(FRANKFORT, Ky.) -- Fourteen Kentucky educators will serve as new Highly Skilled Educators (HSEs), joining the 35 currently helping low-performing schools raise the achievement of their students, the Kentucky Department of Education announced today.
The 14 are from school districts across the state. They have participated in rigorous training this summer and will be assigned to schools needing assistance this fall. HSEs serve for two years, during which they are granted leaves of absence from their home school districts.
NEW HIGHLY SKILLED EDUCATORS -- HOME DISTRICT, NAME, POSITION
Danville Ind. -- Paige Stevens, principal, Bate Middle
Elizabethtown Ind. -- Ruth Sorace, principal, Elizabethtown High
Estill Co. -- Jeanne Crowe, teacher, Estill County Middle
Fayette Co. -- Kimberly Parker-Brown, associate principal, Lexington Traditional Magnet
Floyd Co. -- Carolyn Martin, teacher, South Floyd Middle
Floyd Co. -- Joyce Watson, director of instruction, central office
Jefferson Co. -- Deborah Buck, instructional coach, Gheens Academy
Jefferson Co. -- Tamara Darden, instructional coach, Gheens Academy
Jessamine Co. -- Michele Reynolds, language arts curriculum specialist, East Jessamine Middle
Laurel Co. -- Michael Rowe, assistant principal, North Laurel High
Lewis Co. -- Barbara Kennedy, director of federal programs, central office
McCracken Co. -- Sally Sugg, principal, Hendron/Lone Oak Elementary
Sheffield, Ohio -- Ronald Lindsey, superintendent, Sheffield Lake City Schools
Shelby Co. -- Angela Doyle, secondary curriculum coordinator, central office
To become Highly Skilled Educators, applicants meet the following criteria:
- Kentucky certification
- A minimum of five years experience as an educator (ten years preferred)
- At least three years current experience as an educator
- Knowledge of current educational practice in Kentucky
- Awareness of Kentucky's Standards and Indicators for School Improvement
- Willingness to travel
Since 1990, the Highly Skilled Educators program (known as the Distinguished Educator program until 1998) has identified and trained more than 300 educators to work with schools identified by the state assessment and accountability program as being in need of assistance.
The HSEs provide a number of services to schools:
- assessing the needs of the school/district, including analysis of test data and the Kentucky Scholastic Audit Report
- leading the School Improvement Team in amending the Comprehensive School Improvement Plan
- assuring a focused use of Commonwealth School Improvement Funds within the school's budget
- providing professional development
Approximately 95 percent of schools served by Distinguished or Highly Skilled Educators have risen out of the assistance category by the end of two years of support.
IMPACT OF THE DISTINGUISHED EDUCATOR/HIGHLY SKILLED EDUCATOR PROGRAM
- 1990-92 -- 7 (DEs) designed the DE program.
- 1993-94 -- 43 (DEs) trained to implement program.
- 1994-96 -- 50 (DEs) worked with 53 schools eligible for assistance; 34 later met or exceeded their goals.
- 1996-98 -- 49 (DEs) worked with 178 schools (nine in crisis, 79 in decline, some assistance to 90 others who had improved but not reached their goal);167 improved their scores, 85 exceeded their goals.
- 1998-2000 -- 63 (HSEs) worked with 66 schools. Program changed in focus to serve low-performing schools; acceptance of assistance is voluntary.* 65 improved their scores.
- 2000-02 -- 54 (HSEs) worked with 53 schools and two districts with multiple-eligible schools*; 46 improved their scores.
*While HSEs were assigned to schools in varying degrees of assistance, it is important to note that all of the state's lowest performing (Level 3) schools moved out of that classification by meeting or exceeding their goals.
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