2026 National Safety Educator of the Year
Building a Culture of Safety
Jim Burrows, a Construction Trades instructor at Heritage High School in Wake Forest, North Carolina is shaping the future workforce by building an educational program rooted in real-world safety practices.
In Jim’s classroom, safety isn’t just a lesson — it’s a daily expectation. Drawing on over 30 years of industry experience, Jim structures his program to mirror real construction environments. Through partnerships with local industry professionals, Jim’s students gain exposure to real expectations, real timelines, and real accountability — experiences that help students connect classroom learning to real-world application, preparing them to participate in the workforce and contribute with confidence.
Meet Jim and see how CareerSafe’s 2026 National Safety Educator of the Year is preparing students for safe and successful careers.
“ You don’t learn carpentry in Burrows’ class — you learn life.” – Former student
What is National Safety Educator of the Year?
The CareerSafe National Safety Educator of the Year Award recognizes exceptional educators who have dedicated their time to preparing students for the future and helping students recognize and mitigate workplace hazards in their chosen careers.
The winning educator each year is awarded $5,000 for their classroom, a highlight video, a watch party and award ceremony at their school, and national recognition through press, social media, and online announcements.
What We Look For
The only requirement is to be an exceptional safety educator! Top candidates are advocates of both classroom and workplace safety who lead by example and display a true passion and enthusiasm for their students and their work. CareerSafe strives to highlight educators who not only use the CareerSafe program but also tie the credentialed safety training to classroom projects.
Check out our 2025 CareerSafe National Safety Educator of the Year, ReNae Green. Like our 2026 honoree, ReNae exemplifies the qualities of an exceptional safety educator.