Filtered by category: Awards Clear Filter

Three Kentucky educators chosen as state finalists for Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching

(FRANKFORT, KY) – Three Kentucky educators have been selected as state finalists for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST).

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Two Kentucky elementary schools named 2021 National ESEA Distinguished Schools

(FRANKFORT, KY) – The National Association of ESEA State Program Administrators (NAESPA) has named two Kentucky schools as National ESEA Distinguished Schools during its national conference on Feb. 16-19. The two are among 49 schools nationwide to receive the honor.

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Kentucky celebrates 85 new National Board Certified Teachers

FRANKFORT, KY) – Kentucky recognized 85 teachers newly certified by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) during a Feb. 10 virtual ceremony.

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Nominations open for 2023 Kentucky Teacher of the Year

(FRANKFORT, KY) – Nominations are now being accepted for the 2023 Kentucky Teacher Awards, sponsored by the Kentucky Department of Education and Valvoline Inc.

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Nominate outstanding education support staff for the 2021 RISE Award

(FRANKFORT, KY) – The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) is accepting nominations of outstanding educational support staff members for the national 2021 Recognizing Inspirational School Employees (RISE) Award.

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Schools, districts recognized for best practices at Continuous Improvement Summit

(FRANKFORT, KY) – The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) recognized seven schools and two school districts for best practices during the 2021 Continuous Improvement Summit on Sept. 23.

Associate Commissioner Kelley Foster presented each winner with a $500 check that can be used toward school improvement.

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Five Kentucky public schools named 2021 Blue Ribbon winners

(FRANKFORT, KY) – The U. S. Department of Education (USED) named five Kentucky public schools as 2021 National Blue Ribbon Schools based on their overall academic excellence.

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Montgomery County's Willie Edward Taylor Carver Jr. named 2022 Kentucky Teacher of the Year

(FRANKFORT, KY) – Willie Edward Taylor Carver Jr., an English and French teacher at Montgomery County High School, is the 2022 Kentucky Teacher of the Year.

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Semifinalists named for 2022 Kentucky Teacher of the Year

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24 Kentucky Valvoline Teacher Achievement Award winners named for 2022

(FRANKFORT, KY) – The Kentucky Department of Education and Valvoline Inc. have selected 24 outstanding Kentucky educators as recipients of the 2022 Valvoline™ Teacher Achievement Awards (TAA). These teachers qualify to compete for the 2022 Kentucky Teacher of the Year Award, which will be announced in September.

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Kentucky celebrates 82 new National Board Certified Teachers during virtual ceremony

(FRANKFORT, KY) – Kentucky recognized 82 teachers newly certified by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) during a Feb. 11 virtual ceremony.

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Kentucky recognizes 219 new National Board Certified Teachers

Kentucky recognizes 219 new National Board Certified Teachers

(FRANKFORT, KY) – A total of 219 Kentucky educators were recognized Feb. 11 for recently obtaining the highest possible certification in the teaching profession, according to the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.

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Nominations open for 2021 Kentucky Teacher Awards

Nominations open for 2021 Kentucky Teacher Awards

The Kentucky Department of Education and Valvoline Inc., sponsors of the Kentucky Teacher Awards, have opened nominations for the 2021 Kentucky Teacher Awards.

Nominations may be submitted electronically by visiting the 2021 Kentucky Teacher of the Year website at kentuckytoy.com. The deadline for nominations is Feb. 15. Any full-time public school teacher in the state with at least three years of experience is eligible. Teachers may be nominated by students, parents, teaching peers, principals, superintendents or anyone from the community who has an interest in honoring an outstanding educator.

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Four Kentucky teachers win Presidential Award for math, science teaching

(FRANKFORT, KY) – Four Kentucky mathematics and science teachers are among 213 recipients of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST), which is awarded to outstanding K-12 science and mathematics teachers from across the country. Winners are selected by a panel of distinguished scientists, mathematicians and educators following an initial selection process at the state level.

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Five Kentucky public schools named 2019 Blue Ribbon winners

(FRANKFORT, KY) – The U. S. Department of Education (USED) named five Kentucky public schools as 2019 National Blue Ribbon Schools, based on their overall academic excellence.

The five Kentucky schools and their districts are:

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Kelly Award for Business and Education Partnership

Nominate a business leader
striving for education excellence

The Kentucky Board of Education (KBE) is accepting nominations for the Kelly Award for Business and Education Partnership. The award honors a Kentucky businessperson who has partnered with a public school or district to provide outstanding leadership that promotes school improvement and student success.


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Erin Ball Named 2020 Kentucky Teacher of the Year

(FRANKFORT, KY) – Erin Elizabeth Ball, a language arts teacher at Georgetown Middle School in Scott County, is the 2020 Kentucky Teacher of the Year. Ball has four years of teaching experience in Scott County Schools.

Valvoline Inc™ and the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) made the announcement today at a ceremony at the Berry Mansion in Frankfort. Secretary of Education and Workforce Development Derrick Ramsey, Commissioner of Education Wayne Lewis and Valvoline CEO Sam Mitchell were on hand to make the presentation.

Melanie Callahan, a 4th-grade teacher at London Elementary (Laurel County), is the 2020 Elementary School Teacher of the Year. Matthew Kaufmann, an English teacher at Marion C. Moore School (Jefferson County), is the 2020 High School Teacher of the Year.



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Boyle County High School Earns Georgia Davis Powers Award

Boyle County High School Earns Georgia Davis Powers Award

Alison Lundergan Grimes presented the Georgia Davis Powers Award to Boyle County High School. They were the only high school in the state with 100% of eligible students registered to vote.

High School Senior Vanita Fitzwater, along with AP Government teacher Mr. Tyler Murphy, and other students campaigned and held lunch time drives to reach their goal and encourage all eligible students to register.


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Commissioner honors three student groups for advancing educational excellence

(FRANKFORT, KY) – Kentucky Education Commissioner Wayne Lewis on Wednesday honored three student-based organizations from across the Commonwealth for their participation in a new initiative aimed at promoting the importance of education. The groups honored represented a total of five public school districts:

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Valvoline Teacher Achievement Award Winners

24 Valvoline Teacher Achievement Award Winners Named

(FRANKFORT, KY) – The Kentucky Department of Education and Valvoline Inc. have selected 24 outstanding Kentucky educators as recipients of the 2020 Valvoline™ Teacher Achievement Awards (TAA). These teachers qualify to compete for the 2020 Kentucky Teacher of the Year Award, which will be announced in May.

"Valvoline is pleased to once again honor and recognize 24 of Kentucky’s most outstanding teachers. These individuals play a critical role in preparing students for life after high school graduation, whether that be in college or the workforce,” said Daryl Love, Valvoline’s manager of community relations.

The 24 winning teachers are:



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