Kentucky Teacher

Public school students in grades 10-12 are invited to apply for membership in the Next-Generation Student Council, an advisory group that provides input and feedback to Kentucky Commissioner Terry Holliday.

The purpose of the council is to provide valuable feedback from Kentucky students and to engage student leaders in learning by doing. This group will meet with the commissioner and Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) staff, both in person and virtually, to discuss how decisions made at the state level are affecting students throughout Kentucky and provide feedback — from a student perspective — on critical issues impacting Kentucky students and schools.

The Next-Generation Student Council is a year-long program for Kentucky public school students in grades 10-12. The council seeks students with refreshing ideas and thoughtful insight into how schools and student achievement can be improved. Students who represent the diverse academic, geographic, demographic and school-size variables particular to Kentucky are encouraged to apply. Beginning with the 2012-13 school year, students selected for the council will have the option to serve consecutive one-year terms upon meeting eligibility requirements. Continue Reading

More than 30,000 junior and senior high school students from more than 2,000 schools affiliated with the National Forensic League (nflonline.org), which is the national high school speech and debate society, will focus this school year on the issue of “transportation infrastructure investment.”

The National Forensic League’s annual policy debate topic asks whether the U.S. government should substantially increase its transportation infrastructure investment. Students will research and debate the issue at local, state, regional and national competitions.

The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) is building a Web page that could serve as an informational resource for students interested in learning more about infrastructure investment. In addition, AASHTO will provide judges and guest speakers for special events throughout the school year.

More information on the National Forensic League and the national debate topic are available online at http://www.nflonline.org/StudentResources/Topics.  A listing of National Forensic League local contacts is available at http://www.nflonline.org/AboutNFL/DistrictContacts.

For more information, contact Lloyd Brown, AASHTO’s director of communications, at (202) 624-5802 or via e-mail at lbrown@aashto.org.

I spent two years on my high school yearbook staff. Even designed the cover my senior year. I never thought it would lead me down the path of my career. But it did and I couldn’t be more thankful. If you are a yearbook adviser and struggling, reach out to the photographers and designers in your area. They work at newspapers and communications departments in your community. They have a wealth of knowledge to share and if they are like me, they would be grateful to give back to the place that started them off, their high school yearbook.

Juniors Leah Brown and Jamie Muth and seniors Keely Wagner and Franklin Watson practice expose in different light situations during yearbook camp at Woodford County High School. Photo by Amy Wallot, July 26, 2012

Yearbook adviser Dan Ruff helps junior Maddy Hamel learn InDesign during camp at Woodford County High School Photo by Amy Wallot, July 26, 2012

Senior Kamila McDowell works on proper exposure under florescent lights during yearbook camp at Woodford County High School. McDowell is an art student who was asked to bring her creativity to the yearbook staff. Photo by Amy Wallot, July 26, 2012

Senior Caitlyn Hopkins learns to create color swatches in InDesign during yearbook camp at Woodford County High School. Photo by Amy Wallot, July 26, 2012

The Kentucky Press Association (KPA) is offering its annual book giveaway this fall. KPA encourages teachers, principals and librarians to contact their local newspaper publishers and ask if they are participating in the 2012 KPA Literacy Project and ask how their schools can join.

This year’s story, Unleashed, is written by Kentucky author Leigh Anne Florence and illustrated by Chris Ware. The theme is fitness and Kentucky adventures with our favorite Kentucky dachshund characters, Woody and Chloe.

Starting the week of Sept. 9, participating newspapers will give away scrapbooks, with the story cover, for readers to use to collect ten chapters and illustrations and make their own book. The chapters and illustrations to add to the scrapbook will be found weekly in local newspapers. The statewide literacy project also includes online, interactive chapter activities and 10 podcasts with the Woody character reading each chapter out loud. These will be at www.kypress.com. Continue Reading

The Continual Instructional Improvement Technology System (CIITS) has undergone some changes aimed at improving resources for teachers. 

First off, the left column on the CIITS homepage has been changed to make finding support resources easier. Training links now appear at the top of the page. All CIITS communications will be archived and can be accessed through the communications link. And, all CIITS-related webinars can now be found in one place by clicking on District Procedures/Webcast archive link on the CIITS homepage.

As teachers gear-up for full CIITS implementation in your districts in the 2012-13 school year, the Kentucky Department of Education has pulled together a few tools that they may find helpful. The Back-to-School CIITS Toolkit includes an overview PowerPoint for teachers, a video on CIITS implementation in Knott County, a teacher quick-start guide and some fun posters you many want to print and put up in your buildings to help create a “buzz” about CIITS. The back-to-school toolkit is available by clicking here. Teachers also are welcome to use any of the training resources available on the Teacher Training Page in CIITS to help get your teachers up to speed. If you have any questions, e-mail kdeciitsmailbox@education.ky.gov.

For those districts that have signed a release allowing NWEA to load their MAP data into CIITS, the data will be Continue Reading

The Kentucky Historical Society (KHS) Foundation has received a $110,000 grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). The funds will be used by KHS to create a curriculum called “The Right Answer,” a partnership between KHS and Kentucky schools.

The initiative will increase students’ skills in visual literacy, historical literacy and critical thinking with the aid of historical collections. KHS will conduct a pilot study that will result in a curriculum that can be shared statewide. The program will provide schools with a dynamic set of primary and secondary sources that can be used to teach across a broad range of disciplines, including history, social studies, government, humanities, reading, writing and fine arts.

IMLS recently distributed 152 awards nationwide totaling $18.1 million matched with $34.7 million in non-federal funds for Museums for America Program Grants. Continue Reading

Gov. Steve Beshear recently made several appointment to several education-related boards and commissions.

The following members have been appointed to the School Curriculum, Assessment and Accountability Council to serve for terms expiring April 20, 2014:

• Holly Bloodworth, of Murray, is a teacher for Murray Independent Schools. She represents teachers. The appointment replaces Patrice McCrary, whose term has expired.
• Phyllis O’Neal, of Marion, is principal of Calvert City Elementary School. She represents principals. The appointment replaces Denise A. Whitaker, whose term has expired.
• Thomas R. Guskey, of Lexington, is a professor at the University of Kentucky. He represents professors with experience in assessment and measurement. The appointment replaces Edward B. Reeves, whose term has expired.
• Jerry T. Green, of Pikeville, is superintendent of Pikeville Independent Schools. He represents superintendents. The appointment replaces Lu S. Young, whose term has expired. Continue Reading

Kentucky Teacher is looking to profile outstanding leaders in Kentucky’s public school districts for the 2012-13 school year.

If you know of an excellent district teacher or administrator who has innovative ideas, strong leadership qualities and a passion for helping students become college and career ready, e-mail the following information to Susan Riddell:

• nominee’s name, position, school and district
• contact information for nominee
• examples of how nominee has served in a leadership capacity
• what makes the nominee a strong leader
• headshot of the nominee

One leader will be profiled monthly in the Leadership Letter section of the Kentucky Teacher website. For more information, contact Riddell at (502) 564-2000, ext. 4621. Continue Reading

The Kentucky School Boards Association is hosting a FERPA Conference on Aug. 10 at the Clarion Hotel in Lexington. 

The U.S. Department of Education’s FERPA compliance office recently issued new student records regulations. That office also announced it is ramping up its enforcement of FERPA regulations.

 Why is FERPA Compliance Important?

• Violations can damage a student/parent.
• Civil Liability
• Damages
• It is Federal Law.
• U.S. Dept. of Education can withhold all district federal funding.
• Education Professional Standards Board can suspend/revoke a teaching certificate.
• It is insubordination under local board policy.

Join experienced KSBA staff for a four-hour, in-depth training that will cover the numerous policies and procedures districts must have in place, as well as court cases and Family Policy Compliance Office (FPCO) opinions.

For information, go to the KSBA website at www.ksba.org or contact Jolene Shearer if you have any questions.

The Kentucky Division of Water (DOW) has assumed state sponsorship of Project WET, an interdisciplinary water science and education program for formal and non-formal educators of students in kindergarten through grade 12 and adults. The program was previously sponsored by the Kentucky Environmental Education Council (KEEC).

The goal of Project WET, an acronym for Water Education for Teachers, is to provide scientifically accurate and educationally sound water resources education materials, training courses and networking services to citizens, organizations, governments and corporations.

The primary tool of the program is the newly revised Project WET Curriculum and Activity Guide 2.0, a 592-page book containing 64 interactive and classroom-ready activities, varied lesson plans, cross-reference tables, indices and a substantial glossary. The activities are grounded in science and are cross-curricular in nature, addressing the chemistry of water, functionality of watersheds, and such contemporary issues as water systems, resource management, water quality, water conservation, land-use planning and wetlands. Continue Reading