Features

To celebrate his first year at the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE), Commissioner of Education Jason E. Glass returned to his alma mater, Meade County High School, on Sept. 17 to co-teach 9th-grade science with Jonathan Mangin.

As a child growing up in Floyd County, Willie Edward Taylor Carver Jr. recalls having limited access to the recourses he needed for school. Whether it was paper, pencils or even a pair of shoes, he knew he could rely on his teachers to help him get by.

Kentucky’s 2022 Middle School Teacher of the Year Hallie Booth wanted to be a teacher since she was little. She was inspired to pursue the calling by her father, a health and physical education teacher, and her mother, a computer technology teacher.

Ashley Ritchie, a 2nd-grade teacher at Beechwood Elementary (Beechwood Independent), is dedicated to engaging her students and loves to make learning come to life with her classroom transformations.

Dennis Messer has a new role in education. On July 1 he took on the position of superintendent for Barbourville Independent. He replaced Lenora Kay Dixon, who retired at the end of June.

Anna Shepherd was named superintendent for Floyd County schools on July 26, replacing Danny Adkins, who resigned and is now superintendent of Woodford County. Awarded a four-year contract, Shepherd previously served as chief early childhood officer and interim superintendent in the district.

Northern Kentucky native Brian Robinson has always been drawn to the classroom and that lure led to a career in education. On July 1, he became superintendent of Fort Thomas Independent Schools (FTIS), replacing Karen Cheser, who retired at the end of June.

Barry Lee is starting his 20th year in education as the new Casey County superintendent. A native of Casey County, Lee graduated from Casey County High School in 1996. He went on to earn his bachelor’s degree in public relations from Eastern Kentucky University as a first-generation college student.

Jason Radford is on a new educational journey, beginning his tenure as the new Oldham County superintendent July 1. He replaces Greg Schultz, who retired June 30, following five years at Oldham County and a total of 31 years in education.

Many educators have made an impact on Commissioner of Education Jason E. Glass, but the educator he spent the most time with was his choir teacher, Shirley Jones. On Aug. 9, Glass returned to his hometown of Brandenburg to the Meade County school district’s opening day ceremony to present the Greenwave Legacy Award to Jones.