(FRANKFORT, Ky.) – Susanne Burkhardt, a teacher at Shelby County's Simpsonville Elementary, has been named 2007 Kentucky Teacher of the Year.
The announcement was made today at a ceremony held in the Capitol Rotunda in Frankfort by the Kentucky Department of Education and Ashland Inc. Gov. Ernie Fletcher, Acting Deputy Secretary of Education Sally Hamilton, Education Commissioner Gene Wilhoit and Ashland Chairman and CEO Jim O'Brien were on hand to make the presentation.
Diana Glenn, a teacher at East Hardin Middle School in the Hardin County school district, was named 2007 Middle School Teacher of the Year, while Teresa (Tracy) Lambert, a language arts teacher at Lafayette High School in Fayette County, was named 2007 High School Teacher of the Year.
The three join 21 other teachers from across the state honored with 2007 Ashland Inc. Teacher Achievement Awards. Glenn and Lambert received $3,000 each and a customized art-glass vase from Ashland Inc., while Burkhardt received $10,000 and a commemorative crystal glass bowl. In addition, the Department of Education will provide a sabbatical or suitable alternative to Burkhardt, who also will represent the state in the 2007 National Teacher of the Year competition. The remaining 21 winners each received $500 cash awards. All 24 teachers received framed certificates and were honored at a luncheon following the ceremony.
SUSANNE M. BURKHARDT
Burkhardt has 15 years' teaching experience, three of them in her current position as an elementary school teacher. She earned her bachelor's degree at Wittenberg University in Ohio; and a master's degree at John Carroll University in Ohio. Burkhardt has achieved National Board Certification in the Early Childhood Generalist category, and she has continued her educational and leadership development as a participant and presenter of numerous training programs throughout her career. She is a member of the Kentucky chapter of the National Board of Professional Teaching (NBPT) and a recipient of Mayfield Excellence and Mayfield Outstanding awards and an Innovative Teaching Grant.
DIANA GLENN
Glenn has 26 years' teaching experience, with 12 of them in her current position as a science teacher. She earned her bachelor's degree at the University of Arkansas and a master's degree at the University of Louisville. Glenn's professional affiliations include the Kentucky and National Education Associations, the Kentucky and National Science Teachers Associations and the National Middle School Association. She is a North Central Association Accreditation Team member and a recipient of the South View Junior High Teacher of the Year and the South View Attendance District Teacher of the Year awards. She has been nominated for Disney Teacher of the Year and for Who's Who in Teaching. She's also been cited for exceptional performance in the Department of Defense Schools program.
TRACY LAMBERT
Lambert has six years' teaching experience, all in her current position, teaching French courses. She earned her bachelor and master's degrees at the University of Kentucky and has achieved National
Board Certification in World Languages Other Than English. Lambert continues her professional and
Leadership development as a participant and a presenter in a range of workshops, conferences and other education-enhancement initiatives. She has mentored students and fellow teachers, and her contributions to the teaching profession have been recognized at district and national levels. She further supports her community through involvement in church, cultural and civic activities.
This is the sixth year Ashland Inc. and the Kentucky Department of Education have sponsored the Kentucky Teacher Awards. Applications for the program were distributed across the state, and the first tier of the selection process was completed in early September, with 24 teachers selected as 2007 Ashland Inc. Teacher Achievement Award winners. Nine top scorers – three each from the elementary, middle and high school levels – were selected, and teams of educators visited their classrooms to view them at work and to conduct personal interviews. From those nine, three were selected as 2007 Kentucky Teachers of the Year. The overall Kentucky Teacher of the Year then was selected, based on a compilation of scores from all phases of the judging.
Ashland Inc. has recognized outstanding Kentucky teachers with its Teacher Achievement Awards since 1988. Nearly $525,000 has been awarded to nearly 335 teachers in grades K to 12.
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, visit http://www.ashland.com.
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