Educator Spotlight: Eddie Groves
In his AP Psychology class, Eddie Grove’s favorite unit to teach is on memory.
Educator Spotlight: Cathy Conley
As an English, arts and humanities teacher in Eastern Kentucky, Cathy Conley is no stranger to adversity. But the most trying year for Conley was during the historic flooding in July 2022.
Educator Spotlight: Rhoda Whitaker
In her 28 years as an educator, Rhoda Whitaker has taught at the elementary, middle and high school levels, but she found her calling as a teacher at Whitesburg Middle School (Letcher County) with students with disabilities.
Educator Spotlight: Justin Mitchell
If you ask 8th-grade social studies teacher Justin Mitchell what lesson defines his teaching, he’ll say Colonial America. “This is such a crucial and complex period of time, with us going from being well under the rule of Great Britain to being our own country in just 20 years.” said Mitchell. But in order to get his students to fully understand and resonate with the founding of America, he knew he couldn’t just stick to worksheets and note-taking.
Educator Spotlight: Danielle Hicks
Danielle Hicks began her college experience as a pre-med student, but she soon discovered that she could not stand the sight of blood. After exploring different career paths, Hicks found her passion for education.
Educator Spotlight: Nathaniel Green
Nathaniel Green’s classroom is fueled on inclusivity and community. Green started his career teaching English in South Korea. Now, he is a middle school social studies teacher at Newport High School (Newport Independent).
Educator Spotlight: Angela Dilts-Pollock
Angela Dilts-Pollock values not only educating her students, but also helping them to grow into who they are and who they will become. “It’s my job to help students discover who they are and how to be the best version of themselves,” said Pollock. “Teaching of content comes after, when students feel safe in my classroom and that I care about them as humans.”
Educator Spotlight: Keva Buckley
After changing her college major five times, Keva Buckley finally settled on becoming an educator. When applying for classes, she accidentally signed up for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) education course at Eastern Kentucky University, not realizing it was different from other education courses. From this initial class, Buckley discovered her passion for American Sign Language (ASL) and the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community.
Educator Spotlight: Melinda Richardson
The kindness and encouragement from one of her former teachers inspired Melinda Richardson to pursue a career as an educator. A 4th- and 5th-grade math teacher at Clay City Elementary School (Powell County) since 2006, she said her greatest accomplishment is encouraging students to create positive change in the world by giving back to their communities.
Educator Spotlight: Shannon Kay
As a 15-year veteran teacher, Shannon Kay knows how important education can be in a child’s life. She currently teaches 1st grade in Boone County, but she also has taught preschool and kindergarten.