FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Marlen Zarcone
mzarcone@acteonline.org
ACTE Announces Georgia Retired Instructor as National Award Finalist
ALEXANDRIA, VA—Today, the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) announced Dr. Cheronie Blunt, Retired Instructor, as the 2025 ACTE Region II 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.
Cheronie Blunt is a retired educator with an impressive career spanning over 18 years in Criminal Justice education. Most recently, she served as an instructor for Dual Enrollment at the Houston County College & Career Academy (HCCA), where she taught the Criminal Justice Program at Central Georgia Technical College (CGTC) in Warner Robins, Georgia. Her passion for teaching is evident in her diverse teaching experience, which includes three years as an Adjunct Instructor at Middle Georgia Technical College, four years at Columbus State University, and 12 years as a full-time Criminal Justice Instructor at CGTC. Known for her team-oriented approach, Cheronie is committed to expanding her skills and knowledge to better serve her students.
In recognition of her outstanding contributions to education, she was honored as the 2023 Georgia Association of Career & Technical Education (GACTE) Post-Secondary Professional of the Year. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for HCCA and as a manuscript reviewer for the Criminal Justice Association of Georgia’s “The Pursuit” Journal, evaluating scholarly articles. During her tenure at HCCA, she held leadership roles such as Dual Enrollment Lead Teacher, SkillsUSA Advisor, and Team Leader for the Harbor Freight Grant Writing Committee and Partners Club. She also played a key role in the 2021 TCSG-GaDOE curriculum alignment review for Criminal Justice courses.
Cheronie’s influence extends beyond the classroom, with students under her mentorship achieving significant milestones. One of her students served as State SkillsUSA Vice President, and another was named Lieutenant Governor’s College and Career Academy Student of the Year. Her accomplishments include being named HCCA’s Teacher of the Year and the Houston County School District’s Exceptional Teacher of the Year in 2018-19. Additionally, she was a nominee for the 2021 and 2022 Rick Perkins Teacher of the Year awards and the recipient of the 2013-2014 CGTC Innovation Mini Grant. She has also collaborated with the Georgia Bar Association and volunteer attorneys to provide students opportunities to participate in Georgia Mock Trial Competitions, further demonstrating her commitment to fostering leadership and excellence within her community.
Blunt 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.
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.
Mary Lindsey Smith began her teaching career in January 1983, stepping into what was then known as Home Economics with the Etowah School District in West Ridge, Arkansas. Initially planning to teach for just a semester before returning to graduate school to pursue a career as a dietician, Mary quickly discovered that teaching was her true calling. The small, close-knit community and supportive environment of her first school made a lasting impression, and by the end of that first semester, she knew she had found her lifelong profession.
