The Kentucky Department of Education’s Coordinated School Health team congratulates representatives from three school districts for their recent achievement with the Alliance for a Healthier Generation.

Individual school representatives from Fayette, Madison and Wayne county school districts were recognized on Oct. 20-22, in Little Rock, Ark.

The Alliance for a Healthier Generation held its annual Healthy Schools Program Forum to recognize more than 250 recipients of the bronze, silver and gold awards that achieved the respective levels of national recognition.

Among the recipients were four Kentucky schools, all of which met the stringent standards of the Bronze Award: Shannon Johnson Elementary (Madison County); Southern Middle School (Fayette County); Tates Creek Middle School (Fayette County); and Wayne County High School.

The Alliance for a Healthier Generation works with more than 15,000 schools in all 50 states and is a great resource for schools and districts looking to improve overall nutrition and physical activity environment.

Counties are encouraged to use the information and resources from the alliance when revising and updating their local wellness policies this school year. In Kentucky, the alliance has two staff persons: Healthy Schools Program Manager Melissa McDonald, who is currently working with 13 school districts, including Burgin Independent, Fayette County, Franklin County, Madison County, McCreary County, Menifee County, Mercer County, Monticello Independent, Rowan County, Russell Independent, Scott County and Wayne County; and Jacy Wooley, who is working with 10 districts, including Barren County, Butler County, Caverna Independent, Green County, Hart County, Hopkins County, Logan County, Metcalfe County, Owensboro Independent and Trigg County.

The Healthy Schools Program expectations are complementary of multiple characteristics of the practical living/career studies (PLCS) Program Review for health education and physical education. Any school can join the free program.

For more information about the Healthy Schools Program, contact either McDonald or Wooley.

For connections concerning the PLCS Program Review information, contact Jamie Sparks, KDE’s Coordinated School Health project director.