Kentucky School Advocate
September 2023
Staff report
Districts can now put forward names of the exemplary people and programs that are leading the way in the advancement of public education.
This year’s slate includes the Kentucky School Board Member of the Year (BMOY), the Kentucky Organization of Superintendents’ Administrative Assistants KUP (Knowledge, Understanding and Passion) and the PEAK Award (Public Education Achieves in Kentucky).
KSBA has revamped its awards programs in recent years, launching the BMOY in 2021 and the KOSAA KUP in 2022, and this past year shifting PEAK Award honors to coincide with the association’s Annual Conference. Each award is now presented from the main conference stage at the Galt House in front of nearly 1,000 education leaders
“What better time to recognize excellence than when we are all together in Louisville for Annual Conference?” said KSBA Executive Director Kerri Schelling.
Next year will mark the third year of the BMOY. The first two winners both happened to be physicians, with Dr. Carl LeBuhn of Paducah Independent Schools taking home the award in 2022 and Dr. Chandra Varia of Floyd County Schools serving as the reigning honoree.
“Just a coincidence,” Schelling said. “Dynamic school board members come from every corner of the state, every walk of life, every profession. It’s their impact as leaders and their commitment to students that are the common denominators.”
As an added incentive, the BMOY award winner and members of his or her board team will receive free registration to the following year’s Annual Conference. KSBA’s PEAK Award has been presented more than 50 times to districts for innovative programs designed to enhance student learning such as literacy campaigns, agriculture programs or home visitation initiatives. Last year, Franklin County Schools received the PEAK for its William Cofield High school, an alternative track that has directly contributed to the district’s increased graduation rate.
The 2024 KOSAA KUP winner will have big shoes to fill following last year’s inaugural winner, Stephanie Spence, a longtime administrative assistant to the superintendent of Barren County Schools.
“We have so many award-worthy KOSAA members, and the districts know just how important these professionals are to board efficacy, to central office cohesion and to district operations,” said Katrina Kinman, KSBA director of Policy and eMeeting Services.