Kentucky Teacher

Robert F. Sexton, the longtime executive director of the Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence and a long-respected education advocate, died Aug. 26 following a struggle with cancer. Sexton was 68.

Sexton headed the Prichard Committee from the time it was formed in 1983 to advocate for education in Kentucky. Before joining the Prichard Committee, Sexton was deputy director of the Council on Higher Education, which was replaced by the Council on Postsecondary Education created by the 1997 higher education reform. Continue Reading

Pikeville College and Morehead State University (MSU) are working together this year to sponsor the Teacher Leader master’s program.

Through this partnership, aspiring teacher leaders will register as MSU students but attend classes at Pikeville College both on campus and online. Faculty at both Pikeville and Morehead State will teach the classes. Continue Reading

Results from the 2010 administration of the ACT to Kentucky’s public school juniors show improvements in all subject areas and higher percentages of students ready for college-level coursework.

Overall, Kentucky juniors improved their average composite ACT score from 18.2 in 2009 to 18.5 in 2010. Scores improved in English (17.3 in 2009 to 17.8 in 2010), mathematics (18.2 to 18.3), reading (18.4 to 18.9) and science (18.5 to 18.7). Continue Reading

Jones

Jones believes students succeed with parent, community support

Martha Jones, of Boyd County, represents the 7th Supreme Court District. She is a former social worker and continuing education counselor. She also worked with Friends of the Children, a non-profit organization in Ashland, to assist disadvantaged schoolchildren. Jones’ term will expire April 14, 2014. Continue Reading

By Susan Riddell
susan.riddell@education.ky.gov

The Ballard County school district has three schools and fewer than 1,500 students combined. Located west of Paducah, the tiny district was struggling several years ago to make sure students were reaching proficiency and their fullest potential.

Administrators met to decide on the best way to improve not only test scores but also the school climate each student experienced. In the end, the district went through several small changes in hopes of a big turnaround.

Mission accomplished.

Ballard County has made steady improvement in test scores thanks to new curriculum alignment. Principals at all three schools said that alignment was the single biggest factor in getting things turned around. Continue Reading

Library media specialists bring libraries to life and to the classroom

By Susan Riddell
susan.riddell@education.ky.gov

Library media specialist Becky Nelson, left, and 5th-grade language arts teacher Katisha Pickrell discuss the Mock Newbery Club for gifted readers at Hearn Elementary School (Franklin County) Aug. 25, 2010. Nelson said collaboration with teachers in her school is vital to a library media specialist’s success with students. Photo by Amy Wallot

“Though I work individually and in groups directly with students, I can teach many more of them through teamwork with their classroom teachers,” said the veteran LMS at Hearn Elementary School (Franklin County). “The library and librarian are resources for all instruction.”

Nelson has been an LMS for 30 years, including the last nine at Hearn Elementary. And she’s seen it all.

Still, she said her main goal has stayed focused on getting students excited about reading and making sure they access accurate information from her library. Continue Reading

Kathie Hickey is the newest president for the Kentucky Council on Economic Education (KCEE), the state’s only non-profit organization to provide professional development to K-16 educators in economic, financial and entrepreneurial education. Jan Mester, who has served as president since May 2002 and on the council for 25 years, retired Aug. 31. Mester will continue to serve as a program consultant for KCEE in her retirement.

Average ACT scores for Kentucky’s 2010 public high school graduates were mostly constant from those in 2009, although more students met college-ready benchmarks in mathematics and science according to the Kentucky Department of Education and the Council on Postsecondary Education. Continue Reading

Letcher County Central High School language arts teacher Rebecca Potter, left, mathematics teacher Faye Collier, center, and Principal Denise Yonts discuss the new language arts standards Sept. 9, 2010. Teachers from across the state are spending this year transforming Kentucky’s new Core Academic Standards into usable learning targets and developing the best ways to teach them. Photo by Amy Wallot

Teachers from across the state are spending this year transforming Kentucky’s new Core Academic Standards into usable learning targets – and developing the best ways to teach them.

Rebecca Potter, an 18-year veteran who teaches senior English and newspaper journalism at Letcher County Central High School, said integrating both content and technique can only benefit teachers. Continue Reading

Business teacher Jackie Revlett speaks to students during her Computer Applications class at Daviess County High School May 19, 2010. "We want our business students to graduate with the skills necessary for the workforce," she said. "We must prepare them all with the skills they need to succeed." Photo by Amy Wallot

Daviess County teacher inspires students through technology

By Susan Riddell
susan.riddell@education.ky.gov

Jackie Revlett had trouble selecting a major while she was attending Murray State University. She went from music therapy to nursing to accounting to computer science.

“I enjoyed business classes in college, but knew that my personality would not conform to an office cubicle from 8 to 5,” Revlett said.

Continue Reading