The Kentucky Department of Education’s (KDE’s) vision for Kentuckians and their families in K-12 education rests upon three ideas: a vibrant student experience, innovation in our schools and collaboration with our communities.
If you ask 8th-grade social studies teacher Justin Mitchell what lesson defines his teaching, he’ll say Colonial America. “This is such a crucial and complex period of time, with us going from being well under the rule of Great Britain to being our own country in just 20 years.” said Mitchell. But in order to get his students to fully understand and resonate with the founding of America, he knew he couldn’t just stick to worksheets and note-taking.
Beth Gravett has worked in state government most of her professional career. Before she joined the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) in 2011, she was the director of the Division of System Management for the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services.
Danielle Hicks began her college experience as a pre-med student, but she soon discovered that she could not stand the sight of blood. After exploring different career paths, Hicks found her passion for education.
When Caryn Davidson’s husband got a job in Kentucky in 2014, she transitioned from teaching elementary school in the Washington, D.C., area to working with the Professional Growth and Effectiveness System at the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE). Almost 10 years later, she now works as the data and communications consultant in KDE’s Office of Teaching and Learning.
Education requires a great deal of professional learning, even after you have graduated college. Our public-school teachers continue to remain committed to finding new ways to reach all of their students by making sure their own education never stops.
Nathaniel Green’s classroom is fueled on inclusivity and community. Green started his career teaching English in South Korea. Now, he is a middle school social studies teacher at Newport High School (Newport Independent).
Jessica Napier, an education administration program consultant in the Kentucky Department of Education’s (KDE’s) Office of Continuous Improvement and Support, sees herself as a people person.
Angela Dilts-Pollock values not only educating her students, but also helping them to grow into who they are and who they will become. “It’s my job to help students discover who they are and how to be the best version of themselves,” said Pollock. “Teaching of content comes after, when students feel safe in my classroom and that I care about them as humans.”
The Washington County school district aims to improve the quality of our student experiences and overall impact on our school community.