I’ve finally done it. It took five years, but I have photographed all of Kentucky’s 174 school districts, plus the Kentucky School for the Deaf and the Kentucky School for the Blind.  I set the goal when I first started working at KDE to make sure we at Kentucky Teacher were maintaining our goal of reaching and covering the work of teachers across the state. Plus, it just sounded like something fun to do.

My first assignment was at North Oldham Middle School (Oldham County) Aug. 29, 2007.  The last district on list ended up being Spencer County Middle School Oct. 8, 2012. It’s been a great journey. I’ve met some wonderful teachers, been caught in a tornado warning at T.K. Stone Middle School (Elizabethtown Ind.), driven snow-covered roads to reach Viper Elementary School (Perry County) and gotten lost trying to find a school, here’s looking at you Farmington Elementary School (Graves County). Actually, that happens more than I care to admit.

While my personal goal has been fulfilled, Kentucky Teacher will continue sharing the positive things happening in Kentucky’s education system. Are you doing something unique in your classroom with great results? Is your school blazing a trail other schools could follow? Let us know about it. I’d love to come visit.

The following slideshow is the first in a three-part series showcasing a photo from each of Kentucky’s school districts.

Sydney Kimbler, Dean Burton, Kaylee Robinson and Brandon Hagy in Kelly Roberton\'s 1st-grade class at Colonel William Casey Elementary (Adair County).Photo by Amy Wallot, Jan. 29, 2008
Students walk to class at James E. Bazzell Middle (Allen County).Photo by Amy Wallot, May 8, 2008
Susan Beach helps 7th-grade student Ellie Fizer read The Call of the Wild at Anchorage Public Elementary School (Anchorage Independent).Photo by Amy Wallot, March 20 , 2012
Sophomore Ryan Whitaker, sophomore Madison Stidham, junior Courtney Nash and sophomore Shelby Tracy construct a wreath during the floral design class at Anderson County High School.Photo by Amy Wallot, Jan. 28, 2010
Taylor Ross studies spelling and definitions during Kelva Nelson\'s 2nd-grade class at Crabbe Elementary School (Ashland Independent).Photo by Amy Wallot, March 3, 2008
Principal Lisa McCane and assistant principal Robin Kelsch pose with the teaching staff at Augusta Independent Schools after the district had 100% compliance with the TELL survey.Photo by Amy Wallot, May 11, 2011
Third-grade students Alissa Kommer, Wyatt LaPradd, Corey Ringstaff and Zack Ringstaff take turns reading with Mac the dog. Librarian Rhonda Pace brought in her dog for students to read to at Ballard Elementary School 9Ballard County). \"Mac the AR reading dog\" visits the school every couple of months. According to Pace, having Mac visit brings in reluctant readers to the library.Photo by Amy Wallot, Dec. 18, 2009
Halloween during Norma Hyden\'s class at Barbourville City School (Barbourville Independent). Photo by Amy Wallot, Oct. 29, 2010
Freshman Kristen Miles during Mike Thackers\' Algebra II class at Bardstown High School (Bardstown Independent). Photo by Amy Wallot, Dec. 10, 2009
Second-grade student Robert Sydnor practices spelling using a Smart Board in the Literacy Lab at Park City Elementary (Barren County). Photo by Amy Wallot, Feb. 7, 2008
Jeremey Booher helps freshman Allie Byrd with a Powerpoint about the career she is interested in during his Business Principles class at Bath County High School.Photo by Amy Wallot, Oct. 27, 2009
Eighth-grade students Alex Keller and Savannah Smith dissect a perch during Janet Miller\'s life science class at Beechwood High School (Beechwood Independent).Photo by Amy Wallot, Feb. 25, 2010
Emily Saylor prepares for the KPREP test during Stephanie Sanders\' 8th-grade reading class at Page School Center (Bell County).Photo by Amy Wallot, Feb. 29, 2012
Kathy Riley, right, talks with school nurse Tabitha Swope at Bellevue High School (Bellevue Independent). The two collaborate on students\' mental wellness at the school. Photo by Amy Wallot, Feb. 17, 2009
Teacher Brenda Lambert and senior Bethany Hall laugh as they come across a silly picture from a recent event the student paper was covering. Lambert was helping Hall edit the photos during journalism class at Berea Community High School (Berea Independent). The class publishes two pages in the local newspaper every other week. \"It\'s one of the highlights of my day. I love,\" Lambert said. Photo by Amy Wallot, March 4, 2009
Kentucky Teacher of the Year Butch Hamm talks with his students about the vocabulary used in The Crucible during his AP English II class at Larry A. Ryle High School (Boone County).Photo by Amy Wallot, Nov. 4, 2009
Roxanne Mitchell works with 5th-grade students editing sentences at North Middletown Elementary School (Bourbon County).Photo by Amy Wallot, Oct. 20, 2011
Jeanie Orr\'s class gets one more song in before the bell at Bowling Green Junior High School (Bowling Green Independent).Photo by Amy Wallot, April 16, 2008
Eighth-grade student Clayton Meade, center, leads the student body in a choreographed dance to “I Gotta Feeling” by the Black Eyed Peas during the Boyd County Middle School Schools to Watch ceremony. Photo by Amy Wallot, March 30, 2010
First-grade students Lindsey Warinner, Kelsey Worthington and Kennedy Fowler demonstrate preventative measures for the flu by washing their hands at Junction City Elementary School (Boyle County).Photo by Amy Wallot, Sept. 29, 2009

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