ABOUT

Jason Thoren is an experienced educator entering his fourth year teaching Technical Education in Ten Sleep, Wyoming. He holds a degree in Technical Education from Casper College and the University of Wyoming, complemented by a Computer Science Endorsement from Northwest Community College.  Dedicated to the field, Jason has served as the past-president of the Wyoming Technical Education Association and is a member of the Advanced Manufacturing Pathway Micro-Credential Team for the Wyoming Department of Education. Additionally, he actively coaches football and basketball while fulfilling the role of SkillsUSA Advisor at his school.

Outside of his professional commitments, Jason enjoys quality time with his family, exploring the great outdoors with his son and wife. As a third-generation educator, he deeply values Career and Technical Education, advocating passionately for its benefits to all students

Coming Soon

Heath Hornecker serves in his 20th year at the Agriculture Department at Casper College in Casper, WY.  He teaches various agriculture courses, including animal science, range management and agroecology.  Prior to Casper College, Heath taught high school agriculture courses for four years.  Heath graduated with his master’s degree from the University of Wyoming, his bachelor’s from Texas Tech University and an associate degree from Casper College.  Heath currently serves on the Wyoming FFA Board of Directors and numerous other boards and committees.  In his spare time, Heath attends numerous sporting events and livestock shows for his kids.  Heath and his wife Jaime have four kids, too many short-legged dogs and a small acreage outside of town.

Megan is currently in her 13th year as a Wyoming educator and teaches Computer Science and Business at Sheridan High School. Prior to teaching High School, she spent seven years teaching elementary.  Megan is a proud University of Wyoming College of Education alumni and a Poke through and through.  In addition to her bachelor's degree, Megan pursued her passion for STEM education and obtained her master's degree from Concordia University.  In addition to being the WACTE Past President, Megan also sits as President for the Wyoming Computer Science Teachers Association. 

Outside of work, Megan stays busy chasing her two kids with her husband, Kasey.  Megan and her family love fly fishing, camping, and anything in the mountains.  Megan believes strongly in Career and Technical education and it's fundamental importance for the future of Wyoming students and the Wyoming workforce.

Shirley Coulter served as a CTE teacher at Sheridan High School for 22 years and retired in June of 2022.  Prior to teaching, she was a trust officer for 10 years and brought her business and industry skills into the classroom.  She taught AP Computer Science and IT courses, as well as a variety of business courses including intro and advanced accounting, marketing, web design and web animation. She obtained her masters degree in Career and Technical Education from Concordia University and two bachelor’s degrees; one in business administration from Montana State University and the second in career and technical education from Black Hills State University.  She also served as the DECA and FBLA advisor for several years. Shirley now serves as the WACTE Executive Secretary and teaches online IT courses through Northern Wyoming Community College in Sheridan. In her spare time, Shirley serves on the Sheridan Memorial Hospital Board, travels with her husband Mike, and spends time in CA with her daughter and son-in-law.

Jessie Dafoe is a proud Wyoming native specializing in organizational strategy. Dafoe guides organizations of varying sizes and growth stages through strategic planning, development, and implementation of operational plans. Additionally, Dafoe focuses on governmental affairs work and crafting thoughtful policy solutions for Wyomingites.

Dafoe’s career, which spans more than two decades of working in close partnership with leaders from each of Wyoming’s economic industries, began as an intern in the office of then-Representative Cynthia Lummis (R-WY). Next, Dafoe focused on regulatory issues for the Wyoming Resource Alliance and most recently led Wyoming Agriculture in the Classroom as their Executive Director.

Dafoe, who was raised on her family’s ranch, graduated from the University of Wyoming, where she received a bachelor’s degree in Agriculture Business and a Master of Business Administration. Dafoe is a 2014 graduate of Leadership Wyoming.