Kentucky School Advocate
May 2020

Young named head of CKEC  
David Young (right) has been named chief executive officer of the Central Kentucky Educational Cooperative (CKEC). Young, chief academic officer and assistant superintendent of Boyle County Schools, will replace Dot Perkins, who recently retired. He will begin his new role July 1. 

“Throughout the interview and selection process, David impressed everyone in which he came into contact,” said Matt Thompson, superintendent of Montgomery County Schools and president of the CKEC Board of Directors. “David’s knowledge of instruction and support for member districts, along with his vision for the future of CKEC are just a few of the many reasons why he was selected to be the next executive director.”

A graduate of Lindsey Wilson College and Eastern Kentucky University, Young has also served as a teacher and principal. He led Boyle County's work in new teacher induction, the Boyle County Leadership Academy, and Deeper Learning and 21st Century Skills Development.

“I am extremely excited about the opportunity to lead the important work being done at CKEC. Our districts are known across Kentucky for their academic successes and innovative approaches to learning,” Young said. 

Lexington-based CKEC serves 34 Kentucky school districts.

Alternative programs honored by KDE  
The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) has named 11 Alternative Programs of Distinction.

Alternative education programs are designed to meet the needs of students that cannot be addressed in a traditional classroom setting. They do not include career or technical centers or departments.

Interim Education Commissioner Kevin Brown said alternative programs are an essential educational option for Kentucky’s students.

“Alternative programs are vital to the future of the children of the Commonwealth,” Brown said. “We can’t reach every child in a traditional classroom setting. We have to work with our students to find what works best for them and put them in the best possible situation to succeed.”

The 11 programs are:

• Fayette County Learning Center (Fayette County)

• Jackson Academy (Warren County)

• McCracken Regional School (McCracken County)

• Mercer Day Treatment (Mercer County)

• Regional School Programs (Dayton Ind.)

• The McDaniel Learning Center (Laurel County)

• The Phoenix School of Discovery (Jefferson County)

• The Providence School (Jessamine County)

• Transformational Learning Center (Covington Ind.)

• Western Day Treatment (Jefferson County)

• William Cofield High School (Franklin County)

Each program selected receives a monetary award from the Kentucky Department of Education for instructional support. Information on the schools also will be posted on the KDE website, so other schools can use the programs as models. The programs will be recognized at the Kentucky Board of Education’s June meeting.

 

Photo: The Phoenix School of Discovery, a Jefferson County School, is designed to meet the needs of students that cannot be addressed in a traditional classroom setting. The school was named an Alternative School of Distinction. (Photo provided by Jefferson County Schools)

Fayette Co. wins Green Ribbon Schools award
Fayette County Schools has received a 2020 District Sustainability Award as part of the U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools program. The district is the first in Kentucky to win a District Sustainability Award.

Fayette is one of 55 honorees nationwide in the Green Ribbon Schools program, which recognizes innovative efforts to address three tenants: reducing environmental impact and utility costs, improving health and wellness and ensuring effective sustainability education.

The district was nominated by the Kentucky Environmental Education Council.

“The national recognition is quite simply a reflection of our students’ remarkable passion for sustainability on their campuses and extraordinary, out-of-the-box ideas and achievements toward improving their school’s environmental impact, student and staff wellness and environmental literacy,” said Tresine Logsdon, the district’s energy and sustainability curriculum coordinator. “Our students understand that climate change may be the biggest challenge of their generation and are unwavering in their commitment to find solutions locally and globally.”

Fayette County was recognized for working to empower students through access to data, strategic community partnerships and national best practices.

In 2019, Fayette County developed Kentucky’s first school district sustainability and wellness strategic plan which seeks to improve the district’s stewardship of fiscal, natural and human resources by empowering students, staff members and families to improve sustainability and wellness on each school campus.