Kentucky Teacher

Northern Kentucky University’s Center for Applied Informatics (CAI) is offering students in grades 10-12 the opportunity to develop Android apps this summer. This four- day course, scheduled for July 23-26, will teach students how to write their first apps for Android devices.

The camp will stress logic, creativity, collaboration and fun, and be led by CAI staff who have developed several Android apps. The day camp costs $75. Admission includes lunch and refreshments. Applications are due by June 8.

Visit http://cai.nku.edu/for more information or contact Sarah Mann at (859) 572-7792.

The Kentucky Literacy Leaders Academy for History and Social Studies, provided in partnership by the Kentucky Department of Education and the Kentucky Historical Society, will be June 19-21 in Frankfort.

This event will kick off a year-long project designed to train history/social studies literacy leaders who will focus on the integration of Common Core literacy standards/skills into history and social studies.

The academy will consist of the three-day session; two virtual academy sessions in the fall; and one virtual academy session and one face-to-face academy meeting in the spring of 2013.

Only 24 teachers will be selected statewide (preferably an elementary, middle and high school teacher from each of the eight educational cooperative regions in Kentucky) to participate.

Teachers will be required to train other teachers within their districts and education cooperative regions. Travel expenses, hotel accommodations, meals, stipend and books/resources will be provided to all participants selected. Continue Reading

Kentucky State University’s School of Education has been awarded a grant from the Collaborative Center for Literacy Development (CCLD) to offer high-quality professional development opportunities that focus on the literacy development of students in grades 6-12. More specifically, the grant activities will provide information, resources and instructional strategies related to the teaching and assessment of literacy (Common Core Standards for English/language arts) when working with diverse students.

Grant participants will be expected to:

• complete four to five online course modules
• attend two online webinars
• attend a two-week summer academy (hybrid model consisting online and face-to-face training) in July 2012
• complete an individual literacy project with a diverse student in his/her classroom
• participate in a “fair share” with other CCLD grant participants across the state Continue Reading

From now until May 31, tell KET what you think about KET EncycloMedia by taking a brief survey.

Participants will be entered in drawings to win an iPad, Kindle Fire or one of several other fun prizes.

Education Commissioner Terry Holliday’s Twitter Town Hall scheduled for May 23 has been canceled. The Kentucky Department of Education is looking to reschedule the event in June.  

Kentucky First Lady Jane Beshear has joined with the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) in supporting the Kentucky Public Libraries’ summer reading programs.

This year’s themes are “Dream Big” (early literacy and children) and “Own the Night” (teens). A letter to parents from Jane Beshear will be sent to schools in May encouraging families to support reading throughout the summer months. A brief video from Jane Beshear also can be seen here.

Teachers and parents are encouraged to help children use “Find a Book, Kentucky” (www.lexile.com/fab/ky) to build personal reading lists for summer reading and then locate their selections at their school libraries or local public libraries. “Find a Book, Kentucky” uses the widely-adopted Lexile measure to match a reader with books that will provide the right level of challenge to support reading growth. Library media specialists and public librarians are ready to assist children and their parents as they make summer reading selections.

A new feature this year is encouragement from KDE to students to “Pledge to Read” during the summer on the “Find a Book, Kentucky” site. Look for the “submit your summer reading pledge” icon to indicate participation.

Find more information on KDE’s “summer reading” Web page: http://tinyurl.com/KYSummerReading. Each school’s library media specialist has additional resources to promote summer reading programs.

For more information about specific activities, contests and reading events for the Summer Reading Program in your county, contact your local public library.

The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) has announced that the review process for the 2012 Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Education Program RFA is complete. Award listings will be posted to the KDE Competitive Grant Awards site.

KDE appreciates everyone’s participation in the grant process and hope those interested will continue to seek and apply for beneficial grants for districts/schools as they become available.

Awards listed are contingent upon districts/schools meeting all programmatic and budgetary requirements. In addition, awards are contingent upon receipt of final federal award notification.

For information about schools and districts receiving funds, or for budget-related questions, contact Thelma Hawkins at (502) 564-1979. Those wanting score sheets or having questions related to the application process, contact Jason Kendall at (502) 564-2351. All other questions should be addressed to Mary Marshall at (502) 564-3791.

The Kentucky Educator Placement Service (KEPS) is a Web-based application designed to fulfill KRS 160.380(2)(d), which requires certified positions be posted 30 days before they can be filled.

KEPS has been redesigned in an effort to better assist districts and school leaders with their hiring needs. Statewide implementation of the new KEPS application is expected to take place June 2012.

To prepare for the launch of the new system, a series of WebEx trainings will be hosted for district personnel who are assigned to edit and post certified vacancies as well as complete the Minority Recruitment and Retention (MERR) report in KEPS.

To ensure appropriate staff is notified of this training, an e-mail will be sent out with the name(s) of district personnel that are currently identified as the KEPS contacts. District leaders are asked to review the contact names and either confirm the names are accurate or identify the appropriate contacts.

For more information, contact Candace Souder at (502) 564-1479.

The Learning Disabilities Association of Kentucky is inviting teachers and staff to its annual seminar that will provide current education information, strategies and enthusiasm.

This year’s speaker is Marilyn Friend, author of the book, Including Students with Special Needs: A Practical Guide for Classroom Teachers. Friend is one of the foremost experts in America on co-teaching. This seminar has six hours of professional development credit for teachers, counselors, principals and psychologists.

Link for PDF Registration Form: www.ldaofky.org/Registration%20for%20marilyn%20friend.pdf

Link for online registration by credit card: http://2012ldaseminar.eventbrite.com/

For more information, contact Tim Woods at (502) 473-1256 or go to www.LDAofKY.org/upcoming_events.htm.

Superintendent support is needed to focus attention on this year’s process to verify the 2011-12 School Safety Data.

District safe schools coordinators will be receiving directions on how to verify district data to ensure it is entered into Infinite Campus completely and accurately. This year’s verification window is May 15- June 15. Beginning this fall, School Safety Data will be reported and accessible through Open House.

For more information, contact Toyah Robey.