The Lake Norman Chamber honored three local educators at the 2025 Education PowerLuncheon held at Northstone Country Club in Huntersville. The event, presented by Atrium Health and sponsored by HomeTrust Bank and Business Today/Cornelius Today, and WSIC featured Brett Fansler, Executive Director for Corporate Engagement at Central Piedmont Community College.

2025 Board Chair Brian Sisson presented the Educators of the Year to a Charlotte Mecklenburg School (CMS), Charter School, and Private School teacher. Assisting in the presentations were former Huntersville Mayor Melinda Bales and Brandi Jones, co-chairs of the Chamber’s Education Collaborative.

The recipients included: 1SG - Retired Nestor Rivera – Hopewell High School, Demi Ckezepis – Lake Norman Charter Elementary School, and Audrey Belvin – Southlake Christian School. A detailed description of each educator’s accomplishments can be found on the chamber’s website at www.lakenormanchamber.org.

Pic CMS 1 Caption: First Sergeant Nestor Rivera, ROTC Teacher with Hopewell High School (center) is recognized as the 2025 Educator of the Year for Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools. Also pictured (L to r) is Huntersville Commissioner Edwin Quarles, 1SG(R) Rivera and his wife, Danette, Jim Vanosdall – Principal along with Dean of Students Fyniss Nixon and Laura Rosenbach, Phd Assistant Superintendent of School Performance. Photo courtesy of Ocaid Photography. 

Pic Charter Caption: Mrs. Demi Ckezepis Lake Norman Charter Elementary School (center) was selected as the 2025 Charter School Educator of the Year. Pictured with Demi is former Huntersville Mayor Melinda Bales along with Brandi Jones co-chairs of the Chamber’s Education Collaborative, 2025 Chamber Board Chair Brian Sisson, and Michelle Holland - Principal for Lake Norman Charter Elementary School. Photo courtesy of Ocaid Photography. 

Pic Southlake (Private) Mrs. Audrey Belvin (center) from SouthLake Christian School receives the Private School Educator of the Year from the Chamber of Commerce. Mrs. Belvin is joined by former Huntersville Mayor Melinda Bales along with Brandi Jones co-chairs of the Chamber’s Education Collaborative, 2025 Chamber Board Chair Brian Sisson, Jennifer Thomas – Middle School Head, Rebakah Leonard, and Dr. Joel Schuster. Photo courtesy of Ocaid Photography.

Our Outstanding Educators

Public School: 1SG(R) Nestor Rivera  Hopewell High School

1SG Rivera is in his second year of teaching and leads the JROTC Department of three teachers. His program has approximately 180 cadets, with a large Parent Booster Club, Drill Team, Rifle Team, Raider Team, and many other small teams. This year, First Sergeant  Rivera has weathered many changes as there is currently one vacancy in the Department and he has recently welcomed a new addition to the Department.

For the majority of the year he has been running the JROTC program by himself and when I say it has been done with excellence, I mean it! 1SG embodies professionalism and excellence. He has had perfect attendance, spends countless hours after school and on weekends working with cadets, and has produced some of the highest ranking cadets, both academically and within extra curricular areas, throughout our entire school.

Most recently he had three cadets who were recognized at our CMS School Board Meeting for meeting the board of education goals. These were 3 out of 18 high school students recognized for their achievement within academics, related to the JROTC program! Within his classroom, he embodies precision. His classroom is a model for others to observe - it is collaborative, caring, and has high expectations.

Charter School: Mrs. Demi Ckezepis - Lake Norman Charter Elementary

Demi Ckezepis is a truly exceptional, one-of-a-kind Kindergarten teacher at Lake Norman Charter Elementary School. Michelle writes, I have had the privilege and honor of being her direct supervisor since we opened our school in 2017. Demi was hired in that inaugural year and she helped set the tone and positive climate that still exists today as we end our eighth year. In my 30 plus years in education, I can honestly say that Demi Ckezepis embodies the qualities that make an outstanding educator especially in the role of a Kindergarten teacher where every child begins their educational journey.

She truly sets the foundation of learning and has a lasting impact that carries them through their years of schooling. Demi’s dedication to her students’ academic and personal growth is embedded in every aspect of her teaching. It is truly hard to put into words all she does within the hours of a school day. Demi creates a warm and welcoming classroom environment where every child feels valued and supported. Her ability to establish strong relationships with her students, and their families is truly remarkable. And it all starts with a positive student and parent experience at Kindergarten Orientation in May, Summer Parent Conferences, and Meet the Teacher in August with all happening before the school year even begins!

In terms of instructional excellence, Demi Ckezepis is second to none. She employs a diverse range of teaching strategies to engage her students and caters to their individual learning needs. Her lessons are thoughtfully planned, incorporating innovative, and creative approaches to make learning fun and memorable. Demi’s students not only remember what they learn, they remember how their teacher made them feel. Demi goes above and beyond to ensure that each child reaches their full potential, offering extra help, when needed and challenging those who excel. Furthermore, Demi is an excellent collaborator and a valuable asset to our school community.

Private School: Mrs Audrey Belvin

With 18 years of experience, Mrs. Audrey Belvin has consistently demonstrated her dedication to student success and innovative teaching methods in the Lake Norman Community.

As an English Language Arts teacher at Southlake Christian Academy, Mrs. Belvin has significantly impacted her students through creative and engaging approaches. She implements quarterly reading challenges to motivate students and expose them to diverse literary styles, organizes yearly field trips to supplement academic and social goals, and increases student engagement through class challenges and contests.

Mrs. Belvin's commitment to excellence extends beyond the classroom. She has pursued additional training this year in helping students with executive functioning and written expression deficiencies, dedicating her own time to professional development. This spring, she will pilot a program during her planning time to assist at-risk students with writing deficiencies, showcasing her proactive approach to addressing student needs.

Her influence reaches beyond her students, as she leads a weekly staff devotional Bible study and is regularly sought out by coworkers for personal and professional mentorship.

This, along with her top ratings among students, parents, and coworkers in annual surveys, demonstrates her role as a leader and positive influence within the school community.