The Elementary School Teacher of the Year Elizabeth Ann Fuller, Kentucky Teacher of the Year Kimberly Shearer, and the Middle School Teacher of the Year Jenni Lou Jackson pose with their awards during the 2012 Ashland Inc. Teacher Achievement Awards. Photo by Amy Wallot, Oct. 18, 2011
Kimberly Shearer, an English teacher at Boone County High School, has been named Kentucky Teacher of the Year.
The announcement was made today at a ceremony held at the Capitol Rotunda in Frankfort by Ashland Inc. and the Kentucky Department of Education. Gov. Steve Beshear; Secretary of the Education and Workforce Development Cabinet Joseph Meyer; Commissioner of Education Terry Holliday; and Ashland Chairman and CEO Jim O’Brien were on hand to make the presentation.
Elizabeth Ann Fuller, a 3rd-grade reading and writing demonstration site teacher at J.B. Atkinson Academy in Jefferson County, was named 2012 Elementary School Teacher of the Year. Jenni Lou Jackson, an 8th-grade language arts teacher at Corbin Middle School in the Corbin Independent school district, was named 2012 Middle School Teacher of the Year.
The three joined 21 other teachers from across the state honored with 2012 Ashland Inc. Teacher Achievement Awards. Fuller and Jackson received $3,000 each and a customized, art-glass vase from Ashland Inc., while Shearer received $10,000 and a commemorative crystal-glass bowl. In addition, the Department of Education will provide a sabbatical or suitable alternative for Shearer, who also will represent the state in the 2012 National Teacher of the Year competition. The remaining 21 winners each received $500 cash awards. All 24 teachers received framed certificates and were further recognized at a luncheon following the ceremony.
This is the 11th year Ashland Inc. and the Kentucky Department of Education have co-sponsored the Kentucky Teacher Achievement Awards. Applications for the program were distributed across the state, and the first tier of the selection process was completed in August, with 24 teachers selected as 2012 Ashland Inc. Teacher Achievement Award winners. To read the bios of the 24 TAA winners, visit the education section of Ashland Inc.’s website.
Nine top scorers – three each from the elementary, middle and high school levels – were selected, and teams of educators visited their classrooms to view them at work and to conduct personal interviews. From those nine, three were selected as 2012 Kentucky Teachers of the Year. The selection of the overall Kentucky Teacher of the Year was based on a compilation of scores from all phases of judging.
Ashland has recognized outstanding Kentucky teachers with its Teacher Achievement Awards since 1988. Approximately $631,500 has been awarded to more than 425 teachers of grades K to 12.
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