Joe Blythe

I attended Eastern Michigan University after high school and was drafted into Army where I spent one year in Viet Nam. In addition I served seven years in the Army National Guard. I attended Kellogg Community College where I played on the basketball team and was president of the student government and received my Associates Degree. I returned to and graduated from Eastern Michigan University with my Bachelor’s Degree in History with a Secondary Education certificate. I attained a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration from Western Michigan University and a Master’s Degree in Guidance and Counseling from Eastern Michigan University. I started my career in education teaching at Northwestern Junior High School as a seventh grade Social Studies and Mathematics teacher where I also helped coach football, basketball and track. I then worked as a counselor at Kellogg Community College, after that became a Grade Principal at Battle Creek Central. I went to Albion to become Principal at Albion Public Schools and returned to Battle Creek to become an Assistant Principal at Lakeview High School. From there I accepted the position of Interim CEO/President of the Urban League of Battle Creek, Upon completing the work there I became the Assistant Director in the College of Education at Grand Valley State University where I was the Teacher Certification Officer. Upon leaving Grand Valley I accepted the position of Graduation Coach at Lakeview High School and finally accepting my last position as an Academic Advisor at Kellogg Community College. I was given the Distinguished Professional Award by the Calhoun Area School Board Members Association in 2004. I served on the Michigan Education Association Board of Directors from 1976 to 1979. I also served on the Michigan Association of Higher Education Board of Directors from 1978 to 1992. I was the MEA’s Minority Concerns Committee Chairperson for two years. I served on the Volunteer Bureau board of Directors, the Battle Creek Urban League Board of Directors and on the NAACP Board of Directors. I am a Life Member of the NAACP, VFW and the American Legion. I was a past president of the Cereal City Lions Club serving from 1990 - 1991. I was the Chairperson of the NCA Visitation Team to North Kent High School in 2002 for the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. I have two sons who graduated from Battle Creek Central, Randy in 1984 and Jason in 1999. I was elected into the Battle Creek Central High School Hall of Fame in April 2016.