(FRANKFORT, KY) – Three educators have been honored as 2025 Kentucky Exemplary Educators Program (KEEP) award winners by the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE).
The three KEEP recipients are Robyn Ballinger, a special education teacher at Chenoweth Elementary School (Jefferson County); Charlotte Holtzclaw, a science teacher at Robert B. Turner Elementary School (Anderson County); and Mark Webster, principal of Bluegrass Middle School (Hardin County).
Candidates for KEEP are early-to-mid-career professionals with at least five years of experience and whose contributions to education are largely unheralded yet worthy of the spotlight.
Candidates serve in certified teacher, specialist or principal roles in Kentucky public schools, and demonstrate the criteria listed below:
- Exceptional educational talent as evidenced by effective and innovative instructional practices and student learning results in the classroom and school;
- Exemplary educational accomplishments and leadership beyond the classroom that provide models of excellence for the profession;
- Strong long-range potential for professional and policy leadership; and
- Engaging and inspiring presence that motivates and impacts students, colleagues and the community
Qualified individuals recommended for KEEP receive a certificate of excellence from KDE and may be considered for other recognitions and opportunities, including invitations to sit on advisory councils and committees.
Robyn Ballinger
Ballinger has been a special education elementary school teacher for Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) since 2018, including her current role at Chenoweth Elementary. She earned her bachelor’s degree in education from Bellarmine University in 2011 and a master’s degree in education from Northern Kentucky University in 2025.
Ballinger’s nominator for KEEP credited her for demonstrating leadership with instructional practices inside the classroom, including work with the JCPS Deeper Learning team to incorporate instructional choice and personalized learning into her classroom. Ballinger also works with several different groups and committees within the district and community, including roles on the school-based decision making council, the JCPS Academic Innovation Cohort and as a Special Olympics coach.
Ballinger’s nominator said she exemplifies everything a teacher should be.
“Ms. Ballinger cares about her students and our school,” the nominator said. “She often leads with her heart.”
Ballinger was a GoTeachKY Ambassador for 2023-2024 and a GoTeachKY Ambassador Mentor the following year. She also holds a master’s degree in sport administration from the University of Louisville and worked as the Louisville schools’ coordinator for the United States Tennis Association from 2015 to 2018.
Charlotte Holtzclaw
Holtzclaw has been a teacher at Robert B. Turner Elementary School since 2013, including her current role as 4th-grade science teacher since 2021. Previously, Holtzclaw worked as a 1st-grade teacher and as a special education paraeducator for the school.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in agriculture from Eastern Kentucky University in 2004 and a master’s degree in teaching elementary education from University of the Cumberlands in 2020.
Holtzclaw’s nominator said her students have performed better on the Kentucky Summative Assessments, crediting her ability to develop vibrant learning experiences to create real-world applications to the lessons being taught in class. Holtzclaw has led several agriculture initiatives within the school, including Ag Day and Farmer’s Market Day.
“Ms. Holtzclaw’s approach to elementary science is what we need across the board in a student’s early years,” the nominator said.
Holtzclaw has also been a basketball coach for Anderson County’s middle and high schools, as well as a licensed basketball official with the Kentucky High School Athletic Association and the Lake Cumberland Basketball Officials Association.
Mark Webster
Webster has been the principal of Bluegrass Middle School since 2023. Previous roles include principal of Bullitt Lick Middle School (Bullitt County), education recovery leader for the Kentucky Department of Education, principal of The Academy (Nelson County) and assistant principal of Thomas Nelson High School (Nelson County).
Webster’s nominator said he has led the school in reducing disciplinary incidents while also improving test scores.
“Mr. Webster has put a big focus on culture within the school, with a focus on community engagement and making sure that students and teachers give back to their community.,” the nominator said.
Webster earned a bachelor’s degree in 2007 and a master’s degree in 2011, both in music education from Morehead State University. He earned a doctorate in school leadership from University of the Cumberlands in 2016 and a school superintendent certificate from the University of Kentucky in 2018.
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