January 2026
Michelle Gross, 2026 Kentucky Teacher of the Year, named finalist for 2026 National Teacher of the Year
Michelle Gross, a middle school teacher at Spencer County Middle School and the 2026 Kentucky Teacher of the Year, has been named a finalist for the 2026 National Teacher of the Year award by the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO).
October 2025
Spencer County educator Michelle Gross named 2026 Kentucky Teacher of the Year
Michelle Gross, a mathematics teacher at Spencer County Middle School, was named the 2026 Kentucky Teacher of the Year during a ceremony in Frankfort on Oct. 7.
2026 Kentucky Teacher of the Year Michelle Gross champions project-based learning in math
Spencer County Middle School teacher Michelle Gross is a champion for vibrant learning experiences in the projects she leads to help students understand how math applies to their lives. Gross, who has 22 years of teaching experience in math, was named the 2026 Kentucky Teacher of the Year during a ceremony in Frankfort on Oct. 7. She also was named the middle school division winner. Gross and eight other Teacher Achievement Award recipients were honored by the Kentucky Department of Education at the ceremony.
May 2026
Commissioner’s Student Advisory Council discusses Individual Learning Plan project, vibrant learning
Members of the Kentucky Department of Education’s (KDE’s) Commissioner’s Student Advisory Council presented their final project, an introduction video for a campaign promoting Individual Learning Plans, during their meeting on April 28.
March 2026
Spencer County students build models of their dream homes for Dream Homearama event
Spencer County Middle School students showcased their math skills when they presented models of their dream homes during the Dream Homearama event on March 20.
Kentucky’s educators and staff are among the best in the country
Anyone who has spent time in a Kentucky classroom knows how dedicated our teachers are and how committed they are to the success of their students.
February 2026
KBE discusses student assessment data, Career and Technical Education Month, during meeting
Kentucky Board of Education (KBE) members dug deeper into data from Kentucky’s assessment and accountability results during the virtual KBE meeting Feb. 4-5, including a discussion on student group performance trends and how to address achievement gaps.
January 2026
Feeling thankful for Kentucky’s educators and support staff as we ring in the new year
Perhaps the most joyful part of the role of education commissioner is the ability to show thanks to so many people who are involved in educating and supporting our children across the Commonwealth.
November 2025
Celebrating our educators and supporting our students
As a former teacher, I believe there is no higher calling within a profession than to be a teacher. One of the joys I have each year as commissioner of education is to celebrate our best during the Kentucky Teacher of the Year ceremony.
October 2025
MEDIA ADVISORY: KDE to announce 2026 Kentucky Teacher of the Year during Oct. 7 ceremony
The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) will host the 2026 Kentucky Teacher of the Year ceremony. Winners of the elementary, middle and high school teaching divisions, in addition to the overall 2026 Kentucky Teacher of the Year, will be announced during the ceremony.