Kentucky Teacher

The Kentucky Department of Education and Ashland Inc. have selected 24 outstanding Kentucky educators as recipients of the 2013 Ashland Inc. Teacher Achievement Awards (TAA). These teachers qualify to compete for the 2013 Kentucky Teacher of the Year Award, which will be announced next month.

The 24 winning teachers, listed by school district, are:

Clay County – Joyce Ellen Bowling, Manchester Elementary

Corbin Independent – Kristal Doolin, Corbin Middle School

Daviess County – Heidi Givens, Country Heights Elementary

Daviess County – Angela Gunter, Daviess County High

Fayette County – Linda Kelley Dewees, Henry Clay High

Fayette County – Christi Elkins-Gabbard, Lexington Traditional Magnet Continue Reading

By Amy Wallot
amy.wallot@education.ky.gov

After visiting Lawrence County High School for an upcoming story about Close the Deal, I stopped by their neighbor to the west, Sandy Hook Elementary School (Elliott County). The school serves approximately 250 students in kindergarten through sixth grade.

Walking around the school with principal Vanessa Maggard, a former classroom teacher, her past experience became obvious. She interacted with students regarding content areas and was a good sport when students asked her to participate in their art activity.

Fourth-grade students Gavin Whitt and Josh Fraley get a rubbing of principal Vanessa Maggard's shoe during Michelle Ison's art class. It was Gavin's idea to ask her to participate. Photo by Amy Wallot, Sept. 10, 2012

Fourth-grade students in Michelle Ison's art class take a rubbing of principal Vanessa Maggard's shoe. The students took rubbings of their own shoes, drew on limbs and other body parts and turned them into paper monsters. Photo by Amy Wallot, Sept. 10, 2012

Ceri Whitley reads her piece on suggestions to improve the town during Robin Griffith's language arts class. Whitley suggested new restaurants in Sandy Hook would give people a place to eat and bring jobs. Photo by Amy Wallot, Sept. 10, 2012

Tara Griffith helps 5th-grade student Hannah Cole with an assignment during her reading class.. Photo by Amy Wallot, Sept. 10, 2012

First-grade student Tyler Maggard demonstrates his counting skills for Jamee Markwell during her class. Photo by Amy Wallot, Sept. 10, 2012

Reading intervention specialist Amanda Dickerson works with the 1st-grade class. Photo by Amy Wallot, Sept. 10, 2012

Sixth-grade students Emmy Greene and Kayarin Montgomery watch their experiment that simulates how a cell membrane works during Lisa Elam's science class. The plastic bag was filled with corn starch and placed in an iodine dilution. Photo by Amy Wallot, Sept. 10, 2012

The National Science Teacher Association (NSTA) is hosting a professional development experience for Kentucky science educators and administrators on Oct. 18.

Kentucky Department of Education Science Consultant Sean Elkins will open the session with the most up-to-date information concerning the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and timeline for Kentucky schools.

Two special concurrent sessions offered only to Kentucky science educators and administrators will follow:

• Brian Hand, University of Iowa, and Lori A. Norton Meier, University of Louisville, will lead a session for teachers focused on questions, claims and evidence directly aligned with A Framework for K-12 Science Education.
• Caroline Kiehle, associate director of professional development, Center for Inquiry Science at the Institute for Systems Biology, Seattle, will lead a session that focuses on leadership and strategic planning for implementing the Common Core State Standards and the NGSS designed for Kentucky principals, coordinators, supervisors and coaches.

For more information, contact Diane Johnson at (606) 541-6106.

REL Appalachia is sponsoring a Kentucky Bridging Event on Oct. 23 at Berea College.

Bridging Research to Practice: Helping Students Navigate the Path to College is a partnership between the Kentucky Department of Education, the Collaborative for Teaching and Learning (CTL), the CCR Alliance at Eastern Kentucky University, the Kentucky Association of School Administrators and GEAR Up at Berea College.

The event will explore recommendations in the IES Practice Guide Helping Students Navigate the Path to College: What High Schools Can Do. Participants will compare practices in their schools to the recommendations and hear from Kentucky practitioners as they share their experiences preparing students for college.

EILA credit is available. For more information, contact CTL’s Deborah Walker.

The Governor’s School for Entrepreneurs (GSE) is a three-week entrepreneurship program designed to give Kentucky high school students a hands-on opportunity to invent a product and create a business around it.

Students will come ready to roll up their sleeves, work as a team and create something that provides a real-world solution. GSE’s unique program brings teachers, schools, universities, graduate students, start-up technology companies, experienced entrepreneurs, scientists and engineers all together into a dynamic summer learning experience.

Entrepreneurs allocate resources and create value through solutions to problems. GSE stands out from other youth entrepreneurship programs because it places a strong emphasis on product design and innovation.

GSE selects students for the program by identifying those who show a passion for creating a product or idea and those who possess a learning style that will thrive in a creative and innovative environment.

GSE aims to uncover young talent that traditional academic pathways may not draw out and will stimulate and shape the next generation of leaders. Continue Reading

VSA Kentucky is extending a call for art to K-12 students with disabilities in Kentucky schools.

Selected artwork will be included in the Student Traveling Exhibition called “A Matter of Perspective.” Art selected for this exhibit will travel to educational and community venues all around Kentucky and will be unveiled at the Exceptional Children’s Conference in Louisville in November.

The goal is to recognize and share the artistic accomplishment of students throughout the state. In addition, the exhibit provides an opportunity for all students to learn from and appreciate the visual arts through the creative expressions of their peers.

Submissions must be postmarked by Oct. 20. For entry forms and guidelines, visit www.vsartsky.org/programs/student-traveling-art-exhibits.

For more information, contact Delaire Rowe at (270) 781-0872.

By Amy Wallot
amy.wallot@education.ky.gov

The first day of school is an emotional event, sometimes more for parents than students. I like shooting the first day, especially for kindergarten students. The variety of emotions and little moments is wonderful. And it is one of the few times in the school year I’m able to photograph parent interaction.

The early Learning Village (Franklin County) was a perfect location. It serves students in grades preschool through first grade.  The kindergarten students were sent to the gym as they first entered the building. They sat in lines organized by class, with a large picture of their teacher on the wall to help them remember. When all of the students had arrived, their teachers lead them to their new classrooms. They were offered activities like coloring or playing with clay and the nervousness seemed to disappear.

Good luck to all of the teachers and students this year. Let me know if you have anything really cool or unusual happening in your classroom this year and maybe I’ll stop by for a visit.

Kindergarten student Kylie Dean waits for the doors to open before the first day of classes at the Early Learning Village (Franklin County). Photo by Amy Wallot, Aug. 8, 2012

Brittany Hensley poses with her daughter Makalee before the first day of kindergarten. Photo by Amy Wallot, Aug. 8, 2012

Assistant principal Larry Murphy greets students and parents as they enter for the first day of school. Photo by Amy Wallot, Aug. 8, 2012

Lauren Cheshire-Jones gives her son Nolan a kiss before the first day of classes. Photo by Amy Wallot, Aug. 8, 2012

Kindergarten student Becky Patterson sits in her mom's lap before the first day of school. According to Jennifer Patterson, Becky didn't want her to leave. Photo by Amy Wallot, Aug. 8, 2012

Kindergarten student Kayleigh Johnson cuddles up to her mom April Kramer one last time before entering her classroom. Photo by Amy Wallot, Aug. 8, 2012

Kindergarten student Caleb Swaim takes pictures of his parents Jill and Kurt Swaim before the first day of school. Jill said her son loves his camera and taking pictures. Photo by Amy Wallot, Aug. 8, 2012