Check Training Hours Member Portal Contact Us Search

Take Note

Kentucky School Advocate

December 2017

KYSPRA awarded its 2017 Flag of Learning and Liberty to Independence Bank of Owensboro, nominated by the Owensboro Independent school district, whose public information officer, Dave Kirk, is at far right in photo with bank representatives.

School p.r. praise
The Kentucky School Public Relations Association presented its major annual awards during its Fall Conference in November. The Richard Thornton Award, which was created by KYSPRA in 2001 for exceptional leadership and dedication to public education in Kentucky, was given to Kentucky Education Commissioner Dr. Stephen L. Pruitt. The association cited Pruitt’s leadership in helping schools “navigate significant challenges,” including charter school legislation, proposed pension reforms and new accountability standards. It also singled out his concern for the whole child, not just test scores.

KYSPRA awarded its 2017 Flag of Learning and Liberty to Independence Bank of Owensboro, nominated by the Owensboro Independent school district, whose public information officer, Dave Kirk, is at far right in photo with bank representatives. The award recognizes a person, group or corporation outside the education field who has made a significant contribution to public education in Kentucky. The bank has provided the district with little free libraries, runs the backpack feeding program and its employees volunteer and read in the schools.

The O.V. Jones Award for outstanding service to KYSPRA went to Karen Curnutte, an 11-year employee of Boyd County Schools and a KYSPRA board member since 2012 who oversees the association’s website. In addition to her duties as writer, graphic designer and webmaster for the district, she is its liaison with the Boyd County Foundation for Children.

KYSPRA also saluted retired KSBA communications chief Brad Hughes with a $1,000 gift to the Western Kentucky University Student Publications Scholarship Fellowship Program, which places promising student journalists with newspaper professionals.

Urban excellence
Jefferson County school board member Diane Porter was recently recognized as a national finalist for The Council of Great City Schools’ Green-Garner Award. The award recognizes a board member or superintendent for outstanding contributions in urban education. The organization is a coalition of 68 urban school districts that represent the needs of urban public schools. Porter, a retired school administrator, has been a member of the Jefferson County board since 2010.

New regional reps
With the wrap up of the 2017 KSBA Fall Regional Meetings, elections for regional chairpersons also closed. In the Eastern Kentucky South Region, Sherry Robinson is the new regional chairperson. Robinson currently chairs the Floyd County school board, on which she’s been a member since 2004. A radiologic technologist, she holds an associate degree in applied science from Tidewater Community College. Robinson is the co-founder of Appalachian Youth Enrichment Foundation, which helps Appalachian children to enrich their whole life experiences above and beyond their own financial means.

Elizabethtown Independent school board Vice Chairman Tony Kuklinski is returning as regional chairperson for the Fourth Region. Kuklinski, a board member since 2008, is a federal police officer with the U.S. Department of the Treasury. He is a member of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 40 and a life member of the American Legion and Disabled American Veterans. Kuklinski also was head coach of the Elizabethtown High School boys and girls cross country and track teams. He served as board representative on two superintendent search committees and chaired the board’s Local Planning Committee.

Regional chairpersons serve three-year terms.

Corrections
An article in last month’s issue about KSBA’s Equity Cadre got a name and title wrong. Dr. Ron Chi of Frankfort Independent Schools and Kentucky State University is a cadre member; Dr. Roger Cleveland is an associate professor at Eastern Kentucky University. We apologize for the errors.