and Agriculture Education (CTAE) in Georgia. He is a recognized content expert across multiple instructional areas, including Business Education, Business and Computer Science, Graphic Communication, and Work-Based Learning.

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Jason’s leadership and impact have earned statewide and national recognition. He was named Georgia’s ACTE Teacher of the Year in 2023, ACTE’s 2024 Region II Teacher of the Year, and a finalist for ACTE’s 2025 National Teacher of the Year. Over the past seven years coordinating the WBL/YA programs for Lowndes County Schools, Jason has led enrollment growth of 435.29%, expanding participation from 51 students to 273. During the first six school years under his direction, the program generated more than $9.35 million in student wages and a total economic impact exceeding $37.4 million in a county with a population of 117,406.

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Known for his passion for technology, strong communication skills, and ability to build meaningful partnerships, Jason is a tireless advocate for Career and Technical Education. His work has been recognized locally through his selection to the 2022 Leadership Lowndes cohort, followed by service on its board from 2023–2026, including a term as Vice President of Programs.

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On the national stage, Jason serves as the Region II representative on ACTE’s WBL Policy Committee and sits on the Advisory Board for the CTE Research Network 2.0, established by the Institute of Educational Sciences (IES) and the American Institutes for Research (AIR). He also serves on the Jobs for the Future (JFF) Career Navigation Practitioner Advisory Committee (CNPAC). In 2024, Jason was named YouScience’s Innovative Educator of the Year and selected for the 2025 Harbor Freight Leadership Lab Cohort.

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Jason’s Youth Apprenticeship program and creative industry partnerships have received national awards and attention, leading to speaking and presentation opportunities across Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Ohio, Iowa, Mississippi, New York, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Utah, Maryland, Washington, Kansas, Texas, California, and Virginia. His data-tracking methods were featured in AIR’s national research project, Building Robust District Work-Based Learning Data Collection Systems, and his work with artificial intelligence has been highlighted in two EducationWeek articles. Jason is also a frequent guest on the Disrupt Education podcast.

 

At the state level, Jason was appointed to Georgia’s elite LEAD CTAE program in 2019 and recognized that same year as Southwest Region Coordinator of the Year. He was later named the overall “TopGun” of Georgia’s 2020 TopGun Cohort and honored as a Distinguished WBL Coordinator in 2021. Above all accolades, Jason values the lasting impact his programs have had on students in his community by providing meaningful opportunities, workforce training, increased earning potential, and stronger career pathways.

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Jason holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Education and a Master’s degree in Adult and Career Education from Valdosta State University, as well as a Specialist degree in Business and Marketing Education from Auburn University. He is currently completing his Ph.D. in Career and Technical Education at Auburn University, with a focus on workforce development, economic development, and the impact of Work-Based Learning on CTAE.