(FRANKFORT, Ky.) – Nine outstanding teachers from around the state – three elementary, three middle and three high school teachers – have been named semifinalists for the 2007 Kentucky Teacher of the Year award, the Kentucky Department of Education and Ashland Inc. announced today.
Winners of the Elementary, Middle and High School Teachers of the Year, as well as the overall 2007 Kentucky Teacher of the Year, will be announced at a ceremony in Frankfort on October 13 in the Kentucky Capitol.
Competing for Elementary Teacher of the Year are:
- Amy Bolar, Flemingsburg Elementary, Fleming County
- Susanne Burkhardt, Simpsonville Elementary, Shelby County
- Amanda Godbey, Junction City Elementary, Boyle County
Middle school semifinalists are:
- Teresa Elliott, Beaumont Middle, Fayette County
- Diana Glenn, East Hardin Middle, Hardin County
- Jennifer Wells Phipps, Corbin Middle, Corbin Independent
High school semifinalists are:
- Jack Barrett, Apollo High, Daviess County
- Teresa Lambert, Lafayette High, Fayette County
- Vicki Reynolds, Tates Creek High, Fayette County
The nine semifinalists were among 24 educators who were named 2007 Ashland Inc. Teacher Achievement Award winners. They were chosen based on their scores from a first round of judging, which was conducted by a blue-ribbon panel of veteran educators in early September in Lexington. Applications included information on nominees' teaching philosophies and experiences, involvement in their respective communities and letters of recommendation.
Classroom visits to each of the nine semifinalists will result in the selection of the Elementary, Middle and High School Teachers of the Year. After personal interviews are conducted, one of those final three will be selected 2007 Kentucky Teacher of the Year. This individual will represent Kentucky in the 2007 National Teacher of the Year competition.
Ashland Inc. will present all 24 Teacher Achievement Award winners with cash awards and framed certificates at the ceremony in Frankfort. The three Kentucky Teachers of the Year also will receive custom-designed glassware commemorating their honors, and all 24 educators will be recognized at a special luncheon after the October 13 ceremony.
The Kentucky Teacher of the Year Awards program combines the best elements of the Ashland Inc. Teacher Achievement Awards and the Kentucky Teacher of the Year programs. This marks the sixth year the Department of Education and Ashland Inc. have joined together to honor Kentucky educators. Since 1988, Ashland has awarded more than $525,000 to some 325 teachers of grades K to 12 through the Ashland Teacher Achievement Awards Program.
Ashland Inc. (NYSE: ASH), a diversified, global chemical company, provides quality products, services and solutions to customers in more than 100 countries. A FORTUNE 500* company, it operates through four wholly-owned divisions: Ashland Performance Materials; Ashland Distribution; Valvoline; and Ashland Water Technologies. To learn more about Ashland, click here.
*FORTUNE 500 is a registered trademark of Time Inc.
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