Dear Colleagues:
Please join me in congratulating the 24 outstanding educators who were named today by KDE and Valvoline Inc. as 2023 Kentucky Valvoline Teacher Achievement Award winners.
These teachers qualify to compete for the overall 2023 Kentucky Teacher of the Year Award, which will be announced in September.
I agree with Sam Mitchell, Valvoline’s chief executive officer, that the Kentucky Teacher of the Year Awards are a highlight each year for us. Our teachers are some of the best in the nation, and we are proud to celebrate them.
Teachers give of themselves every day to help students gain the skills needed to pursue their dreams. I thank all teachers for inspiring, motivating and supporting Kentucky’s students.
The winners are:
Elementary School
-
Rebecca Brewer, Norton Commons Elementary (Jefferson County)
-
Ashley Buchanon, Rockfield Elementary (Warren County)
-
Kelly Gates, Pride Elementary (Hopkins County)
-
Amber Hays, Thelma B. Johnson Early Learning Center (Henderson County)
-
Shannon Kay, New Haven Elementary (Boone County)
-
Julie Moore, School for the Creative and Performing Arts at Bluegrass (Fayette County)
-
Melinda Richardson, Clay City Elementary (Powell County)
-
Cassandra Walden, East Bernstadt Elementary (East Bernstadt Independent)
Middle School
-
Caitlin Buckley, Kentucky School for the Deaf
-
Angela Dilts-Pollock, Farnsley Middle (Jefferson County)
-
Nathaniel Green, Newport High (Newport Independent Schools)
-
Danielle Hicks, Clinton County Middle
-
Justin Mitchell, Franklin-Simpson Middle (Simpson County)
-
Mandy Perez, Crittenden County Middle
-
Rhoda Whitaker, Whitesburg Middle (Letcher County)
-
Charlena Williams, Hancock County Middle
High School
-
Cathy Conley, Knott County Central (Knott County)
-
Eddie Groves, Ohio County High
-
Tina Henry, Boyle County High
-
Robin Kemp, Highlands High (Fort Thomas Independent)
-
Victoria Mohon, Christian County High
-
Lauren Niemann, Fern Creek High (Jefferson County)
-
Amber L. Sergent, Woodford County High
-
Steven Thomas, Green County Area Technology Center (Green County)
All 24 will be honored during a ceremony in Frankfort on Sept. 20. At that time, the Kentucky Elementary, Middle and High School Teachers of the Year will be announced. From this group of three finalists, the 2023 Kentucky Teacher of the Year will be named and will represent the state in the National Teacher of the Year competition.
Valvoline will present the 24 recipients with cash awards. In addition, the three Kentucky Teachers of the Year will receive custom-designed glassware commemorating their accomplishments.
This year, KDE received 1,987 teacher nominations from all 171 school districts. This was the first time we received at least one nomination from every school district in the Commonwealth. Simply being nominated for this award means a lot to our teachers.
Judging was conducted in June by a blue-ribbon panel of veteran educators from across the state. Applications included information on the nominees’ teaching philosophies, teaching experiences and involvement in their respective communities, as well as letters of recommendation from peers, students, parents, administrators and others.
On another important topic, I wanted to let you know that we have updated the United We Learn website. Please take a few minutes to familiarize yourself with the information and the new resources it contains as we continue to incorporate this vision for the future of education into our daily work here at KDE.
Kind regards,
Jason E. Glass, Ed.D.
Commissioner and Chief Learner
Kentucky EPSB Approves Emergency Regulation for Alternative Route to Teaching Certification
The Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board (EPSB) approved an emergency administrative regulation for a new expedited alternative teaching certification pathway, referred to as Option 9, at its July 11 special meeting.
House Bill (HB) 277, sponsored by Rep. Walker Thomas, amended KRS 161.048 to create Option 9, an expedited certification of a person to teach at any grade level through a cooperative program. This new route differs from the other eight options because it is available to candidates who have not obtained a bachelor’s degree and will not allow for temporary or provisional certification while completing the route.
Under Option 9, an EPSB-approved college or university may partner with a school district or educational cooperative to develop an expedited certification program that results in a bachelor’s degree and initial teaching certification within three school years.
You can read more about the program and its requirements on Kentucky Teacher.
Option 9 was developed in partnership between Kentucky legislators, Christian County Public Schools, Murray State University and the West Kentucky Educational Cooperative in order to address teacher shortages and improve Grow-Your-Own programs.
Because of the tight timeline between the legislation becoming effective on July 14 and the EPSB administrative regulation process, the EPSB approved an emergency regulation to enact administrative oversight of Option 9. This was accompanied by an identical ordinary administrative regulation that will replace the emergency regulation once completed.
Kentucky Equitable Access to Effective Educators Survey for School Report Card
The Kentucky Department of Education’s Office of Educator Licensure and Effectiveness now collects data pertaining to the count of ineffective teachers through the Kentucky Equitable Access to Effective Educators Survey and as reported in the Kentucky School Report Card.
A teacher receives a summative rating of “ineffective” as determined through the local performance evaluation system that meets the requirements established by KRS 156.557.
The survey will be emailed on Wednesday, July 20. Superintendents (or designee) should complete the survey by Monday, Aug. 1.
If you have any questions, email Scott Tremoulis.
KDE to Offer Statewide Federal Programs Training
The Kentucky Department of Education is pleased to offer a statewide federal programs training at no cost to school districts on Sept. 20-22 at the Central Bank Center in downtown Lexington. The same content will be offered on three different days.
The training will be provided by Brustein & Manasevit, a legal firm that is nationally recognized for its federal grants management and education regulatory and legislative practice.
The training will benefit district staff who are responsible for the oversight and administration of federal education programs and compliance with legal requirements. We strongly encourage the district superintendent, finance officer and federal programs coordinator to attend.
Register for this training online. Although the registration will remain open until the training, space is limited, so please register early to secure a spot for your preferred date. Attendees must register individually.
For more information, email Erin Sudduth or Tara Rodriguez.
Registration Open for 2022 Continuous Improvement Summit
The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) and Cognia™ invite you to the annual Continuous Improvement Summit Sept. 26-27 at the Central Bank Center, formerly the Lexington Convention Center. Keynote speaker Bradley J. Geise will discuss “Data Analysis in Continuous Improvement.”
This summit will provide attendees with an opportunity to invest in their own growth as a leader and a teacher. Learn from experts and come away with strategies that can make a difference in your own work and the experiences of your students.
Participants will make new connections and build upon existing relationships with peers across Kentucky, hear up-to-date information from KDE leaders and learn how Cognia can help you address your unique challenges in your journey of continuous improvement.
To register for this event, visit the registration website. #KYCIS2022
|