Kentucky Elementary School Teacher of the Year

2026 Kentucky Elementary Teacher of the Year Melanie Howard advocates for and celebrates her students

Melanie Howard’s unwavering devotion to a profession that demands an abundance of patience and heart has not gone unnoticed. Howard, a dedicated special education moderate and severe disabilities (MSD) educator at Corbin Primary School (Corbin Independent), was named a 2026 Kentucky Teacher of the Year finalist and winner of the elementary school teaching division at a ceremony held on Oct. 7 in Frankfort.

By Hope Cole|2025-10-08T09:52:44-04:00October 7, 2025|

Educator Spotlight: Donnie Wilkerson

Donnie Wilkerson, a 5th-grade social studies teacher at Jamestown Elementary School (Russell County), loves to make learning history immersive and fun for his students.

By Lexie Dodd|2023-12-05T13:01:49-05:00December 8, 2023|

2024 Kentucky Elementary School Teacher of the Year Donnie Wilkerson helps students make lifelong memories

Donnie Wilkerson believes that as a teacher, his purpose is much greater than just going through the educational curriculum with students. He tells his students to, “Be kind, think freely and inquire often. If you think about it, that's all you need to know.”

By Crystal Sicard|2023-09-13T11:21:42-04:00September 13, 2023|

Crittenden County’s Mandy Perez named 2023 Kentucky Teacher of the Year

Mandy Perez, a 6th-grade English and language arts teacher at Crittenden County Middle School, reacts in surprise as she is named the 2023 Kentucky Teacher of the Year at an in-person ceremony on Sept. 20 at the Kentucky State Capitol Rotunda. She also was named the Kentucky Middle School Teacher of the Year.Photo by Jacob Perkins, Sept. 20, 2022 [...]

By Audrie Lamb|2022-09-20T13:57:18-04:00September 20, 2022|

2023 Kentucky Elementary Teacher of the Year: Change the world, “one student at a time”

Kelly Gates is as homegrown as they come in Hopkins County. Born and raised in Madisonville, she has been teaching at Pride Elementary School (Hopkins County) for her entire 26-year career. Now Gates is representing her home as the 2023 Kentucky Elementary School Teacher of the Year.

By Jacqueline Thompson|2022-09-20T10:59:33-04:00September 20, 2022|

Kentucky 2022 Elementary Teacher of the Year discovered passion for teaching while working at summer camp

Ashley Ritchie, a 2nd-grade teacher at Beechwood Elementary (Beechwood Independent), is dedicated to engaging her students and loves to make learning come to life with her classroom transformations.

By Shelby Stills|2021-09-09T14:24:23-04:00September 9, 2021|

Fayette County’s Donnie Piercey named 2021 Kentucky Teacher of the Year

Donnie Piercey, a 5th-grade teacher at Stonewall Elementary School (Fayette County), has been named 2021 Kentucky Teacher of the Year and Elementary Teacher of the Year. Piercey, a 38-year-old Lexington resident, is using technology to help his school stay in touch with parents and students during remote learning.

By Jim Gaines|2020-10-22T11:14:12-04:00October 22, 2020|