ACTE Announces Arizona Healthcare Program Manager, and New Associate Dean of Academics, as National Award Finalist
ALEXANDRIA, VA—Today, the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) announced Jennifer Kline, Associate Dean of Academics at Erie County Community College, as the 2025 ACTE Region V Postsecondary Professional of the Year. This award recognizes the finest career and technical education (CTE) educators at the postsecondary school level who have demonstrated innovation in the classroom, commitment to their students and dedication to the improvement of CTE in their institutions and communities.
Jennifer Kline, M. Ed., served as the Healthcare Program Manager for GateWay Community College in Phoenix, AZ (Region V) and has recently joined Erie County Community College (Region I) as the Associate Dean of Academics. With more than 26 years of combined CTE experience, she has held various roles, including flight paramedic, firefighter, workforce and business development manager, and has spent ten years in higher education as both an administrator and educator.
Jennifer is passionate about student success and equity in CTE. As a first-generation college student, she strongly advocates for student access to affordable, high-quality education. She actively seeks to identify and remove barriers that limit access to education, creating alternative pathways to help students achieve their highest potential while minimizing student loan debt. Furthermore, she bridges gaps to employment by eliminating barriers and creating opportunities for credentialing, all while building a culture in her division that fosters innovation, equity, diversity, and a sense of belonging for all students, faculty, and staff.
Recently, Jennifer completed the Association of Career and Technical Education Next Level Fellowship program, where she focused on college initiatives, advocacy, funding opportunities, and policy initiatives in Career and Technical Education. She is currently an ACTE National Leadership Fellow in the Experienced Leader cohort and is the proud recipient of the ACTEAZ and ACTE Region V Postsecondary Educator of the Year awards. Additionally, Jennifer is pursuing her doctoral degree in Workforce and Organizational Development, with an emphasis on Career and Technical Education.
Kline is one of five finalists for the 2025 national title. The national winner will be announced at the ACTE Awards Gala, an award presentation recognizing the best CTE educators in the country. The event will take place on December 4, at 7:00 p.m. The Awards Gala is sponsored by Express Employment Professionals, Goodheart-Willcox, The Army, and Stratasys. For more information about the ACTE Excellence Awards, visit our webpage.
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About ACTE
The Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) is the nation’s largest not-for-profit association committed to the advancement of education that prepares youth and adults for successful careers. ACTE represents the community of CTE professionals, including educators, administrators, researchers, school counselors, guidance and career development professionals and others at all levels of education. ACTE is committed to excellence in providing advocacy, public awareness and access to resources, professional development and leadership opportunities.
Jona Kay Squires embodies the career technical education (CTE) legacy, deeply rooted in agriculture and FFA, influenced by parents who dedicated 56 years to CTE teaching. As a former state FFA officer and CTE intern, her passion for teaching and entrepreneurship blossomed. With 26 years of CTE experience, she thrives as an agriculture business coordinator, guiding aspiring entrepreneurs.
Cheronie Blunt
Dr. T.J. Brown is an award-winning faculty member at South Central College in North Mankato, MN. T.J. has served SCC as an instructor since 2017, with many contributions extending beyond the classroom. This includes volunteering on several area advisory committees, southern Minnesota foundation boards, and his church.
Dr. Kenneth W. Flowers has been the Provost and Vice President of Academics at Lake Michigan College in Benton Harbor, Michigan, since August 2022. In this role, he oversees all academic divisions, including Career and Workforce Education, Health Sciences, and Arts and Sciences. His leadership has been crucial in launching several innovative CTE programs, including Marine Maintenance, Police Academy, E-Sports, Culinary Medicine, Exercise Science, Mechatronics, and Digital Marketing.
Sarah Hubel has emerged as an inspiring Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) educator and FCCLA advisor, passionately dedicating her four-year career to fostering student growth and engagement. Through her innovative approach, she emphasizes the importance of career exploration and active involvement in the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) organization, empowering students to take charge of their futures.
Wyatt Gerth, affectionately known as “Mr. G” by his students, began a transformative chapter in his career in the fall of 2019 at Tri County Tech in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. Faced with the retirement of the Graphics Communication program’s long-time instructor, Wyatt saw an opportunity to innovate. He seamlessly merged the existing curriculum with his own vision, creating the Creative Marketing Communications program, which has since become a cornerstone of the school’s offerings.
Emily Daniel is a distinguished Culinary Arts Instructor and FCCLA Advisor at Nevada Regional Technical Center, where her passion for Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) truly shines. Currently serving as the President of the Missouri Family and Consumer Sciences (MoEFCS) and the Chair of the Missouri Association for Career and Technical Education (MOACTE) Awards Committee. Emily is recognized for her exemplary leadership and commitment to the field. Emily’s journey into education began in her hometown of Greenfield, Missouri, where she grew up on a family farm as a third-generation beef cattle producer. Her early involvement in FCCLA at the local, regional, and state levels during high school ignited her enthusiasm for FCS. She continued to foster this passion at Missouri State University, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in Family and Consumer Science while being an active FCCLA member.
Dr. Stephen E. Bergey currently serves as the Senior Aerospace Science (Air Force Junior ROTC) Instructor at Etowah High School within the Cherokee County School District, Georgia. A five-year veteran of the profession, Steve brings innovative techniques to the classroom, which he developed during his 20-year career in the military and diplomatic service of the federal government. Additionally, he has teaching experience at both the United States Air Force Academy and Georgia State University.
Brielle Haupt has been a dedicated Career and Technical Education (CTE) teacher at Brighton High School for approximately four years, specializing in Health Occupations and Pre-Med Science. A 2012 graduate of Brighton High School, Brielle pursued her passion for healthcare by earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Loyola University of Chicago in 2016. She began her career as an Emergency Room Nurse, and while working in this demanding role, she completed her master’s degree as a Family Nurse Practitioner from Michigan State University in 2020.
