By Megan Gross
megan.gross@education.ky.gov

Kentucky Education Commissioner Wayne Lewis recently began a monthly series of visits to Kentucky area technology centers, and high, middle and elementary schools across the Commonwealth.

As a photographer, I get to be up close and see everything on these visits. The teachers and students were so impressive and just outstanding. The students were all engaged and intrigued by what they were working on. The teachers made sure every student knew what they were doing and even participated alongside their students. I graduated from high school only four years ago and things already have changed so much, in an awesome way.

The Jan. 17 visit began in Bullitt County at Bernheim Middle School, Lebanon Junction Elementary and the Bullitt County Area Technology Center, then on to Nelson County and the Nelson County Area Technology Center, Foster Heights Elementary School and Old Kentucky Home Middle School.

During the monthly tours, several of the ATCs will host “Conversations with the Commissioner,” an open forum during which local stakeholders are encouraged to discuss issues including, but not limited to, school accountability, career and technical education (CTE) and graduation requirements.

Commissioner Wayne Lewis talks with Bernheim Middle School student Vincent Reiser about what they've been learning in class. Lewis and two members of the Kentucky Board of Education visited Bernheim and four other schools Jan. 29 as a part of his “Conversations with the Commissioner tour.  Photo by Megan Gross, Jan. 29, 2018

Commissioner Wayne Lewis talks with Bernheim Middle School student Vincent Reiser about what they’ve been learning in class. Lewis and two members of the Kentucky Board of Education visited Bernheim and four other schools Jan. 29 as a part of his “Conversations with the Commissioner” tour. 
Photo by Megan Gross, Jan. 29, 2018

Commissioner Wayne Lewis talks with more students at Bernheim Middle School about their classwork and teachers. Photo by Megan Gross, Jan. 29, 2018

Commissioner Wayne Lewis talks with more students at Bernheim Middle School about their classwork and teachers.
Photo by Megan Gross, Jan. 29, 2018

After touring classrooms at Bernheim Middle School, Commissioner Lewis sat down with about 10 students who spoke about their school work and their academic and career goals. Photo by Megan Gross, Jan. 29, 2018

After touring classrooms at Bernheim Middle School, Commissioner Lewis sat down with about 10 students who spoke about their schoolwork and their academic and career goals.
Photo by Megan Gross, Jan. 29, 2018

Kentucky Board of Education Chairman Hal Heiner talks with construction instructor at Bullitt County Area Technology Center about the construction class and the benefits students get from it. Photo by Megan Gross, Jan. 29, 2018

Kentucky Board of Education Chairman Hal Heiner talks with Principal Darrell Vincent at Bullitt County Area Technology Center about the construction class and the benefits students get from it.
Photo by Megan Gross, Jan. 29, 2018

Students in a woodworking class at Bullitt Area Technology Center greeted Education Commissioner Wayne Lewis on a tour of the school before the “Conversations with the Commissioner” event. Photo by Megan Gross, Jan. 29, 2018

Students in a woodworking class at Bullitt Area Technology Center greeted Education Commissioner Wayne Lewis on a tour of the school before the “Conversations with the Commissioner” event.
Photo by Megan Gross, Jan. 29, 2018

The commissioner reads a story from a book the elementary students had published at Old Kentucky Home Elementary School (Nelson County). Photo by Megan Gross, Jan 29, 2018

The commissioner reads a story from a book the elementary students had published at Old Kentucky Home Elementary School (Nelson County).
Photo by Megan Gross, Jan 29, 2018

Kentucky Board of Education (KBE) Vice Chairman Milton Seymore, from back left; Education Commissioner Wayne Lewis; KBE Chairman Hal Heiner; and Amanda Ellis, chief academic officer and deputy commissioner at the Kentucky Department of Education, pose with their three student tour guides from the Old Kentucky Home Elementary School. Photo by Megan Gross, Jan. 29, 2018

Kentucky Board of Education (KBE) Vice Chairman Milton Seymore, from back left; Education Commissioner Wayne Lewis; KBE Chairman Hal Heiner; and Amanda Ellis, chief academic officer and deputy commissioner at the Kentucky Department of Education, pose with their three student tour guides from the Old Kentucky Home Elementary School.
Photo by Megan Gross, Jan. 29, 2018