CCSD Teachers Earn National Recognition Including Top Award

Four Cherokee County School District teachers have earned national recognition, with one being named the nation’s top teacher in his field!

Cherokee High School Air Force JROTC instructors Senior Master Sgt. (Ret.) Jeffrey Bise and Technical Sgt. (Ret.) Jody Van Ostrand and Etowah High School AFJROTC instructors Lt. Col. (Ret.) Stephen Bergey and Technical Sgt. (Ret.) Ciarra Malto all have achieved 2024 Outstanding Instructor Awards from the U.S. Air Force, an honor earned by only 258 of the more than 1,900 Air Force and Space Force JROTC instructors worldwide.

“We know that instructors go above and beyond each day.  The ones we recognize with this award represent the ‘Best of the Best,’” U.S. Air Force Director Col. Johnny R. McGonigal said.  “Through this award, we honor their exemplary contributions and impact on their cadets, school, and community.  I extend my deepest appreciation to all winners for their dedication, hard work, and investment they have put into our AF/SF JROTC program and into our cadets.  They represent the highest example of our core values which are crucial to the success of our mission.”

Lt. Col. Bergey advanced in the awards program to be named the regional winner, and now has been named one of only two 2024 Overall Outstanding Instructors of the Year, the highest honor for AF/SF JROTC teachers worldwide!  

This is the second time for Lt. Col. Bergey to earn this top honor, as he also achieved the prestigious recognition in 2022.  Etowah HS Principal Robert Horn praised Lt. Col. Bergey for earning the overall award and for the outstanding program he and Technical Sgt. Malto have built.

“Their enthusiasm for the program, but most importantly, for the students is the main reason for the growth of the program.  Both instructors go above and beyond the call of duty to provide their students with the best programs, resources, and opportunities they can deliver,” Principal Horn said.  “Their dedication and commitment to the students and the program has changed the trajectory of the program.  We are grateful for their leadership!”

These educators’ individual recognitions follow the recent announcement that their programs earned top awards from the U.S. Air Force.

Cherokee High’s program earned the 2024 Distinguished Unit Award with Merit, one of only 147 AFJROTC programs worldwide to achieve this honor; Etowah’s program earned the Distinguished Unit Award, one of only 244 to achieve this honor.  The Cherokee HS program additionally earned the Silver Star Community Service with Excellence Award, the highest unit award achievable and awarded to only 45 programs, the top 5%, worldwide.

The Cherokee County School Board and Superintendent Mary Elizabeth Davis will recognize all four honored instructors at an upcoming School Board meeting.

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