Vanessa Lyons receives a hug from one of her colleagues after finding out she was being honored with the 2026 Kentucky Education Support Staff Professional Award. Photo by Joe Ragusa, Kentucky Department of Education, Feb. 27, 2026
(CAMPBELLSVILLE, KY) – Vanessa Lyons, a reading intervention educator and program facilitator for Taylor County Intermediate School, was awarded the Kentucky Education Support Staff Professional (KESSP) Award during a surprise ceremony at the school on Feb. 27.
Lyons works in a classified role as a reading intervention teacher for students in 3rd-5th grade and also facilitates the school’s 21st Century Learning Center after-school program called BRANCH, which stands for believing, reaching, achieving, navigating, challenging and helping.
“I was not expecting this at all, but it is an honor to be given this award,” Lyons said. “And, I mean, I just do what I do. I’ve done this for 25 years and I love what I do.”
The KESSP award was created in 2020 by Gov. Andy Beshear and Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman to recognize more than 46,000 classified school employees in Kentucky. Classified school employees serve in vital and often overlooked roles, from driving students to school to preparing their meals to working with partner agencies to ensure students’ vital needs are met.
As a winner of the KESSP award, Lyons’ name was forwarded to the U.S. Department of Education (USED) for consideration for the national Recognizing Inspirational School Employees (RISE) Award and she was among five finalists for the 2026 national award.
Taylor County Intermediate School Principal Jennifer Fitzpatrick said Lyons has helped countless families and has built meaningful relationships with those she helps.
“Ms. Vanessa is the definition of a loyal staff member. She’s up early, stays late, and never shies away from hard work,” Fitzpatrick said. “Her dedication to our students, our staff, the school district and community is truly unmatched.”
Lyons has worked for the school district for 25 years. Her nominators for the award highlighted how much of a fixture she is in the community, including how she is one of the first people students see when they’re dropped off in the morning. They also praised her passion and determination to ensure students succeed with reading and her ability to treat everyone with love, kindness and respect.
Lt. Gov. Coleman, Commissioner of Education Robbie Fletcher, school district officials and Marshall’s friends and family celebrated her achievement during the surprise ceremony.
“Ms. Lyons loves to read, and she passes that love onto her students. It is powerful for a child who struggles with reading to get one-on-one time each day with an adult who makes reading come alive,” Fletcher said. “Ms. Lyons does not shy away from challenging work. Whatever needs to be done, she is willing to do it. She shows up daily to build relationships and to help close achievement gaps in reading.”
Coleman commended Lyons for her role organizing classified staff to accommodate a group of community members who sought earlier drop-off times for their children.
“Ms. Lyons treats everyone with respect and is a shining light of service and optimism,” Coleman said. “She serves as a role model for younger classified employees. Her professionalism and decorum are virtues every employee at Taylor County Intermediate School aspires to emulate.”
Donella Wagner, head custodian at Raintree Elementary School in Baldwin, La., was awarded the 2026 RISE award by the U.S. Department of Education. Lyons joined classified school employees in Georgia, Virginia and Washington, D.C., as finalists.
Kala Marshall, an instructional assistant and girls basketball coach for Spencer County Public Schools, was also honored with a KESSP award during a ceremony at Spencer County Middle School on Feb. 27.
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