Making a Difference in Bullitt County

Yvonne Fay has not dreamed of being a teacher ever since she was a little girl. In fact, she got her B.S. in Art History and thought her secondary education was complete. It wasn’t until her three children were in school and she became a substitute teacher in a classroom for children with special needs that she considered a career in Education. She graduated from CU with her Master of Arts in Special Education in 2013. 

As a Special Education teacher, Fay knows that every student can learn, even if their individual paths look a bit different. One of her children has ADHD, so she knows the struggles a student can encounter in the classroom. She works with them to bolster their confidence and help them meet their learning goals. 

Though she has enjoyed every Special Education classroom she’s been a part of, Fay really loves her current job at Crossroads Elementary School in Bullitt County. She’s been a part of that family for five years now and currently teaches exceptional children in grades 3 - 5. She co-teaches Reading, Math, and Writing as well as in a Resource setting. When not going over the basics with her students, Fay contributes to the school’s Safe Crisis Management team, she co-coaches the academic team and co-coordinates the PBIS Lighthouse Team (a student leadership team).

One of the most rewarding parts of the job for Fay is guiding her students and watching them grow and meet their Individual Education Program (IEP) goals. Progress is not a given, especially since COVID interrupted more than a year of learning. Fay says, “The most challenging thing this year is my students' self-confidence. I am at a Title 1 school and the students here have rough home lives. They often come in and feel that they are not worth anything and no one cares. I try to make sure they feel safe and loved. It is an ongoing process but in the end I hope to make a difference in their lives.” Once her students move on to middle school, many come back or send an email letting her know that she made an impact. 

CU student Holly Thomas teaching a lesson at the Super Saturday event

November 12, Ms. Tiffany Early, instructor of Education and Dr. Kerri Adkins, assistant professor of Education, took the students in Introduction to Education on a field trip to Marion County. There they participated in Super Saturday, an event for grades 3-5 that brings together gifted and talented students for a day of Science learning.  

The CU students worked in groups prior to the event to create engaging and interactive lessons that lasted approximately 20 minutes. The lessons topics varied from chemical reactions to Geography, Math, and much more. It was a fun-filled day of learning for both sets of students.

Carson Floyd and William Vink teaching a Geography lesson at Super Saturday.

Our first cohort of Masters in Education students are completing their final projects. Every student picked a unique topic that interests them. Liu Yuan focused on "Exploring Diversity and Embracing Multiculturalism." In China there are many traditional cultural groups, each with their own celebrations, traditional clothing, food, etc. She had students in her class explore the different festivals and the seasons in which they take place.

Another student, Lu Yao, focused on birds. Her class eagerly participated in this project because one of the students had a parrot at home who the other children were fascinated by. The timing of the curriculum was ideal because it began after the New Year, when the saying "two magpies start their nest" can be heard everywhere. Yao's class built nests and learned about bird anatomy and habitats.

Soon-to-be graduate Yuantie Du's project looked at establishing a training center to prepare Montessori teachers. All of the summative assessments conclude with a presentation which walks the class through how the year-long project was implemented and documents the outcome.

Children exploring different seasonal Chinese festivals.

Children making a bird's nest.

A new bulletin board in the School of Education highlighting those we appreciate.

This year the School of Education embarked on a new trek. We wanted to highlight those on the staff and faculty who go the extra mile to make life easier for our students. We also wanted to give a shout out to the students who go above and beyond the minimum requirements in the classroom. This month we want to honor undergraduate Kate Cecil, graduate student Teddy Ellis, staff member Lisa Kirtley, graduate professor Dr. Jane Bragg, and undergraduate professor Julie Ann Ball.

Alyssa Bunch, an Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education major, won the Kentucky Association of Professional Educator's (KAPE) student teacher scholarship. To apply, Bunch had to have a GPA of 3.5 or higher, receive two letters of recommendation, and write an essay on where she thinks she will be in her teaching career five years from now. KAPE offers multiple scholarships for high school seniors, student teachers, and teachers to encourage ongoing professional development and/or continuing education hoping to foster a life-long love of learning and strengthen our educational community. 

Dr. Elisha Lawrence, Assessment Chair, was recently recognized by the Harvard Institutes for Higher Education for her participation in training related to confronting racism in higher education.

Congratulations to Washington County High School Science teacher and 2007 CU graduate Jamaal Stiles. He has been elected to serve as the chairperson of the Kentucky Department of Education’s Teacher Advisory Council.

The Council consists of approximately 20 teacher leaders from across the Commonwealth who contribute crucial, diverse perspectives on education, and is designed to improve the educational landscape of Kentucky by providing the Commissioner of Education with direct input from Kentucky’s classrooms. Stiles will serve a three-year term as chairperson.

Says Stiles, “This is my second year serving on the TAC. As someone who is always looking for leadership opportunities, I thought this would be a great opportunity to make an impact on a bigger level. It’s always great to collaborate with teachers from Kentucky whom I would in regular circumstances not have the opportunity. Being a member of a team who is making positive changes to public education is something I’m very passionate about.”

Holly Elmore, chief academic officer of Washington County Schools has been selected to serve on the Kentucky Department of Education’s new Kentucky United We Learn Council. United We Learn is the state’s vision for the future of public education in Kentucky, and builds around three big ideas - creative vibrant learning experiences for every student, encouraging innovation in schools, and creating a bold new future for Kentucky’s schools through collaboration with communities. Elmore was one of 67 selected to serve, which includes an array of educators, administrators, family members, students and community members from across the Commonwealth.

A native of Campbellsville, Elmore is a 2000 graduate of Taylor County High School. She received a Bachelor of Science in Biology, minoring in secondary education from Campbellsville University in 2004, a Master of Arts in Special Education from CU in 2009, and a Master of Arts in Instructional Leadership in 2011. She is currently pursuing an Education Specialist degree in Educational Administration. She previously served as a Biology teacher, dean of instruction, and assistant principal at Washington County High School, dean of instruction at Washington County Elementary School and Washington County Middle School and principal of WCES.

Marion County native Chris Brady was named superintendent of Marion County Public Schools on June 6. He replaces Boyd Randolph, who served as interim superintendent. Brady, who has served as the district’s chief operating officer since 2015, began his tenure as superintendent July 1.

A native of Calvary, Brady said he chose a career in education because he feels strongly that public education is the most powerful way to improve the lives of people and the vitality of communities. “Throughout my career, whether as a teacher or administrator, I saw firsthand how important public education and public schools are to the lives of people within those communities. Especially in rural areas, the public school system has such a profound effect on families, and that’s something we should embrace as educators,” he said. “I feel I could have been successful in other fields, but I’m certain there’s no other profession where I could be part of more important work.”

Brady earned a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics, Computer Science and secondary education from Campbellsville University. He holds a master’s degree in Instructional Leadership, as well as a Rank I. He also earned his Education Specialist degree. During the summer of 2005, he was an adjunct professor at CU, teaching Computer Technology courses to graduate students earning their master’s in Education and initial teaching certification in Special Education.

Current student and special education teacher Savannah Thomas is piloting a new co-teaching model for Jessamine County. The feedback from their first evaluation was, “I am just so impressed with everything that we saw.” The pilot is going very well and the evaluators saw intentionality on the part of the teachers, and high levels of engagement on the part of the students. Thomas received a Jessamine County Medal of Honor from her superintendent who expressed that Thomas's co-teaching model was one of the best he has seen so far.

Participate in our School of Education Belize Servant Leadership opportunity. Enroll by November 15 to receive the Early Bird Discount! Travel is May 29 – June 7. The School of Education provides tutoring services to students in Belize at all age/grade levels. We collect needed supplies to distribute to schools and children’s homes. Educational learning excursions include a visit to the ancient Mayan site of Xunantunich, an iguana farm, the Belize Zoo, the coral reef via a glass bottom boat with a snorkeling option, a spice farm, and a Mayan chocolate factory.

All are welcome – students, faculty, staff, family, and friends. Enroll with deposit using the CU app (e-market) or on the CU website. The e-market Resource section will take you to the School of Education Belize trip link. Please contact Dr. Sharon Hundley, [email protected] or Rita Curtis, [email protected] with questions.

Dr. Robin Magruder and Dr. Sharon Hundley welcome all interested parties to travel with them to Spain and Portugal in May 2023. During the 13-day trip, participants will visit Barcelona, Madrid, Seville, Costa del Sol, Granada, Toledo, Valencia, and Lisbon. Current undergraduate and graduate students, alumni, faculty, staff, friends and family are all invited on the trip. For more information, please contact Dr. Robin Magruder, [email protected], or visit www.efcollegestudytours.com/2537975ss.

Morgan Basham (Educational Administration), Dean of Students, Russellville Independent Schools

Timothy Carter (MAT 8-12, English), English teacher, Lexington Catholic High School School, Catholic Diocese of Lexington

Mary Clark (MAT 8-12, English), English teacher, Somerset High School, Somerset Independent Schools.

Zackery Newton (MAT 8-12, Biology), Science teacher, Fern Creek High School, Jefferson County Public Schools

Lisa Heggie (MAT IECE), Preschool teacher, St. Rita Catholic Schools, Archdiocese of Louisville

Shannon Shelton (MAT IECE), Early Childhood teacher, Walker Early Learning Center, Wayne County Schools

Morgan Stratton (MAT IECE), Kindergarten teacher, Mercer County Elementary School, Mercer County Schools

Christa Clark (MASE), Special Needs teacher, Lebanon Junction Elementary School, Bullitt County Schools.