Kentucky School Advocate
August 2023
KDE’s school board member advisory council meets The Kentucky Department of Education’s Local School Board Member Advisory Council (LSBMAC) met July 14 before KSBA’s Summer Leadership Institute.
The LSBMAC consists of 13 members, one representing each of the state's seven judicial districts and six at-large members. At least two members also represent the KSBA Board of Directors.
At the meeting, the council welcomed three new members: Joanna Hinton of LaRue County Schools, Venita Murphy of Webster County Schools and Felix Akojie of Paducah Independent Schools.
The agenda included an update from Education Commissioner Jason Glass; a presentation on Senate Bill 5, the harmful to minors complaint legislation, from KSBA’s Director of Advocacy Eric Kennedy; and a presentation on the Kentucky Board of Education’s Portrait of a Learner/Graduate from KDE’s Sarah Snipes.
Snipes, program director in KDE’s Office of Continuous Improvement, said more than 90 districts have developed local profiles.
Shelby County board member Joanna Freels said her district enlisted the help of the community while creating its profile of a graduate.
“We have embraced the community and the community has embraced the school,” she said. “And I think that’s why the profile has been so successful in Shelby County.”
The LSBMAC’s next meeting will be held at KSBA’s Winter Symposium in December.
Bowling Green Independent communications director wins national award 
McCoyLeslie McCoy, Bowling Green Independent communications director, won a Gold Medallion award from the National School Public Relations Association at the association’s conference in July. The Gold Medallion is the field’s top competition recognizing superior school public relations programs and campaigns grounded in strategic communication best practices.
McCoy was recognized for communications around the district’s Teranga Academy for multilingual teens. The submission included a summary of research, planning, implementation, and evaluation, beginning with the partnership with the Fugees Family, Inc., to recruit and hire staff, enroll students and expand community partnerships, social media and media coverage.
“It is an honor to receive a Gold Medallion for a project that has been a highlight of my career,” McCoy said. “I appreciate the trust and support of my colleagues on the BGISD leadership team, and I’m thankful for the opportunity to be a small part of Project Teranga with the Fugees Family.”
This year, eight Gold Medallion winners were selected from among 66 entries of communication professionals from districts across the U.S. and Canada.