Kentucky Teacher

From offering online classes to creating digital textbooks to flipping classrooms, Kentucky teachers are embracing technology because of the benefits to students. 

Now there is a special day to recognize the power of digital learning in the classroom.  On February 6,  thousands of students, parents, educators and community members across the country will celebrate the second annual Digital Learning Day.  Here in Kentucky, many teachers will be participating, and it’s not too late to join.  These are just a few of the ways in which teachers can take part:

• Make a video about how your school or class is using technology to engage students and improve instruction
• Try out a new resource,  app or activity that you haven’t used before with your class
• Write a blog post about your favorite digital tools and share with colleagues

At www.digitallearningday.org you can find more ideas for getting involved as well as examples of class blogs, videos, experiments and projects from schools across the nation.   There is also a certificate of participation that you can print for Continue Reading

Commissioner Terry Holiday answered questions during a Jan. 10 news conference during which Gov. Steve Beshear announced the results of Education Week’s annual “Quality Counts” report. Kentucky ranked 10th in the nation, up from 14th place last year, and 34th place in 2011. The report tracks key education indicators and grades states on their policy efforts and outcomes.

Kentucky’s ranking in an annual assessment of all states on key education indicators rose four places, making it 10th in the nation for its efforts to improve teaching, raise student achievement and many other variables related to public education. 

Gov. Steve Beshear joined Education Commissioner Terry Holliday and other education advocates to celebrate this new milestone today at the Capitol.

Each year, Education Week (a national publication that focuses on P-12 education) produces a special issue, “Quality Counts.” The report tracks key education indicators and grades states on their policy efforts and outcomes. Last year, Kentucky ranked 14th in the nation. In 2010, the state was in 34th place in this annual report.

“Kentucky has made dramatic progress in P-12 education in recent years, and we should be proud of that,” said Gov. Beshear. “This Quality Counts report recognizes all the hard work of teachers, administrators, parents, business and community members to educate our young people which will result in stronger workforce and improved quality of life for the people of the Commonwealth.” Continue Reading

Tthe National Board for Professional Teaching Standards’ (NBPTS) announcement this week that 268 Kentucky teachers were awarded the prestigious National Board Certification® in the class of 2012.  The achievement recognizes these educators among the top in the profession and promises to improve student learning and achievement in classrooms across the state. 

Kentucky is ranked 7^th in the number of teachers earning National Board Certification in the class of 2012.   The top ten states with the highest number of teachers achieving National Board Certification in 2012 were North Carolina, Washington, Illinois, California, Arkansas, South Carolina, Kentucky, Virginia, Maryland, and New York.  Nationally, 4,980 teachers achieved certification.  This brings the total certified up to 102,237.  Kentucky has made tremendous progress and is ranked 9^th overall in the total number of teachers in the U.S having earned National Board Certification.  Continue Reading

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has recognized Kentucky’s Division of School and Community Nutrition (SCN) with a  Direct Certification Performance Award for substantial improvement in direct certification during the 2011-12 school year. The recognition is accompanied by an award of $214,917. The award money will be used to continue improving the overall quality of the direct certification process.

Direct certification is the process of certifying a child for a free meal status based on the household receiving benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Kentucky Transitional Assistance Program (KTAP), foster children and certain eligible Medicaid recipients. This award calculated the direct certification percentage based on reviewing all potential SNAP children who were eligible for a free meal status against those students identified as directly certified by SCN’s participating sponsors.

Kentucky was one of eight states to receive the award. To be eligible, states had to submit a letter of Intent to Compete and Continue Reading

Gov. Steve Beshear has asked Kentuckians to observe a moment of silence Friday morning for the victims of last week’s school shooting in Newtown, Conn.

Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy declared Friday, Dec. 21, a day of mourning, and Connecticut citizens will observe a moment of silence at 9:30 a.m. that day. Gov. Malloy has asked that other states join in this remembrance.  Houses of worship and other buildings with bells are encouraged to sound them 26 times – one ring for each of the 20 children and six adults killed at the school.

“We grieve along with the families in Connecticut, and in this small way we can show that we hold them in our thoughts and prayers,” Gov. Beshear said. “A loss of this magnitude touches all of us, and we share their heartache. By coming together to observe a shared moment of mourning and reflection, however, we stand in support of the Newtown community and families, and in memory of the precious lives lost.” Continue Reading

Gov. Beshear announced Wednesday that 13 organizations are receiving grant funding under the 2011 settlement agreement between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA).

The recipients include education, housing, agricultural and economic development organizations and projects.     

“These projects represent many innovative initiatives in schools, universities, private industry, agriculture, non-profits, and local government and will help us to further the state’s energy and environmental goals, and provide long-term benefits to the citizens of the Commonwealth,” said Gov. Beshear.  “Many of the projects build upon existing programs that have already demonstrated the value of investments in energy efficiency technologies and practices.”

The settlement is a result from alleged violations of the Clean Air Act that requires TVA to invest in new and upgraded state-of-the-art pollution controls that will reduce pollution, save energy and protect public health and the environment. More information on the settlement can be found at http://www.epa.gov. Continue Reading

Ryan Williams

Ryan Williams, a 3rd-grade teacher at Mary Lee Cravens Elementary School in the Owensboro Independent school district, is Kentucky’s newest recipient of the Milken Family Foundation National Educator Award, which includes a financial reward of $25,000.

Williams was notified of his award Tuesday, when Education Commissioner Terry Holliday, First Lady Jane Beshear, Milken Family Foundation Vice-President Jane Foley and local dignitaries visited his school.

Williams has taught since 1999 and is a National Board Certified Teacher. He earned a master’s degree and bachelor’s degree from Western Kentucky University.

Williams is director of the Cravens iPad Academy, served on the school-based decision making council at Cravens and participated in the Owensboro Independent Academic Leadership program.

He is a member of the Owensboro Education Association, the Kentucky Education Association and the National Education Association.

Continue Reading

Elaine Farris is presented the Johnnie Grissom Award during the Kentucky Board of Education meeting in Frankfort, Ky.
Photo by Amy Wallot, Dec. 3, 2012

Clark County Superintendent Elaine Farris, Ed.D., received the fourth annual Dr. Johnnie Grissom Award (Strive for Achievement Through Instructional Equity) from the Kentucky Board of Education at its meeting Thursday.

Farris was nominated by Faith Thompson, Donald Stump and Brenda Considine, all of whom are administrators in the Clark County school system.

“Not only does she represent the epitome of dedication and passion for achieving instructional equity and opportunity in education, but also, perhaps most importantly, her leadership has achieved significant results,” the three noted in their nomination letter.

Farris has more than 30 years of educational experience, serving as superintendent in both the Shelby County and Clark County school districts. She was the first African American to hold the position of superintendent in a Kentucky school district. Farris also has been a principal and teacher. She served as interim Kentucky commissioner of education in 2009. Continue Reading

Randy Poe, superintendent of Boone County Schools, has been selected as the 2013 Kentucky Superintendent of the Year by the Kentucky Association of School Administrators.

Poe will now compete for the National Superintendent of the Year Award given by the American Association of School Administrators. Poe was presented the award on Nov. 26 during a surprise ceremony at the Longbranch Elementary School where students, faculty, board members and school leaders will gather to congratulate Poe.

Chief Academic Officer/Deputy Superintendent Karen Cheser said in her letter of nomination, “I’ve had the opportunity to work for and with hundreds of supervisors and I can say, unequivocally, that Randy Poe is the best leader I have known.”  She added, “Randy Poe is a rarity; he is a superintendent who epitomizes excellence in all areas on both the business side of education and the instructional side.” Continue Reading

Kentucky Education Commissioner Terry Holliday is the president-elect of the Council of Chief State School Officers’ (CCSSO’s) 2013-14 Board of Directors.

Elections took place during the 2012 Annual Policy Forum and Business Meeting in Savannah, Georgia November 15-17. Mitchell Chester, commissioner of education in Massachusetts, assumed the role of CCSSO president.

“I’m honored to be named CCSSO president-elect,” said Holliday. “This organization serves a crucial purpose for public education nationwide, and I look forward to working with my state-level peers on policy and advocacy.”

In December 2010, Holliday was named to the board of directors for CCSSO. He also serves on the National Assessment Governing Board, which sets policy for the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), known as the Nation’s Report Card. In February 2012, Holliday was named as a member of the national Commission on Standards and Performance Reporting, which will develop rigorous accreditation standards for educator preparation that will raise the bar for preparation Continue Reading