(FRANKFORT, Ky.) -- Twenty-four outstanding Kentucky educators are recipients of the 2006 Ashland Inc. Teacher Achievement Awards, the Kentucky Department of Education and Ashland Inc. announced today.
The 24 teachers will be honored at a ceremony in Frankfort on October 11 in the state Capitol building. Representatives of the Department of Education, the Governor’s Office and Ashland Inc. will be on hand to honor the teachers and to recognize the 2006 Kentucky Elementary School, Kentucky Middle School and Kentucky High School Teachers of the Year. From those three finalists, the 2006 Kentucky Teacher of the Year will be named in October and will represent the state in the National Teacher of the Year competition.
Ashland Inc. will present the 24 recipients a cash award and a framed certificate at the awards ceremony. The three Kentucky Teachers of the Year also will receive custom-designed glassware commemorating their honor, and all 24 educators will be honored at a special luncheon that day.
The Kentucky Teacher Awards program combines the best elements of the Ashland Inc. Teacher Achievement Awards and the Kentucky Teacher of the Year programs. This marks the fifth year the Department of Education and Ashland Inc. have jointly honored Kentucky educators.
Judging was conducted by a blue-ribbon panel of veteran educators, many of whom have more than 20 years of teaching experience. The judging was held in August in Lexington, and representatives of the Department of Education and Ashland Inc. did not participate.
Applications included information on the nominees’ teaching philosophies, their teaching experiences and involvement in their respective communities, as well as letters of recommendation from peers, students, parents, administrators and others.
Listed by school district, the 24 winning teachers are:
Bowling Green Ind.
Kelli Lynnette Stice, W.R. McNeill Elementary
Boyd Co.
Michelle Gibson, Boyd County High
Calloway Co.
Margot Ellis McIntosh, East Calloway Elementary
Corbin Ind.
Jennifer Wells Phipps, Corbin Middle
Elliott Co.
Beverly McDavid, Elliott County High
Fleming Co.
Amy Bolar, Flemingsburg Elementary
Franklin Co.
Pam Jackson, Elkhorn Middle
Lonnie W. Lewis, Franklin County High
Hancock Co.
Mary Jane Newton, Hancock County Middle
Hardin Co.
Ellen Muncy Douglas, North Hardin High
Jefferson Co.
Lisa L. Gimbel, Noe Middle
Michael Ice, Sanders Elementary
Jeffrey A. Wright, Louisville Male High
Marshall Co.
Michael Todd Anderson, Benton Middle
Montgomery Co.
Paige Mayfield Brown, Mapleton Elementary
Murray Ind.
Debra S. Burgess, Murray High
Oldham Co.
Jennifer Crase, South Oldham Middle
Pendleton Co.
Michelle Williamson Lustenberg, Pendleton High
Pike Co.
Linda Dale, East Ridge High
Judy Looney, Mullins Elementary
Sheila Varney, Southside Elementary
Pulaski Co.
Judy VanHook, Woodstock Elementary
Shelby Co.
Vickie G. Wesley, Wright Elementary
Somerset Ind.
Erin N. Stephens, Somerset High
Ashland Inc. has recognized outstanding Kentucky teachers with its Teacher Achievement Awards since 1988. Nearly $500,000 has been awarded to nearly 300 teachers in grades K to 12.
Ashland Inc. (NYSE: ASH) is a Fortune 500 chemical and transportation construction company providing products, services and customer solutions throughout the world. To learn more about Ashland, click here.
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