Cathie Bledsoe
Cathie is passionate about the positive use of all technology. Referring to her as a “Cyber Geek” is high praise in her eyes. She has provided Internet Safety and Cyber Bullying informational presentations for over 20 years. Before joining The Literacy Alliance team in June of 2023, Cathie spent seven years as a civilian member of the Indiana State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC), turning her passion into a career. As Youth Educator, Cathie provided over three hundred Digital Safety presentations a year, to over 50,000 children and adults in schools, businesses, churches, and youth organizations, throughout all 92 Indiana counties.
She has over 20 years of teaching technology in K-12 and college-level courses in Allen County public schools, private schools, and the juvenile probation system. Cathie attended Indiana University Purdue University-Fort Wayne, where she worked with the faculty to create the program of her dreams. This resulted in her earning a Bachelor’s in General Studies with a minor in Digital Design and Studio Art. In addition, she holds a Master’s in Secondary Education-Instructional Technology from Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She has completed most of the coursework toward her Doctorate in Education, which she has put on hold.
Cathie and her husband, Earbie, married over 20 years ago in St. Louis, Missouri, and moved to Fort Wayne, Indiana, three days later. They are the proud parents of Catherine, who also earned her bachelor’s degree for Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne, and Isaiah, a high school Junior who dreams of studying Graphic Design at the University of St. Francis. It is said, “You rarely will see just one Bledsoe” because they are very close and happily work together on most projects. In their spare time, Cathie, and her family love volunteering at their church, providing presentations on Dinosaurs, working with various youth programs, and of course, presenting on Digital Safety. When not with her family or volunteering, Cathie loves camping and hiking with her friends, all former Girl Scout Leaders affectionately called the “GS MAFIA,” playing computer games and building Lego flower bouquets.