FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Marlen Zarcone
mzarcone@acteonline.org
ACTE Announces Minnesota Agribusiness Instructor, South Central College, as National Award Finalist
ALEXANDRIA, VA—Today, the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) announced Dr. T.J. Brown, Agribusiness Instructor of South-Central College, as the 2025 ACTE Region III 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.
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.
At SCC, he teaches numerous courses in the agriculture program, focusing on topics such as Agribusiness Financial Management, Recordkeeping, Ag Law, Employability Training, and Ag Mechanics. He is also the lead instructor for the Commercial Driver’s License training program.
Prior to teaching at the college, T.J. taught high school agriculture for twelve years in Springfield, MN, where he advised a nationally recognized FFA program. He is in the MN FFA Hall of Fame, holds an Honorary FFA American Degree, and is currently the FFA Superintendent for the MN State Fair.
In addition, he has written curriculum for statewide use for both the Minnesota Department of Education and the Minnesota State College System, and he recently completed a nationally published textbook on shop safety. In 2023, he was awarded the Presidential Award of Merit from the Minnesota Association of Agricultural Educators (MAAE) and was a finalist for ACTE’s Carl Perkins Community Service Award in 2016, as well as ACTE’s Young Teacher of the Year award in 2011.
Dr. Brown 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.
###
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. 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.
Cindy has been a dedicated advocate and leader in Career and Technical Education (CTE) for more than thirty-five years, consistently working to provide high-quality services to the CTE community. Throughout her career, Cindy has been an active and influential member of both the Illinois Association for Career and Technical Education (IACTE) and the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE). Her leadership roles have been numerous and impactful, including serving as Executive Director/Consultant for IACTE, a member of the ACTE Board of Directors, ACTE Region III President, ACTE Fellowship Program Coordinator, and Past President of IACTE.
