Check Training Hours Member Portal Contact Us Search

Take Note

Kentucky School Advocate

November 2018

Grant to boost family engagement in education
Kentucky has received a five-year, $5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to establish a Kentucky Statewide Family Engagement Center.

Led by the Prichard Committee, the center will carry out parent education and family engagement in education programs and provide training and technical assistance to educational agencies, schools and community-based organizations in effective family engagement policies, programs, resources and activities.

“Nearly three decades of research show that family, school and community engagement leads to improvement in student and school outcomes, and contributes to meeting the needs of all students, especially students in poverty and students historically underserved,” said Brigitte Blom Ramsey, Prichard Committee executive director.

Prichard will partner with Partners in Education at Berea College, in eastern Kentucky, Children, Inc. in northern Kentucky, and the National Center for Families Learning, in Louisville to establish Regional Family Engagement Centers. The regional centers will pilot evidence-based and innovative family engagement programs as well as training programs for schools and educational organizations within their region.

Schools celebrate Blue Ribbon award
The U. S. Department of Education named five Kentucky public schools as 2018 National Blue Ribbon Schools, based on their overall academic excellence.

The schools and their districts are:

• Huntertown Elementary (Woodford County)

• Oak Hill Elementary (Pulaski County)

• Paintsville Elementary (Paintsville Independent)

• Spottsville Elementary (Henderson County)

• Wyan-Pine Grove Elementary (Laurel County)

The program recognizes schools that are either among the state’s highest performing schools as measured by state assessments or nationally normed tests or are among the state’s highest performing schools in closing achievement gaps.

Representatives from each of Kentucky’s Blue Ribbon Schools will join those from other states at a recognition ceremony in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 7-8.

Annual conference theme announced
After much discussion, the KSBA Conference Planning Committee recently approved the theme for the 83rd Annual Conference. We are pleased to announce this year's theme: "Kentucky Schools Boards: Educate. Equip. Empower."

Per KSBA tradition, student artists are asked to submit banner art, reflective of the conference theme, which will hang throughout the event space.

More information can be found on the annual conference page of KSBA's website. Mark your calendar to attend the 2019 annual conference, Feb. 22-24, 2019 at the Galt House in Louisville.

Lewis appointed education commissioner
At its October meeting, the Kentucky Board of Education (KBE) appointed Wayne D. Lewis as Kentucky’s commissioner of education. Lewis, who had been interim commissioner since April, signed a four-year contract with an annual salary of $200,000 plus benefits.

Lewis is a University of Kentucky professor and served as the executive director of educational programs for the Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet. Prior to being named interim commissioner, Lewis served as a non-voting adviser to the KBE and as chairman of the Charter Schools Advisory Council. He has an undergraduate degree in criminal justice at Loyola University New Orleans, a master’s degree in urban studies from the University of Akron, and a Ph.D. in educational research and policy analysis from North Carolina State University.

New face at KSBA
Members and partners calling KSBA will hear a new voice on the phone and see a new face when arriving at KSBA’s Frankfort office. Buffy Sams recently joined KSBA as an administrative assistant/receptionist. Sams will provide administration support across the association and maintain KSBA’s membership database.

Sams came to KSBA after 30 years at the Kentucky Press Association where she was a bookkeeping assistant, handling newspaper payments, membership billing and collections. She is married and has two children.

Education Calendar

Nov. 6: Election Day

Nov. 12: Deadline for nominations for KSBA director-at-large offices

Nov. 12: Deadline for KSBA’s First Degree Scholarship applications

Nov. 12–16: The National Education Association’s American Education Week

Nov. 14: Look for KSBA’s AWARE newsletter in your email

Nov. 14: National Education Support Professionals Day – a day to recognize custodians, bus drivers, cafeteria workers, administrative assistants, etc.

Nov. 15: Deadline for KBSA’s Friend of Education Award, Warren Proudfoot Outstanding School Board Member Award and F.L. Dupree Outstanding Superintendent Award

Nov. 19: The General Assembly’s Interim Joint Committee on Education and School Safety Working Group meets

Nov. 28: Look for KSBA’s AWARE newsletter in your email

Nov. 30: Last day to comment on graduation requirement proposal. Send comments here.

Nov. 30–Dec. 1: KSBA’s Winter Symposium

Dec. 5: Kentucky Board of Education meeting, Frankfort