Kentucky Teacher

The Magna Awards is a national recognition program co-sponsored by American School Board Journal, the National School Boards Association and Sodexo School Services that honors school board best practices and innovative programs that advance student learning.

Magna nominations are judged according to three enrollment categories: less than 5,000 enrollment; 5,000-20,000 enrollment; and more than 20,000 enrollment. One grand prize winner in each category receives a $4,000 contribution from Sodexo School Services.

There are five additional winners and five honorable mention winners within each enrollment category. Only nominations submitted using the online nomination form will be considered by the judges. Learn more about the Magna Awards program and nominate a program by clicking here. All nominations must be completed online by Oct. 31.

The Kentucky Department of Education’s Division of Next-Generation Professionals has extended the application period for the Minority Superintendent Internship Program (MSIP). The MSIP consists of two initiatives  the Minority Superintendent Internship and the Minority Emerging Education Leader Internship.

The deadline for the re-opened application process is 4:30 p.m. ET on Friday, August 24. The MSIP application portfolio packet is available online here. The successful MSIP candidates will begin the program in September.

MSIP is designed to identify and train a pool of highly-qualified and highly-effective minority superintendent candidates for Kentucky’s public school districts. The program provides qualified candidates with the opportunity for hands-on, mentored experiences with Kentucky superintendents and education leaders. For the purposes of this program, “minority” is defined to include underrepresented members of ethnic minority groups. Continue Reading

The U.S. Department of Education has finalized the application for the 2012 Race to the Top-District competition, which will provide nearly $400 million to support school districts in implementing local reforms that will personalize learning, close achievement gaps and take advantage of 21st century tools that prepare each student for college and their careers.

The program sets a high bar to fund those districts that have a track record of success, clear vision for reform, and innovative plans to transform the learning environment and accelerate student achievement.

Race to the Top, launched in 2009, has inspired dramatic education reform nationwide, leading 45 states and the District of Columbia to pursue higher college- and career-ready standards, data-driven decision making, greater support for teachers and leaders, and turnaround interventions in low performing schools. The next phase proposes to build on those principles at the classroom level to support bold, locally directed improvements in learning and teaching that will directly improve student achievement and educator effectiveness. Continue Reading

The Friends of Mammoth Cave National Park is providing transportation grants of up to $500 to enable children to visit the park who may otherwise not have the opportunity.

The first two transportation grant recipients are T. C. Cherry Elementary (Warren County) and Whitney Young Elementary (Jefferson County). Each school will plan individual visits to the park later in the year.

Schools and civic groups who work with children may apply for the second round of grants through Sept. 10. Grant details and application criteria are available at http://www.friendsofmammothcave.org/. For more information, applicants may call (270) 758-2152.

The Kentucky Center for School Safety has released a checklist for schools to use in reducing incidents of bullying.

“This is not an all-inclusive list, but it is a good start for principals to reflect and act accordingly,” said Jon Akers, the center’s executive director. “Our website is a great resource for bullying prevention and cyberbullying prevention information as well at www.kysafeschools.org.”

The list is as follows:

1. Ensure that all staff and students are publicly exposed to and given a copy of the bullying/harassment policy. For example, have school-based administrators discuss the policy with students and staff at faculty, staff and student-group meetings within the first couple of weeks of school, as well as again periodically during the school year. Call attention to these policies in student and staff handbooks, school board policies, criminal laws, etc.

2. Describe the steps that will be taken by school officials when they receive a report or witness a child being bullied or harassed. Continue Reading

As part of its ongoing celebration of everyday Americans who make extraordinary contributions to their communities, Wonder bread is, for a second year, inviting American families to nominate inspiring teachers for the 2012 7Wonders of the USA Teacher Tour program.

The 2012 7Wonders of the USA Teacher Tour honors selfless contributions of American teachers and the ways they inspire a sense of wonder in students by giving them the chance to visit and teach a lesson from one of America’s 7Wonders. This year, Wonder will send the seven lucky 7Wonders teacher winners to locations that celebrate American heritage: the Freedom Trail in Boston; Gateway Arch in St. Louis; Gettysburg National Military Park in Gettysburg, Penn.; the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia; the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis; “Old Faithful” Geyser in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming; and Redwood National and State Park in California. Continue Reading

The National Science Teachers Association’s (NSTA’s) fall area conference on science education will take place in Louisville Oct. 18-20.

During the conference professional development experts will work with science educators interested in new learning, better teaching, fresh content and strategies that build student performance. Participants will be able to take advantage of nearly 400 session choices for teachers in every grade band and discipline.

The Picture-Perfect Science Pre-conference Workshop will be held Oct. 18 and will instruct teachers on how to integrate science and reading through children’s trade books in this popular STEM-focused opportunity.

Visit www.nsta.org/conferences/2012lou for more information and to register.