Kentucky Teacher

The Kentucky Center, in partnership with the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE), has announced  the 2013 Institute for ECE & Arts Integration.

The Institute is for Kentucky public school teachers of ECE (Exceptional Child Education) and Arts & Humanities in grades 3-8 and consists of three components:

• a six-hour Professional Development workshop on March 2 at Hardin County Schools Performing Arts Center
• a two-day artist residency in school during the spring of 2013
• a summit meeting on August 17 for sharing of lesson plans and student work

This program is designed for teacher teams comprised of an ECE teacher and an arts teacher from the same school. Ten teams will be selected. The deadline to apply is February 11, 2013. For an application form please go to http://www.kentuckycenter.org/content/downloads/ECE-Arts-Integration2013.pdf. If additional information is needed, please contact Stacy Ridgway at sridgway@kentuckycenter.org.

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

Shauna Phillips helps 4th-grade students Ripley Martin and Nick Curran measure angles using pizza slices as a reference at North Middletown Elementary School (Bourbon County), a Blue Ribbon School, Oct. 20, 2011. Photo by Amy Wallot

North Middletown Elementary School (Bourbon County) Principal Greg Ramey credits a new arts program and changes in science and social studies alignment with helping transform the school into a highly successful Blue Ribbon School.

And then there is the larger, overriding contributing factor.

“It’s our culture,” said Ramey, who has been principal at North Middletown Elementary for nine years. “I believe we are about as close to being self-actualized as a school team as one can get. We are truly in it for the right reasons.”

North Middletown was one of 10 state public schools that recently received the inaugural Distinguished Winners Circle Award at the Kentucky Safe Schools, Successful Students Conference. “To me this means culture,” Ramey said. “I love the Winners Circle Award because it recognizes great school culture, the key to any successful school.

“This is not just a great school,” Ramey said. “(This is) a great school getting better.” Read the full story

The Kentucky Arts Council’s Teacher Initiated Program (TIP) grant is for K-12 public or private schools. Teachers work with professional artists to apply for a residency that they create together based on the needs of their school/classroom. It is a match grant where the arts council pays two-thirds of the artist fee, and the school or district provides the remaining one-third.

Those interested can find the application link at http://artscouncil.ky.gov/Grants/TIP.htm

To view a list of adjudicated artists, click here.

The next application deadline is Oct.15.

For more information, contact Rachel Allen at (502) 564-3757 ext. 486 or go to www.artscouncil.ky.gov.

Connie Baynum, right, leads a practice for middle school students from Kenton County before a performance at Dixie Heights High School as part of the ASCENT Arts program Jan. 18, 2011. Photo by Amy Wallot

By Matthew Tungate
matthew.tungate@education.ky.gov

Connie Baynum had a long day ahead of her. She was responsible for making sure that about 75 6th-, 7th- and 8th-graders from four middle schools learned the choreography, song lyrics and speaking parts to a play they were to perform later that night.

A bus was 35 minutes late on a day already crowded with much to do. Instead of crumpling under the stress, Baynum embraced the “show must go on” philosophy like a veteran thespian – which she is.

“In about 10 hours you will grace the stage with a wonderful message,” Baynum told the students. Read the full story

Larry Vick, superintendent of the Owensboro Independent school district, is the recipient of the Kentucky Music Educators Association (KMEA) Outstanding Administrator Award for 2010-2011. He was presented the award during the KMEA professional development conference on Feb. 11.

Vick was honored for his impact and support of music education.  Under his leadership, the district recently completed a multimillion dollar fine arts suite at Owensboro High School.  The new wing includes Wenger practice rooms with recording facilities tied into an IT room, large music classrooms with recording and playback media, and a newly renovated auditorium with outstanding sound and light capabilities.

Vick has been superintendent of the Owensboro school district since 2001.  In 2008, he was chosen Kentucky Superintendent of the Year by his peers in the Kentucky Association of School Administrators. The district also was honored for its comprehensive fine arts programs with a PEAK Award given by the Kentucky School Boards Association.

MORE INFO…
Kentucky Music Educators Association