Kentucky Teacher

Nominations for the 2012 National Online Teacher of the Year for K-12 education are being accepted for a competition sponsored by two leading education nonprofit organizations, the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) and the International Association for K-12 Online Learning (iNACOL).

Now in its third year, the SREB/iNACOL National Online Teacher of the Year Award honors a distinguished online teacher who defines quality teaching in online K-12 education. A superintendent, principal, program director/manager, department chair or any other supervisor of the teacher may nominate an online educator in any U.S. public school or state virtual school for the award.

The winner will be announced March 1, 2012, at the SREB Symposium on Virtual Teaching and Learning in Atlanta. Three finalists will receive all-expenses-paid trips to the event. The winner also will receive a custom trophy and an all-expenses-paid trip to the iNACOL 2012 Virtual School Symposium in New Orleans in November 2012, in addition to participating in several educational, webinar and press events. Each of the other finalists also will receive a special plaque and other honors.

Nominations close Oct. 17. For nomination details, go to www.nationalonlineteacher.org.

The Kentucky Arts Council’s Teacher Initiated Program (TIP) grant is for K-12 public or private schools. Teachers work with professional artists to apply for a residency that they create together based on the needs of their school/classroom. It is a match grant where the arts council pays two-thirds of the artist fee, and the school or district provides the remaining one-third.

Those interested can find the application link at http://artscouncil.ky.gov/Grants/TIP.htm

To view a list of adjudicated artists, click here.

The next application deadline is Oct.15.

For more information, contact Rachel Allen at (502) 564-3757 ext. 486 or go to www.artscouncil.ky.gov.

USA TODAY and Samsung are partnering together for this year’s Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Contest. This program is open to all teachers in grades 6-12.

Selected teachers will create a video answering the question: “How can you use STEM to improve the environment in your community?”

Teachers must apply online prior to Oct. 31. Teachers can complete an online application at www.samsung.com/solvefortomorrow to become eligible to participate in the video contest. The top 25 respondents selected will receive a Samsung camcorder, Samsung laptop and Adobe video editing software to create videos responding to the question,

The top five finalists will be invited to an event announcing the grand prize winner in Washington D.C. in April 2012.

Click here to register for the program.

For more information, contact Kim Svoboda at (516) 924-1355.

Kentucky Education Commissioner Terry Holliday has been appointed to serve a four-year term on a national board charged with setting policy for the nation’s only assessment of student achievement in subjects like mathematics, reading, writing and science.

U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan announced Holliday’s appointment to the National Assessment Governing Board (NAGB) this week.

The board sets policy — including what subjects will be tested and the content and achievement levels for each test — for the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), also known as The Nation’s Report Card. Continue Reading

The 2011-12 school year marks the 50th anniversary of the Kentucky Junior Historical Society (KJHS). Since 1961, KJHS has been positively impacting the lives of Kentucky’s students. KJHS is a membership program administered by the Kentucky Historical Society that connects Kentucky students in kindergarten through grade 12 to Kentucky’s rich history.

In KJHS, members have the opportunity to participate in activities, academic competitions and service projects throughout the school year and summer. These activities are designed to increase members’ understanding of and appreciation for how history can be used to build strong communities; improve the quality of life; develop sound and objective public policy; and develop and inspire the next generation of Kentucky’s leadership. Continue Reading

The Educational Testing Service is looking for raters with a mathematics education background to help code more than 6,700 mathematics lessons as part of the Measures of Effective Teaching (Gates) study. Raters will be trained on the Mathematical Quality of Instruction instrument, certified, and then paid to watch and code mathematics lessons. This job has proven appealing to graduate students, mathematics teachers and others because of the wide variety of instruction and the disciplined approach to examining mathematics teaching.
Those interested can click here for more information or contact Kim Zeidler-Watters at (859) 257-4836.

The Kentucky Improving Schools and Districts Productivity Conference will be Nov. 10 in Louisville. The conference will focus on efficient and effective practices in district operations.

Along with keynote speakers, breakout sessions will offer best practices from local school districts.

For more information, contact David Cook at david.cook@education.ky.gov.