Kentucky School Advocate
September 2020

Beshear appoints Jessamine Co. board member to EPSB
Through an executive order, Gov. Andy Beshear named new members to the Education Professional Standards Board. The board consists of 17 voting members, 15 of which are appointed by the governor. The president of the Council on Postsecondary Education and the secretary of the Education and Workforce Development Cabinet serve as ex officio voting members.

The new members, which must be confirmed by the Senate include:

• Carmen Souder, London; Jacqueline Mayfield, Louisville; and Melissa Conley Salyers, Ashland, representing elementary school teachers;

• Leigh Snell, Richmond; Justin Mitchell, Bowling Green; Sara Jackson Green, Lexington; and Cathy Gunn, Louisville, representing middle school teachers;

• Elijah Edwards, Danville; and Lisa Rudzinski, Salvisa, representing high school teachers;

• Traci Hunt, Elizabethtown; and Josh Trosper, Heidrick, representing school administrators; and

• Sherry Powers, Lexington; Donna Hedgepath, Campbellsville; and Julian Vasquez-Heilig, Lexington, representing postsecondary institutions.

The Education Professional Standards Board, establishes and enforces professional standards for preparation, certification, and responsible and ethical behavior of Kentucky educators.

Teacher of the year finalists announced
The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) and Valvoline Inc. announced that nine teachers from across the state – three elementary, three middle and four high school have been named semifinalists for the 2021 Kentucky Teacher of the Year award.

Winners of the elementary, middle and high school Teacher of the Year awards, in addition to the overall 2021 Kentucky Teacher of the Year, will be announced in a virtual ceremony in October.

The elementary semifinalists are:

• Samuel Northern, Simpson Elementary (Simpson County)
• Donnie Piercey, Stonewall Elementary (Fayette County)
• Donnie Wilkerson, Jamestown Elementary (Russell County)

The middle school semifinalists are:

• Laura Peavley, Westport Middle (Jefferson County)
• Jeannette Teater, The Providence School (Jessamine County)
• Tia Wood, Ballyshannon Middle (Boone County)

The high school semifinalists are:

• Lori Knapp-Lindsay, Boone County Ignite Academy
• Christopher McCurry, Lafayette High (Fayette County)
• Scott Wade, Newcomer Academy (Jefferson County)

The 2021 Kentucky Teacher of the Year individual will go on to represent Kentucky in the 2021 National Teacher of the Year competition.

State pledges $8 million for affordable internet access for K-12 students
The Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet is pledging $8 million to help create affordable internet access for low-income families of K-12 students, Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman announced.

Coleman, who also serves as secretary of the cabinet, said by Sept. 15 the cabinet will identify internet service providers that will supply high-speed internet service for K-12 students in low-income homes at no more than $10 per month for the next two to three school years.

The cabinet will be working with the Kentucky Department of Education, the Finance and Administration Cabinet and the Commonwealth Office of Technology.

As part of the project, the family of any K-12 student who is currently without internet access will be eligible to have the $10 per month service paid for through the $8 million investment, funded by the federal CARES Act. Students from low-income homes will be eligible to have nearly all of the monthly cost paid through the federal Lifeline program for the next two or three school years.

The “Last Mile” internet service includes wireless options like hotspots connected to a student’s cellphone, satellites and fixed wireless capabilities. It also includes wired options like traditional services from a cable, telephone or utility company.

Details for how to apply and who is eligible are posted on the department of education's website at education.ky.gov.