Warner Robins, Ga. – Commercial Truck Driving instructor, Sharoko Farley, was recently named Central Georgia Technical College’s (CGTC) Rick Perkins Award (RPA) Winner for Excellence in Technical Instruction for 2024. Farley was selected as the College’s Instructor of the Year through a multi-step interview process after being nominated by his peers for the award.
Sharoko Farley is a native of Eatonton, Georgia, his professional journey began at the age of 19 at Oconee Fall Line Technical College where he obtained his CDL license. He accepted a job driving a concrete truck for Fowler Flemister of Milledgeville, Georgia.
In 2008, Sharoko Farley achieved success as the owner-operator of S&A Express LLC, a business that employed 12 drivers and 7 trucks, servicing clients such as Kimberly Clark, Toys R Us, John Deere, and Schnitzer Steel. After two decades of dedicated service, Farley was presented with an unexpected opportunity by Carrie Dietrich, CGTC’s Director of the Putnam Center.
He started as an adjunct instructor with the College and quickly became a full-time faculty member while obtaining a contract through Economic Development as an All-Class State Examiner for the Department of Driver Services.
“What sets me apart is not just my expertise in teaching truck driving skills but my holistic approach.”
Farley said he feels like the panel that selected him as the RPA winner could see his passion for helping others through technical education. His faith also plays a vital role in his life, and he always leans on scriptures that have helped him shape his perspective, scriptures that emphasize the ability to overcome obstacles while walking in boldness, strength to do things, he said, “that we thought would never be possible.”
Commercial Truck Driving, available at multiple CGTC Campuses, provides an exciting and valuable career. The program is approved by the Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS).
“I believe in molding professionals with the right attitude, drawing on my life experiences to guide students through the importance of mindset and ethics.”
Outside of work, Farley enjoys spending time with his wife Angela, and their four children. Recently, the Farley family grew with the addition of three grandsons and one granddaughter.
CGTC instructors are nominated by their peers for RPA and then sit through various interview panels to select the winner from a group of five finalists. Finalists for the 2024 award were Amanda Cobb, Instructor and Program Chair, Radiologic Technology, Division of Health Sciences. John Harvey, Instructor, Business & Customer Services Re-Entry Programs, Eli Walker, Instructor, Computer Skills Business & Computer Technologies Division.
Along with seven other regional finalists, Farley will move on to the central region Rick Perkins Award for Excellence competition hosted at the CGTC Warner Robins campus in March. The 14 other RPA winners from technical colleges across Georgia will compete in north and south regional competitions, where three finalists from each region will be selected to compete in April for the title of State RPA winner.