(FRANKFORT, Ky.) -- Nine outstanding teachers from around the state -- three elementary school teachers, three middle school teachers and three high school teachers --have been named semifinalists for the Kentucky Teacher of the Year award, the Kentucky Department of Education and Ashland Inc. announced today.
Winners of the Elementary School, Middle School and High School Teacher of the Year awards, as well as the overall 2005 Kentucky Teacher of the Year, will be announced at a ceremony in Frankfort on November 16 in the State Capitol Building.
Competing for Elementary Teacher of the Year are Tressella Jaggers, Blue Lick Elementary, Jefferson County; Diann C. Roberts, South Green Elementary, Glasgow Independent; and Penny S. Roberts, Greenville Elementary, Muhlenberg County.
Middle school semifinalists are Lee Ann Rodgers, Graves County Middle; Debbie J. Sims, Lincoln County Middle; and Billie Travis, Georgetown Middle, Scott County.
In the high school category, Linda K. Dale, East Ridge High, Pike County; Debbie B. Fowler, Hart County High; and Joseph L. Kozar, Grant County High, were named semifinalists.
The nine semifinalists were among 20 educators who were named last month as 2005 Ashland Inc. Teacher Achievement Awards winners. They were chosen based on their scores from the first round of judging, which was conducted by a blue-ribbon panel of veteran educators in mid-August in Lexington. Applications included information on nominees' teaching philosophies, teaching experiences, involvement in their respective communities and letters of recommendation. Representatives of the Department of Education and Ashland Inc. did not participate in the judging.
Classroom visits to each of the nine semifinalists will result in the selection of the Elementary School, Middle School and High School Teachers of the Year. Personal interviews with these final three candidates will result in the selection of the 2005 Kentucky Teacher of the Year. This individual then will represent Kentucky in the 2005 National Teacher of the Year competition.
Ashland Inc. will present all 20 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 honor, and all 20 educators will be honored at a special luncheon that day.
The Kentucky Teacher Awards program combines the best elements of the Ashland Inc. Teacher Achievement Awards and the Kentucky Teacher of the Year programs. This marks the fourth year that the Department of Education and Ashland Inc. have joined together to honor Kentucky educators.
Since 1988, Ashland Inc. has recognized outstanding Kentucky teachers through its Teacher Achievement Awards Program, awarding nearly $475,000 to some 220 teachers of grades K through 12.
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