Kentucky Teacher

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

Miko Momozono teaches Japanese to Beth Heimann's kindergarten class at Picadome Elementary School (Fayette County). Photo by Amy Wallot, Jan. 10, 2012

Miko Momozono teaches students at Picadome Elementary School (Fayette County) Japanese at the same time they are still learning the finer points of English.

While that may seem like a difficult task, the third-year language teacher said it’s just the opposite.

“It actually makes it easier because they are right in the spot of learning their mother tongue,” Momozono said. “Students are inhaling Japanese just as they are acquiring English day by day.

“I have students who are English language learners who speak a second language at home,” Momozono added. “These students often excel in learning Japanese since they have already had a head start in acquiring English as a second language. Japanese may be their third or fourth language. Amazingly, students do not confuse the multiple processes of language learning.”

All the research points to the best and easiest time for students to acquire another language being before age 10, said Jacque Van Houten, world language and international education consultant for the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE).

“Sure, you can learn after that, but it becomes more of an exercise in learning than acquiring language and involves a different cognitive approach,” she said. Read the full story

Dr. Jim Martin, a veterinarian at Locust Trace AgriScience Center Veterinary Clinic (Fayette County), won second place in the Inspiration in Action veterinary contest recently.

He will receive $5,000 toward his project to help Fayette County school district high school students achieve aspirations of becoming veterinarians. Prize money from the Inspiration in Action contest will be used to provide outstanding students with scholarships to pursue the next step of their education and explore a career in veterinary medicine.

Belize Wildlife and Referral Center (BWRC) won $25,000 as the grand prize winner in the contest, sponsored by Heska Corporation.

For more information about Locust Trace, go to http://locusttracevet.com.

Kentucky college professors recently learned about new approaches to teaching public school students mathematics, literacy and writing skills at a conference organized by the Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence.

Faculty members from 25 state universities, private institutions and community colleges heard from Kentucky teachers from Kenton and Fayette counties who are working with the Mathematics Design Collaborative and Literacy Design Collaborative, piloting efforts to improve teaching and learning.

The Prichard Committee has worked to coordinate the districts piloting these new mathematics and literacy efforts in Kentucky, which were funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

“These new strategies have shown great promise for giving students a deeper understanding of math concepts and connecting writing to challenging thinking in science, social studies and language arts classes,” said Stu Silberman, executive director of the Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence.

The seminar, funded by the Council on Postsecondary Education and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, is part of a state-backed program to update postsecondary leaders and educators on the impact of overhauled academic standards that K-12 students are expected to learn as part of Senate Bill 1. Read the full story

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

Lafayette High School (Fayette County) senior Camila Modica holds Brody while Dr. Lynne McMaine examines his ears at Locust Trace Veterinary Clinic. The full-service clinic, staffed by experienced veterinarians and technicians, provides Locust Trace AgriScience Farm students an opportunity to observe and assist. Photo by Amy Wallot, Sept. 28, 2011

Camila Modica owns horses, dogs, cats and rabbits. The Lafayette High School (Fayette County) senior loves her animals and hopes to be a veterinarian one day.

She knows, however, that her animal experience and good grades won’t be enough to get her accepted into a college veterinary program.

“You have to have work experience in a clinic,” Modica said. “I won’t get in (a college program) without that and being the well-rounded student they are looking for.”

Luckily, Modica and others like her now will have that chance to work in a clinic thanks to the Locust Trace AgriScience Farm.

The farm, which opened this fall and is part of the Fayette County school district, sits on 82 acres and enrolls 188 students who attend classes there for half a day throughout the school year. Most of the students attending Locust Trace also are enrolled in another Fayette County high school, but others attend Woodford County High School. Read the full story

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

Sophomore Tiara Brand, right, gives a humorous and informative speech about freshman Mason Stamm, left, for her first speech of the year during Steve Meadows Speech 1 class at Danville High School (Danville Ind.). Photo by Amy Wallot, Aug. 16, 2011

For Steve Meadows, an English teacher at Danville High School (Danville Independent), the emphasis on speaking and listening standards in the Kentucky Core Academic Standards makes perfect sense.

“For me personally, it’s an exciting shift in emphasis to include what I’ve always loved best – speech and speaking – as part of the general curriculum,” said Meadows, who has been an educator for more than 20 years. “I’m a great believer that our job in language arts is to empower students to be able to communicate clearly for the rest of their lives.

“Students will communicate more through speaking and listening in real life than they will through reading and writing, so including the full range of literacy in the standards and in our coursework makes sense to me.”

Meadows coaches the Danville High forensics/speech team that won the 2011 Kentucky Educational Speech and Drama Association (KESDA) state title.  Read the full story

Johnson Central High School (Johnson County) AP English teacher Amiee Cantrell-Webb, Henderson County High School AP Calculus teacher Brian Sullivan and Bryan Station High School (Fayette County) AP Biology teacher Carlos Verdecchia have been named 2011 All American Teachers.

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

Aimee Cantrell, Brian Sullivan and Carlos Verdecchia all entered the teaching profession for a variety of reasons, but they share a love of working with students and challenging them daily.

The three high school Advanced Placement (AP) teachers were recently honored as All-American Teachers of the Year by the National Math and Science Initiative, a national, non-profit organization focused on improving mathematics and science achievement.

These Kentucky teachers are among just 23 teachers nationwide recognized by NMSI for 2011. Read the full story

The School for the Creative and Performing Arts (SCAPA) (Fayette County) has been named winner of the Governor’s Awards in the Arts’ Education Award. The Kentucky Arts Council and Gov. Steve Beshear will present the award to SCAPA at a public ceremony Oct. 20 in the Capitol Rotunda.

The Education Award is handed out for significant contributions to the arts in education and is awarded to a Kentucky individual, school, school district or organization annually.

SCAPA has provided students who are especially talented and/or interested in the arts the opportunity to develop and enhance their abilities since 1987.

To see more winners, go to the press release on the Kentucky Arts Council website at http://artscouncil.ky.gov.

Kentucky students were rewarded for their talents in history at the Kentucky Junior Historical Society (KJHS) 2011 Kentucky History Day (KHD) recently in Frankfort.

KHD is part of the National History Day program, which is an annual, year-long program designed to promote teaching and learning history in America’s schools. Students analyze the historical significance of their topics and present conclusions in dramatic performances, imaginative exhibits, multimedia documentaries, websites and research papers to audiences throughout the country. The theme for this year’s contest was “Debate and Diplomacy in History: Successes, Failures and Consequences.” Read the full story

Contest inspires focus on environmental themes through art
The Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection (DEP) recently honored the winning 2010 Green Art Contest high school artists. Awards were presented to six Kentucky high school juniors and seniors who created art using the contest themes of natural resources and environmental management. Students were encouraged to submit painting/print work, sculpture, pottery and photographs.
“The purpose of the contest was to encourage high school students to think about the environment and inspire them to include the environment in their artwork,” said DEP Commissioner Bruce Scott, who presented the awards to students. Read the full story

DuPont Manual High School (Jefferson County) teacher Merritt Robinson, left, receives the Kentucky Outstanding Civic Education Leadership Award from Kentucky Secretary of State Elaine Walker March 18, 2011 at Rupp Arena. Photo by Amy Wallot

Merritt Robinson, of DuPont Manual High School (Jefferson County), was recognized with the 2011 Kentucky Outstanding Civic Education Leadership Award during the 2011  PNC/Kentucky High School Athletic Assocation (KHSAA) Boys Sweet 16 Basketball Tournament March 18 at Rupp Arena in Lexington.

The award recognizes teachers and community leaders who have made notable contributions toward promoting or implementing civic learning to prepare students to be engaged and responsible. Honorees have demonstrated outstanding leadership in and out of the classroom by promoting and strengthening civic education and by encouraging students to become active and engaged in their communities. Read the full story