(FRANKFORT, KY) – A group of 68 Kentucky educators successfully completed the nationally recognized National Institute for School and System Leadership (NISL) program during the 2024-2025 school year.
Offered through a long-standing partnership between the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) and the National Center on Education and the Economy (NCEE), this leadership development experience equips school and district leaders with skills, strategies and vision to drive meaningful and sustainable change in their learning communities. For more than 14 years, Kentucky leaders have been transforming schools through this rigorous and research-driven program.
This year’s participants represented a broad and diverse group of school leaders from across the Commonwealth – from Pike County in the east and Simpson County in the west – demonstrating statewide impact and reach of the NISL program. These leaders engaged in robust learning sessions in Frankfort and Lexington – led by KDE Office of Continuous Improvement and Support educational recovery staff – and participated in monthly interactive experiences that focused on building leadership capacity and transforming schools into high-performing environments that prioritize student success.
Todd Tucker, KDE educational recovery leader and NISL facilitator, reflected on the growth participants experienced throughout the program and congratulated each graduate.
“Over the past ten months, NISL participants not only deepened their understanding about systems thinking, but also cultivated the mindset essential for leading sustainable, transformative change,” Tucker said.
NISL draws from the world’s top-performing education systems and emphasizes strategic thinking and data-informed decision-making, a clear vision for student-centered learning, ethical leadership and continuous improvement and practice tools to lead system-wide change through the Action Learning Process.
Are you ready to take your leadership to the next level and join the growing community of Kentucky leaders making a lasting impact on education? School and district staff interested in joining this dynamic and transformative professional learning journey are encouraged to complete NISL interest form no later than June 30. Questions regarding the training opportunity should be directed to Charlotte Jones.
All photos taken by Todd Tucker, Kentucky Department of Education.
Front row, left to right: Jessica Epperson, Jessica Mullins, Jayne Litton, Heather Cicchiello, Kelly Hudson, Aaron Shepherd, Sarah Robinson
Middle row, left to right: Brooke Mays, Sarah Beard, Jaynae Boeteng, Brooke Young, Tonya Miller, Fannie Hall, Angela Disney, Amber Standafer, Stacy Reynolds
Back row, left to right: Candy Jones, Danell McKinney, Billy Sims, Matt Land, Bethany Roberts, Amber Maul, Meredith Chandler, Amie Gallion, Meredith Harris, Matt Minix, Melissa Melton, Terri Griffin, Leann Sargent
Front row, left to right: Erin Wolf, Diana Cline, Megan Watts, Dominic McCamish, Ryan Burch, Taylor Stratton, Chelsie Inabnit
Middle row, left to right: Christi LeFevers, Deshae Barnhorst, Jessica Willis, Jennifer Hickerson, Sara Cranfill, Jessica Wheeler, Tara Baugh, McKinley King
Back row, left to right: Zach Gentry, Dustin Reynolds, Mitzi Phelan, Amanda New, Richard Brent Hall, Kim Mosley, Josh Gupton, Greg Hollon, Hunter Jackson
Front row, left to right: Alisha O’Connor, Meagan Whilhite, Tracey Cline, Katie Earnest, Allison Fraley
Back row, left to right: Tim Cline, Scott Bruins, Amy Harris, Brian Barnhill, Emily Haneline, Jodie Johnson, Kelly Goff, Lynette Brock
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