Kentucky Teacher

The Kentucky Society for Technology in Education (KySTE) has extended the deadline for presenters to submit proposals for its annual conference, March 7-9, in Louisville. Approved presenters attend the conference for free.

This year’s conference theme is “Connect, Collaborate, Change.” KySTE is especially looking for presentations that support technology as an education change agent through connection and collaboration. Conference sessions are 60 minutes in length.

See instructions on how to apply online here.

Letters About Literature (LAL), a national reading and writing promotion program of the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress, invites young readers in grades 4-12 to enter this year’s LAL letter-writing competition. The contest challenges young readers to write a personal letters of reflection to authors that have changed their view of the world.

LAL awards prizes on both the state and national levels in three competition levels: Level 1 for children in grades 4-6; Level 2 for children in grades 7-8; and Level 3 for children in grades 9-12. Six national winners will each receive cash awards and earn the opportunity to nominate a school or community library to receive a $10,000 LAL Reading Promotion grant. Twelve national honor winners will receive cash awards and also will nominate a school or community library for a $1,000 LAL Reading Promotion grant.

Teachers, librarians and parents can download free teaching materials on LAL’s reader response and reflective writing program, including lesson plans, assessment checklists and student writing samples by visiting the LAL website. Submissions must be postmarked by Jan. 6, 2012. State winners will be notified in April 2012 and national winners by May 2012.

For more details, contact Catherine Gourley at (570) 262-7320.

Kentucky’s Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) begins Nov. 7 and provides financial assistance toward utility bills or the purchase of bulk heating sources such as propane, kerosene, wood, coal and other fuels.

Schools can help spread the word about LIHEAP by sharing information in parent newsletters, backpack messages and through other means.

For more information, contact Kate Haydon at (502) 875-5863, ext. 37.

The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) will begin hosting a monthly TweetFEST to invite teachers and administrators to share resources they’re using to teach the new Kentucky Core Academic Standards (KCAS) in the 2011-12 school year.

The first TweetFEST was Oct. 25, and each subsequent TweetFEST will be on the fourth Tuesday of each month during the 2011-12 school year (except in December). Continue Reading

Advocates, policymakers, community leaders, and others who care about children will gather for the Western Kentucky Step Up for Kids Regional Conference on Nov. 9 at Murray State University.

The event, which is hosted by West Kentucky Children’s Health Coalition and Purchase Area Health Education Center, starts at 9:30 a.m. CT and ends at 12:30 p.m. CT. The event is free.

Conference participants will discuss issues currently facing Kentucky’s kids and families, learn about the solutions presented in the Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children Agenda, and find out how to raise their voices in their community and Frankfort in order to make positive changes. Continue Reading

The Kentucky Improving Schools and Districts Productivity Conference will be Nov. 10 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Louisville.

For more information, contact David Cook.

Berea Tourism and Berea Studio Artists are inviting teachers to attend “Make It, Take It, Give It: The Twelve Days of Christmas” professional development (PD).

The training is being offered Dec. 1-12. It provides  a fun, hands-on approach to Program Review, and clear strategies for integrating the arts across the curriculum.

One of the educator-only sessions is Studio Pottery for Educators (maximum eight participants). No experience is necessary. Click here to register specifically for this class.

For more information, contact Judy Sizemore at (606) 364-5831.

The Kentucky Department of Education is seeking public school students in grades 10-12 to serve on the newly-created Next-Generation Student Council.

Education Commissioner Terry Holliday created the council to gain valuable feedback from Kentucky students and to engage student leaders.

The council will meet with the commissioner and Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) staff, both in person and virtually, to provide feedback on critical issues impacting Kentucky students and schools. It also will work with KDE staff to develop ideas aimed at improving and transforming education.

The Next-Generation Student Council is a year-long program for Kentucky public school students in grades 10-12. KDE seeks students to serve on the council who have refreshing ideas and thoughtful insight into how the department can further improve schools and student achievement. As such, students who represent the diverse academic, geographic, demographic and school-size variables particular to our state, are encouraged to apply. Continue Reading

The Kentucky Theater Association’s annual Professional Development Day, which is designed for teachers with all levels of experience teaching drama, is scheduled for Nov. 12.

KTA’s Professional Development Day is held in conjunction with its annual conference, which features a high school one-act play festival, a community theater play festival and auditions for performers seeking acting opportunities around the country.

In addition to hands-on, participatory sessions, the event also gives participants the opportunity to meet representatives from organizations like the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) and the Kentucky Arts Council. Participating educators are eligible for six hours of professional development credit.

The registration deadline is Nov. 2. For more information, click here.

High school students are invited to produce a 30-second public service announcement (PSA) about the perils of prescription drug abuse for the Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention PSA contest sponsored by the Kentucky Office of the Attorney General.

The contest is part of the Keep Kentucky Kids Safe statewide public awareness and education initiative.

The first-place winner of the contest will receive an Apple iPad donated by the National Association of Drug Diversion Investigators (NADDI). The runner-up will receive a $100 Amazon.com gift card, courtesy of the Kentucky Pharmacists Association. Continue Reading