2020 Grissom Award for Special Education. Nominations deadline May 15, 2020.

(FRANKFORT, KY) – The Kentucky Board of Education (KBE) has reopened nominations for the Grissom Award for Innovation in Special Education to include recognition of outstanding work taking place in special education through the Kentucky Department of Education’s Non-Traditional Instruction (NTI) Program during the COVID-19 crisis.

Previously submitted nominations will still be included for consideration, but extending the deadline opens the opportunity for further nominations that capture the ingenuity happening across the Commonwealth during this period of NTI.

The award is given in the spring of each year to a Kentuckian or a Kentucky organization to honor outstanding dedication to improving achievement for students with disabilities. Criteria for the award include:

  • Leadership or implementation of innovative practice in curriculum, instruction or assessment that leads to improved learning, postsecondary or workforce outcomes for students with learning or behavior differences; and
  • Districts or schools demonstrating significant improvement or sustained excellence in learning or behavior outcomes for students with learning or behavior differences.

The award is named in honor of the late Johnnie Grissom, a longtime Kentucky Department of Education employee who served as associate commissioner for the Office of Special Instructional Services. Grissom provided steadfast commitment, service and leadership, striving to help all students achieve at high levels regardless of their disabilities.

The nomination deadline is May 15. The award will be presented in June. Use this Google form to make a nomination.