Kentucky Teacher

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

Senior Marina Vitatoe paints a ceiling tile during an independent study with art teacher Linda Ishmael at Deming School (Robertson County). Vitatoe was planning on attending Morehead State University to study graphic design on a partial art scholarship. Photo by Amy Wallot, May 14, 2012

During the 2011-12 school year, Kentucky districts answered the call when challenged by Commissioner Terry Holliday and the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) to sign the Commonwealth Commitment.

Every district agreed to move 50 percent of their district’s high school graduates who are not college- and/or career-ready to college- and/or career-ready between 2010 and 2015.

To get a firm grasp on what schools were doing to facilitate this pledge and bring it to fruition, KDE staff members visited seven schools that have made significant strides toward student success in college and/or career readiness.

These visits consisted of interviews with teachers and school administrators and focused on how they were implementing a college- and career-readiness agenda.

Todd Baldwin, who formerly worked as a research and policy analyst at the time of the site visits, but who is currently an executive strategic advisor for the Office of Next-Generation Learners, said identifying promising practices around increasing college and career readiness and graduation rates was the main intent of these site visits. Continue Reading

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

Teacher Taylor Marshall answers a question for Tristan Fiegel during his English II class at Frankfort High School (Frankfort Independent). Photo by Amy Wallot, May 1, 2012

Taylor Marshall, a language arts teacher at Frankfort High School (Frankfort Independent), was listening to NPR recently and heard a discussion about how every single piece of information has a monetary value.

“It won’t be long before anything and everything can be found online,” said Marshall, who is in his fifth year of teaching. “Student access to this information allows me to be a facilitator of information and skills. Regarding our lessons, all of the facts are online, which allows me to focus on the deeper learning aspects of reading and writing.”

Marshall is one of the four teachers who helped bring the Internet to students during class time thanks to a pilot program that allowed students to use handheld devices.

“The devices ran the gamut from iPhones to iPods to iPads to the PC and Android devices,” Marshall said. “We used them almost every day for something.”

David Cook, director of Innovation and Partner Engagement for the Kentucky Department of Education, said he appreciates the steps some districts are taking by being more open to using handheld devices for learning. Continue Reading