Kentucky Teacher of the Year

Beyond Appreciation

I recently returned from “Washington Recognition Week” in our nation’s capital and all I can say is that I wish every teacher across Kentucky could be doted on as I and my fellow State Teachers of the Year were during this week.

By |2019-03-22T14:42:28-04:00May 9, 2013|

Reeling in Greatness

Kristal Doolin Mark Twain said, “Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great.” Throughout my education, I was very fortunate to be surrounded by remarkable teachers who embodied this quote. My sixth-grade teacher, for example, led me to [...]

By |2013-06-13T00:03:32-04:00April 16, 2013|

Creating Ripples

Kristal Doolin Kentucky Teacher of the Year, Kristal Doolin, recently spoke to a group of pre-service teachers and shared advice as they prepare to enter the profession. Much of her message should resonate with veteran classroom teachers and serve as good reminders for them as well. Below is a portion of her address. Mother Teresa said, “I alone [...]

By |2013-04-15T14:02:31-04:00March 14, 2013|

Sharing Our Stories

Kristal Doolin Charles Schulz’s infamous Peanuts character Lucy Van Pelt once said, “Try not to have a good time…this is supposed to be educational.” Sorry, Lucy, but I was determined to make my recent opportunity to represent our state at the Chief Council of State School Officers National Teacher of the Year Conference both educational and fun for [...]

By |2013-03-14T10:40:36-04:00February 14, 2013|

Those who CAN, do. Those who CAN GO BEYOND, selflessly teach others.

Kristal Doolin I am a great admirer of those who came before me, and I believe there is much to be said for the wisdom of intelligent people. As anyone who reads my writing or visits my classroom knows, this admiration leads me to quote others frequently. There are well-known quotes, however, that I do not appreciate. As [...]

By |2013-02-13T12:55:57-05:00January 10, 2013|

Something to be thankful for this holiday season

Kristal Doolin This is a unique time of year. As I write this article, we are in the midst of Thanksgiving and heading toward the Christmas season. Traditionally, this is the time of year when people are most grateful. How ironic it is that the season was prefaced by the release of our latest and most stressful test [...]

By |2013-01-09T12:55:46-05:00December 13, 2012|

“Surreal” Can Hardly Describe It

Kentucky 2013 Teacher of the Year Kristal Doolin laughs with her 7th-grade language arts class about how misplaced punctuation can change the meaning of a sentence at Corbin Middle School (Corbin Independent).Photo by Amy Wallot, Nov. 8, 2012 “Surreal” — that is the word I found myself saying over and over last month as I stood in the [...]

By |2012-11-15T11:52:44-05:00November 15, 2012|

2012 Kentucky Teacher of the Year bids farewell

Kimberly Shearer So this is it — my last column as the 2012 Kentucky Teacher of the Year. I have to admit I delayed the writing of this last column as long as I possibly could, simply because I doubted my ability to squeeze all I’m feeling into words. For starters, I’m overcome with gratitude. I’ve gotten to [...]

By |2012-11-13T13:55:26-05:00October 11, 2012|

Teachers are about making opportunities and destinations

In August, Kentucky Teacher of the Year and Boone County High School teacher Kimberly Shearer was invited to speak to the new teachers in her district. The following is the text of her speech: So, I’ve done a lot of traveling this year. As part of my Teacher of the Year experience, I’ve visited Texas, Washington D.C., Georgia [...]

By |2012-10-08T11:57:16-04:00September 13, 2012|

Through collaboration, teachers become leaders

Recently I was asked to be a part of a discussion panel on teacher leadership, and in an attempt to prepare for the panel, I’ve spent this past week reflecting on the idea of leadership itself.   I used to think of leadership as a solitary act – that some stand-out individual must somehow transcend the crowd in [...]

By |2012-09-12T16:36:25-04:00August 9, 2012|
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