Kentucky Teacher

For more than 30 years, the Kentucky School Boards Association (KSBA) has provided Kentucky school boards with a fee-based superintendent search service. Hundreds of boards have utilized the service in that time to find the “right” superintendent.

After three decades, KSBA has added features that recognize the opportunities for doing more online and through electronic forms, and reducing the reliance on a paper-driven process. These new options are designed to enhance this program.

As of now, all new superintendent searches conducted by KSBA will include these elements:

• The application process is totally electronic, allowing the applicant to enter the KSBA website and securely complete all forms, answer questions and provide requested data.
• The new application process eliminates multiple paper copies when applying for one or several superintendent vacancies, thus greatly reducing paperwork for the applicant and the district. Read the full story

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is funding a research project designed to learn how departments of education in five states, including Kentucky, communicate with the school districts they serve.

As part of the project, a survey instrument has been developed to gauge the Kentucky Department of Education’s effectiveness in communications.

Education Commissioner Terry Holliday is asking that superintendents take a moment to complete the survey, which will help assess the current state of communication efforts and develop recommendations for improvements as needed.

The survey is located at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/JZ585ZB.

Several educators have recently been appointed to district superintendent positions. All of the superintendents, including those who are currently under interim status, will begin their official duties on July 1. They are:

Casey Allen, Ballard County – Allen has served as interim superintendent for the district.

Wayne Benningfield, Elliott County – Benningfield was formerly an instructional supervisor in the Fulton County school system.

Doug Bennett, Laurel County – Bennett previously served as director of instruction in Whitley County.

Charlotte Bernard, Clinton County – Bernard has served as director of pupil personnel and Reading First coach in the district.

Jay Brewer, Dayton Independent – Brewer is currently the principal of Moyer Elementary in the Fort Thomas Independent district.

Dennis Davis, Mercer County – Davis has served as interim superintendent for the district and also was a principal. Read the full story

The next superintendents’ webcast will be Thursday, April 19, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. ET.

The topics will be an update on the legislation and budget enacted during the 2012 General Assembly. By that date, information will be available regarding what bills were signed by the governor and the outcome of any actions related to the veto period. Superintendents will be apprised of how the legislation and budget will impact schools and districts.

Associate Commissioners Kevin Brown and Hiren Desai and Legislative Liaison Tracy Herman will be featured during this broadcast to ensure questions get addressed on these matters.

The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) will send superintendents the materials for and the link to the broadcast closer to the date. Superintendents may invite any staff who would benefit from watching to participate. As always, KDE will archive the webcast for those who need to watch it at a later time.

Kentucky Education Commissioner Terry Holiday will conduct the next superintendents’ webcast on Dec. 16 from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. ET. The webcast will include updates on the budget and the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) waiver request.

Those who have topics that should be included in this broadcast should e-mail them to Mary Ann Miller.

The links for the broadcast will be e-mailed closer to the actual date of the webcast.

The next superintendents’ webcast is scheduled for Dec.16 from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. (EST).

The topic will be an update on the final version of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act waiver request that was submitted to the U.S. Department of Education by the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) in November. The discussion will focus on revisions that were made to the application following the department receiving input during its public review.

eSchool News is accepting nominations for the 11th annual Tech-Savvy Superintendent Awards.

Nominees, who must be superintendents of a K-12 school system, will be judged according to the criteria below. Ten national finalists will be chosen by the editors of eSchool News in consultation with last year’s winners. The 2012 winners will be honored in a ceremony held in conjunction with the American Association of School Administrators annual conference in Houston and in the February 2012 issue of eSchool News.

Nominations will be accepted online through Oct. 28. Read the full story

By Education Commissioner Terry Holliday

At the August Kentucky Board of Education (KBE) meeting, my annual evaluation was completed. Over the past month I have seen that many local boards and superintendents are completing the same process. The KBE has also expressed an interest in local board evaluations.

Over the past two years I have mentioned the issue of superintendent evaluations on numerous occasions at speeches and in my weekly blogs. This is a perfect time for local boards and superintendents to look carefully at the goals and measures for superintendent evaluation and local school board self-evaluation of key processes. Read the full story

Rockcastle County school district Superintendent Larry Hammond received the 2011 F.I. Dupree Outstanding Superintendent Award, presented by the Kentucky School Boards Association. Hammond has served as district superintendent for 16 years. Photo by Amy Wallot; May 2011

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

When Larry Hammond was a young student in the Rockcastle County school district, his school had roughly 30 students, one room and one teacher – his mother.

Hammond spent grades 1-8 in that one-room school. He said this “wonderful” experience not only paved the way for his educational career, it later helped define his teaching and administrative career as well. Read the full story

Kentucky superintendents, principals and other school leaders who are helping shape schools to prepare students for a digital, global age have a new resource available to them.

The Center for the Advanced Study of Technology Leadership in Education (CASTLE) is moving to the University of Kentucky College of Education (pending approval by the UK Board of Trustees). The center partners with regional educational organizations and schools to facilitate the implementation of technologies that help improve teaching and student learning. At UK, CASTLE will work with the College of Education’s Kentucky P20 Innovation Lab.

Click here for more information.