Tommy Floyd Kentucky Department of Education Chief of Staff Tommy Floyd has received the Richard Thornton Award from the Kentucky School Public Relations Association (KYSPRA). Floyd was presented the award at the organization’s annual conference Nov. 14. Floyd was named to the newly created position about a year and a half ago, after 5½ years as superintendent of [...]
Randy Barrette By Randy Barrette randy.barrette@menifee.kyschools.us Across the country each year, one week is set aside for International Education Week. This joint initiative of the U.S. State Department and the U.S. Department of Education (USED) is part of a larger effort to promote school programs that prepare K-12 students for the global environment, one that both departments hope [...]
Sarah Yost By Sarah Yost, NBCT Sarah.yost@jefferson.kyschools.us For two years, I’ve served my school in the hybrid role of teacher and lead teacher for English/language arts. I teach two hours of reading intervention every day and spend the rest of my time working on various leadership initiatives for the school. When my principal gave me the opportunity to [...]
This week, Chief of Staff Tommy Floyd, who represents the Kentucky Department of Education on the Governor’s Early Childhood Advisory Council, is my guest blogger. The topic is preschool and how to serve more children who could benefit from a quality early learning experience with the limited funding available. Terry Holliday, Ph.D. Education Commissioner In the coming weeks, the Kentucky [...]
Kentucky teachers, like those in most other American classrooms, face the challenge of closing achievement gaps. As difficult as this can be, there are strategies that have been shown to work in all types of classrooms and among all types of students. Through CIITS and Edivation, Kentucky educators have access to a professional learning video that can equip them with some [...]
Gov. Steve Beshear and First Lady Jane Beshear this week received the National Dropout Prevention Network’s 2014 Crystal Star Award for Distinguished Leadership and Service. “Governor Beshear and the first lady have demonstrated their commitment to education by championing programs and legislation designed to ensure that students throughout the state not only graduate high school but are college- and career-ready,” [...]
Brad Clark By Brad Clark brad.clark@woodford.kyschools.us There are more than 42,000 teachers in the commonwealth. If 25 percent of Kentucky teachers were connected, engaged in the meaningful work of transforming education for the students and teachers within their sphere of influence, there would be more than 10,000 teachers engaged in the Teacher Leadership Movement in Kentucky. At the [...]
Jon Ballard In the Elizabethtown Independent school district, science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) are emerging as important vehicles in delivering educational programs to help students meet the demands of the 21st century. By partnering with industries such as Metalsa, Dow Corning, Kentucky Utilities and Louisville Gas and Electric, nearly 400 students are afforded the opportunity to participate [...]
Laura Raganas, of the Kentucky Department of Education’s Division of Student Success, has been selected as an attendee at the next Google Teacher Academy in Austin, Texas, on Dec. 2-3. The Google Teacher Academy is an intensive program that recognizes educators who are doing innovative and exciting things with technology. The 50 participants will get hands-on experience with Google's products and [...]
The Partnership Institute for Math and Science Education Reform (PIMSER) is offering short courses for elementary mathematics teachers Dec. 3 and Dec. 15 in Lexington designed to strengthen understanding of the Kentucky Core Academic Standards for mathematics. “Using the Number Line” will allow teachers to make connections to the Professional Growth and Effectiveness System (PGES) framework for teaching, examine and [...]