2020 Teacher Achievement Award Winners

10-year veteran educator, Melanie Callahan teaches fourth-grade students at London Elementary. Callahan earned a bachelor's degree at the University of Kentucky; a master's degree at Bellarmine; Rank I Certification at the University of the Cumberlands; and Proficiency Certification in Theatre and Dance from Eastern Kentucky. Callahan is a Bill and Melinda Gates Fellow for National Board for Professional Teaching Standards Certification and is pursuing a doctoral degree at Capella. She is a supervising teacher for Midway and serves as secretary of the Curriculum & Instruction Committee for Cornerstone Christian School. Callahan also is a Certified Principal/member of the Association of Christian Schools International and a Teacher of Honor/member of Kappa Delta Pi.​

A four-year member of the education profession, Kayla Marie Garrett has taught kindergarten students at Mercer County Elementary School throughout her teaching career. Garrett earned a bachelor's degree at Kentucky's St. Catharine College and Literacy Specialist Certification at the University of the Cumberlands. She currently is working toward National Board Certification. Garrett has participated in Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports, the Kentucky Reading Project and Kagan training initiatives. She also is the teacher liaison for the Mercer County Elementary School Parent Teacher Organization. Garrett lives by the words of Dr. James Comer: "No significant learning can occur without a significant relationship". As a result, she strives to build such relationships with students and parents.

Katy Piercefield has taught fourth-grade students at Erpenbeck Elementary throughout her 14-year teaching career. Piercefield earned a bachelor's degree at Northern Kentucky University and a master's degree at Georgetown College. As a member of the school's Site Based Decision Making Council, Piercefield helps set school policies and procedures. She also serves on the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports Committee. Piercefield mentors and observes a future teacher in math, science and social studies. In 2018 and 2019, she participated in Explicit Learning sessions, focused on different strategies for use in the classroom to reach all students. Piercefield is a recipient of the Boone County Star Award.

A 22-year veteran educator, Meredith Larison has taught math, science, social studies and reading to fifth-grade students at Longbranch Elementary for seven years. Larison earned bachelor's and master's degrees at Northern Kentucky University. Over the course of her career, she has mentored 10 student teachers from various Kentucky universities, including Northern Kentucky University, Eastern Kentucky University, Thomas More College and the University of the Cumberlands. Larison serves as Math Committee chair for her school and has provided training on The 7 Habits for the Family, aimed at reinforcing study habits at home. She has trained staff members on The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, as well. 

23 year veteran educator Sue Ellen Ballard has taught chorus and music at Bourbon County Middle School for seven years. She earned an associate degree at Mississippi's Meridian Community College, a bachelor's degree at the University of Southern Mississippi, a master's degree at Mississippi College and a doctoral degree at the University of Kentucky. Ballard serves as faculty adviser for her school's Stepping Out Club. She chaired the school's Mini-Danceathon Committee in 2018 and 2019, raising funds for children's cancer research at UK. Ballard is a member of the Kentucky Music Educators Association and the Kentucky American Choral Directors Association. Her students have achieved distinguished ratings and been selected as Honor Choir participants throughout Ballard's career.

Brittany Embry has taught science at Rector A. Jones Middle School throughout her five-year teaching career. Embry earned a bachelor's degree at Eastern Kentucky University and a master's degree at the University of the Cumberlands. She heads the school's Science Department and is a member of the Academic Task Force. Embry serves as a Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports Tier One Coach and is part of a district-wide group of science teachers who collaborate on aligning standards and creating common success criteria/assessments for all teachers. She is a member of the Boone County, Kentucky and National Education associations and of the National Science Teachers Association.

With six years in the teaching profession, Zachary Hypes has taught visual arts at East Middle School for three years. Hypes earned a bachelor's degree at North Carolina's Appalachian State University and a master's degree at the University of the Cumberlands. As a member of the school's SBDM (School Based decision making) Council, he helps organize professional-development opportunities for fellow teachers and assists with interviewing/hiring new teachers. Hypes recently helped lead a Mindfulness professional-development seminar on techniques for increasing presence of mind in the classroom. He also piloted a skateboard camp for students over the fall and spring breaks this year. Hypes daily films/edits a mini lesson on YouTube to ensure all students receive clear and engaging instruction. He is the 2019 Shelby County Schools Teacher of the Year. 

Three-year veteran educator Garris L. Stroud has taught science at South Hopkins Middle School for the past two years. He earned a bachelor's degree at Murray State University and is nearing completion of a master's degree at Murray State. Stroud has served on the Elevating and Celebrating Educators of Western Kentukcy (ECET2WKY) Executive Planning Committee and as an ECET2WKY conference organizer and session presenter. Stroud was the recipient of a Rookie of the Year Award by Education Post. His professional affiliations include the Commissioner's Teacher Advisory Council, the National Geographic Society Kentucky Advisory Council, and the Hope Street Group Teacher Fellowship, for which Stroud chairs the Editorial Board.

 
A 16-year veteran educator, Ashley Nicole Adams has taught mathematics at Pikeville High School for nine years. Adams earned a bachelor's degree at Pikeville College and a master's degree at Morehead State University. In 2018 and 2019, she attended Effective Feedback professional-development training by International Assessment Expert Shirley Clarke at Eastern Kentucky University. Adams also led a session for fellow teachers on implementing strategies covered by Clarke and in the book Visible Learning Feedback. Adams has created and led multiple district-wide sessions on vertical alignment in the math classroom, and she serves as local treasurer of the Kentucky Education Association.

James L. Cornn has taught music education/band at Corbin High School throughout his 13-year teaching career. Cornn earned bachelor's and master's degrees and Rank I Certification at the University of the Cumberlands. As head of the school's Music Department, he assists in identifying professional-development opportunities, communicates departmental needs, leads team meetings and assists in master-schedule design. Cornn's bands consistently earn distinguished assessment ratings, and the marching band has been a MidStates Finalist for four years. A volunteer advocate for Odyssey of the Mind, Cornn serves on the KYOOTM board, presents workshops and judges at state and world levels. His professional affiliations also include the Kentucky Music Educators Association and the National Association for Music Educators. 

Jill Hurt has taught family and consumer sciences at Bourbon County High School throughout her 10-year career. She earned bachelor's and master's degrees at the University of Kentucky and Instructional Leadership Specialist Certification at Morehead State. Hurt mentors two new teachers and has served as a resource for seven teachers through the Kentucky Teacher Internship Program. Her professional affiliations include the Kentucky Association of Family and Consumer Sciences, the Association for Career and Technical Education and Alpha Delta Kappa. Hurt received a Kentucky Family, Career and Community Leaders of America Decade of Service Award, and Bourbon County High School is listed among the Elite Top 50 High School Culinary Programs in the United States by Sullivan University for 2019.

A 14-year veteran educator, Erin McIver has taught English to high-school students at Elkhorn Crossing School for five years. McIver earned a bachelor's degree at Eastern Kentucky University and a master's degree at Vermont's Middlebury College. She also has achieved National Board Certification. McIver serves on the Kentucky English Language Arts High School Assessment Advisory Panel and on the District Assessment Team. She also served on the District Instructional Leadership Team and as a supervising teacher for five student teachers from Georgetown College and Eastern Kentucky University. McIver has been a Scott County Schools High School Teacher of the Year and an Elkhorn Crossing School Teacher of the Year.