Mac Beaton, director of career and technical education (CTE) for Henrico County, Virginia, Public Schools (HCPS), is the American Fire Sprinkler Association’s (AFSA) 2025 Fire Sprinkler Advocate of the Year Award winner. Beaton has put programs in place that educate students about the trades and CTE, share the message that sprinklers save lives, and show the next generations that a career in the sprinkler industry can be rewarding. Beaton will receive the award during the General Session at AFSA44: Convention, Exhibition, and National Apprentice Competition in Washington, D.C.
Beaton earned his Bachelor of Science in Education from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and his master’s degree in supervision and administration from Virginia Commonwealth University. Beaton has spent the last 40 years in Henrico County schools as a teacher, education specialist, and, for the last 25 years, has served as director of its CTE.
Beaton produces several opportunities for students to network. The HCPS CTE program includes a Business Advisory Committee that involves bringing business partners to teach and interact with the CTE students. Events throughout the year showcase CTE and the trades to students in the district:
Life Ready Expo: Companies showcase their industries and careers.
Career Rodeo: Students demonstrate their skills and knowledge to solve work-based challenges for potential employers
Career Mega Sale: Students and their parents “shop” from 50 businesses to find a career with the perfect fit.
Letter of Intent Signing Day: The entire community comes together to celebrate CTE students entering the workforce after high school graduation.
“Mac is an amazing and dedicated educator whose commitment to his students is unsurpassed and reaches beyond the borders of his community,” comments AFSA President Bob Caputo, CFPS. “The options provided to students and the encouragement they receive are a benefit to construction trades, but, more importantly, are a benefit to the students and their families. This program is so impressive that it’s been imitated by others outside of Virginia. It is a tribute to the vision Mac and his team have introduced to ensure the success of their students and their community.”
Beaton is heavily involved with AFSA’s Virginia Chapter and aims to increase local students’ exposure to the industry:
One project entailed industry partners, CTE students, and CTE instructors working together to renovate a local mall, transforming it into an HCPS Adult Education Center. Students helped update the fire protection system, and the industry is one of the many trades now showcased in that complex.
Through the Henrico County VoTech Education Foundation’s House Building Project, sprinkler fitting and other CTE students took what they learned in the classroom to build a real-life home protected by residential sprinklers.
Beaton worked with the chapter to bring to assemble a working wet sprinkler lab at HCPS’ new Advanced Career Education Center at Hermitage, where students from the CTE programs work side-by-side with local skilled trades professionals. The Henrico County Fire Department will be able to utilize the lab to train its firefighters on the different types of sprinkler systems.
HCPS has approved and implemented a sprinkler curriculum for its CTE students.
“Mac is a unique individual with whom the Virginia Chapter has developed an ongoing private-public partnership and lifelong friendships. The experience working with him and Henrico County Public Schools on the podcast, career fairs, Regency Mall tenant fit-up, fire sprinkler lab, fire sprinkler curriculum, and installation of fire sprinklers in a single-family home has been inspiring,” said Bob Beckwith, who currently serves as president of the Virginia Chapter.
AFSA established the Fire Sprinkler Advocate of the Year Award to honor individuals not directly involved in the fire sprinkler industry whose efforts have significantly advanced the fire protection industry and automatic fire sprinklers. Each year, AFSA’s Legislative Committee selects a recipient from a pool of nominations. Their nomination is then approved by the AFSA Board of Directors.
Beaton’s recognition as AFSA’s 2025 Fire Sprinkler Advocate of the Year highlights his outstanding dedication to advancing the fire protection industry to the next generation. His efforts not only benefit the trades and industry but also positively impact students and their communities. AFSA looks forward to honoring Beaton at the General Session during AFSA44 in Washington, D.C.
