Nominees for WKCTC's Regional Educators Awards Announced
Thursday March 27 5:30 p.m. - 8 p.m. Clemens Fine Arts Center
Date and time was originally not added.
Paducah, KY (03/07/2025) — More than 200 educators were nominated for West Kentucky Community and Technical College (WKCTC)'s Eighth Annual Regional Educators Awards and Scholarship Program (REASP), college officials announced today.
The awards, conceived by WKCTC President Anton Reece, aim to honor the vital role of Pre-K through 12th-grade teachers, administrators, and staff in their communities and society.
Last fall, WKCTC issued a call for nominations for primary and secondary educators, administrators, and support staff from across the region. The response was overwhelming, with nominations submitted by students, parents, and colleagues. This year's program will recognize nominees who completed the application process and are being acknowledged for their exceptional contributions.
The applications underwent a thorough review by a panel of judges, using a detailed rubric to determine two finalists and a winner in each of the five award categories listed below.
- Distinguished Administrator Award for individuals who hold the title of director, assistant director, assistant principal, principal, etc.
- Distinguished Faculty (Preschool/Kindergarten - 4th Grade) Award
- Distinguished Faculty (5th Grade - 8th Grade) Award
- Distinguished Faculty (9th Grade - 12th Grade) Award
- Cornelia Reece Unsung Hero Support Staff Award for staff such as custodians, secretaries, cafeteria workers, etc.
- Cornelia Reece Unsung Hero Administrative Staff Award for staff such as counselors, coaches, family resource coordinators, etc.
- In conjunction with the awards program, a scholarship was established for WKCTC students interested in K-12 teaching, early childhood education, or educational majors to encourage and assist the region's future educators. Since the REASP's inception, sponsors and other contributors have given more than $50,000 to the Regional Educators Program Future Educators Scholarship.
WKCTC President Anton Reece emphasized the significance of each nominee feeling honored for their nomination. "We recognize the exceptional work that all educators, administrators, and support staff do for the students in our region, and they truly deserve this recognition."
Nominees are listed below.
Ballard County Schools:
Whitney Clemons, Ballard Memorial High School custodian
Valerie Helm, Ballard County Board Office student information administrator
Caldwell County Schools:
Lisa Hudson, Caldwell County Middle School special education teacher
Calloway County Schools:
Nick Calcamuggio, Calloway County High School teacher
Melinda Hendley, North Calloway County Elementary School principal
Chelsea Neale, Calloway County High School counselor
Scott Pile, Calloway County Middle School seventh-grade teacher
Lane Springer, Calloway County High School teacher
Todd Terry, East Calloway County Elementary School music teacher K-5
Carlisle County Schools:
Sarah Workman, Carlisle County High School twelfth-grade teacher
Community Christian Academy:
Tammy Chapman, Community Christian Academy High School teacher
Christy Green, Community Christian Academy third-grade teacher
Monica Woodyard, Community Christian Academy High School teacher
Crittenden County Schools:
Shayann Board, Crittenden County Elementary School second-grade teacher
Tammy Travis, Crittenden County Board Office administrative assistant
Crystal Wesmoland, Crittenden County Board Office Family Resource Center coordinator
Fulton County Schools:
Brey Jones, Fulton County Elementary School counselor
Liz Page, Fulton County Elementary School third-grade teacher
Fulton Independent Schools:
Betty Bartimus, Fulton Independent Board Office administrative assistant
Danielle Cruse, Carr Elementary School fifth-grade teacher
Brittany Moxley, Carr Elementary School kindergarten teacher
Mark Paitsel, Fulton High School teacher
Melissa Trice-Martin, Fulton Middle School teacher
Graves County Schools:
Marina Bass, Wingo Elementary School special education teacher
Andrea Boyken, Sedalia Elementary School teaching assistant
Jalin Burnette, Central Elementary School special education teacher
Keri Cornwell, Central Elementary School principal
Sarah Duren,Fancy Farm Elementary School counselor
Mallery Fowler, Fancy Farm Elementary School third-grade teacher
Courtney Hayden, Graves County Board Office early education consultant
Erica Hays, Graves County High School teacher
Diane Janes, Central Elementary School K-6 teacher
Jessica Lathrop, Central Elementary School fourth-grade teacher
Peggy Marler, Fancy Farm Elementary School teacher
Kelly Mathis, Central Elementary School special education teacher
Shanna Mills, Graves County High School teacher
Hannah Newsome, Symsonia Elementary School second-grade teacher
Kim Roberts, Graves County High School teacher
Sabrina Sams, Fancy Farm Elementary School teaching assistant
Allison Sevic, Central Elementary School fourth-grade teacher
Nyssa Shemwell, Wingo Elementary School second-grade teacher
Taylor Sheridan, Graves County High School ninth-grade teacher
Whitney Ward, Sedalia Elementary School fifth-grade teacher
Carson Wheeler, Central Elementary School teaching assistant
Nicki Thompson, Wingo Elementary School fifth-grade teacher
Hickman County Schools:
Nicole Terry, Hickman County Elementary School sixth-grade teacher
Livingston County Schools:
Brandy Barrett, South Livingston Elementary School third-grade teacher
Jason Culver, Livingston Central High School teacher
Ashley Eison, South Livingston Elementary School teaching assistant
Dawn Garvin, North Livingston Elementary School preschool teacher
Melissa Franklin, North Livingston Elementary School administrative assistant
Joy Harris, Livingston County Middle School counselor
Sunni Ogg, South Livingston Elementary School third-grade teacher
Lyon County Schools:
Abby Smith, Lyon County Elementary School teaching assistant
Marshall County Schools:
Laken Adair, South Marshall Middle School special education teacher
Jennifer Bradley, South Marshall Middle School sixth-grade teacher
Glenda Byers, Marshall County Middle Youth Service Center Family Resource Center coordinator
Tina Clayton, Marshall County High School teacher
Payton Croft, Mayfield High School teacher
Carissa Culp, Sharpe Elementary School secretary
Jeff Daniel, Calvert City Elementary School resource officer
Amie Eplee, Calvert City Elementary School Head Start teacher
Melanie Grimes, South Marshall Elementary School Family Resource Center coordinator
Chasity Harrod, Benton Elementary School secretary
Crystal Jones, Benton Elementary School preschool teacher
Brittany King, Jonathan Elementary School special education teacher
Kim Miller, Benton Elementary School teaching assistant
Patricia Murphy, South Marshall Middle School seventh-grade teacher
Shelby Oakley, Sharpe Elementary School special education teacher
Tiffany Palmer, South Marshall Elementary School speech language pathologist
Jessica Randall, Marshall County High School tenth-grade teacher
Cole Riley, Benton Elementary School fourth-grade teacher
Joel Roberts, South Marshall Middle School teacher
Michelle Schmidt, South Marshall Elementary School counselor
Lorrie Shadowen, Marshall County Board Office principal
Amanda Sparks, Calvert City Elementary School second-grade teacher
Crystal Teckenbrock, South Marshall Elementary School special education teacher
Kayla Thomas, Jonathan Elementary School kindergarten teacher
Crystal Thorning, Calvert-Sharpe Family Resource Center coordinator
Jessica Torsak, South Marshall Elementary School special education teacher
Amy Waddell, Benton Elementary School counselor
Christine Williams, South Marshall Middle School teacher
Emily Yates, Marshall County Board Office first-grade teacher
Mayfield Independent Schools:
Candice Cochrum, Mayfield Middle School fifth-grade teacher
Payton Croft, Mayfield High School teacher
Heather Dublin, Mayfield Elementary School principal
Tangela Freeman, Mayfield Middle School teacher
Lorena Godinez, Mayfield High School teacher
Kayla Jones, Mayfield High School teacher
Amanda Lampkin, Mayfield High School teacher
Tiffany Mason, Mayfield Elementary School assistant principal
Cara Peppers, Mayfield Middle School special education teacher
Jamie Trice, Mayfield Middle School assistant principal
Lisa Wingfield, Mayfield High School teacher/librarian
Nicole Youngblood, Mayfield High School teacher
McCracken County Schools:
Taylor Anderson, Heath Elementary School preschool teacher
Megan Bolin, Concord Elementary School counselor
Lori Boyles, Reidland Elementary School first-grade teacher
Clay Burgess, Lone Oak Middle School orchestra teacher
Kayla Cannon, McCracken County Preschool teacher
Kelly Chiles, Reidland Middle School seventh-grade teacher
Eric Chumbler, Heath Elementary School fifth-grade teacher
Alecia Clark, Concord Elementary School third-grade teacher
Leslee Cope, Heath Elementary and Middle Schools Family Resource Center coordinator
Kaylee Dickens, Concord Elementary School first-grade teacher
Jill Dobson, Heath Elementary School third-grade teacher
Amanda Dudley, Lone Oak Elementary School kindergarten teacher
April Emmons, Lone Oak Intermediate School teaching assistant
Madison Farthing, Hendron-Lone Oak Elementary School preschool teacher
Katherine Flournoy, Concord Elementary School special education teacher
Misty Gilbert, Reidland Middle School seventh-grade teacher;
Emily Gray, Concord Elementary School kindergarten teacher
Emily Griffith, Hendron-Lone Oak Elementary School music teacher
Donald W. Heath III, McCracken County High School assistant principal
Andrea Heisner, McCracken County High School teacher
Jessica Holder, Reidland Middle School sixth-grade teacher
Wheeler Hughes, McCracken County High School teacher
Monica P. Jameson, Lone Oak Middle School teacher
Brian Jarvis, McCracken County High School teacher
Chris Jones, McCracken County High School tenth-grade teacher
Gena Karnes, Concord Elementary School teacher
Cecilia Kinsey, Lone Oak Intermediate School teaching assistant
Misty Koinis, Reidland Middle School eighth-grade teacher
Melanie Lang, McCracken County High School tenth-grade teacher
Abigail Lindsey, McCracken County Preschool instructional assistant
Diana McGill, Lone Oak Intermediate School student support staff
Joy Beth McGough, Hendron-Lone Oak Elementary School first-grade teacher
Anna McManus, Heath Middle School custodial/ bus driver/cafeteria
Nicole Musgrave, Reidland Middle School teacher
Katie Pace, Lone Oak Intermediate School fourth-grade teacher
Courtney Quimby, Reidland Middle School teacher
Brian Ramsey, McCracken County High School ISD instructor
Patty Reynolds, Hendron-Lone Oak Elementary School first-grade teacher
Emily Ricketts, Concord Elementary School teaching assistant
Molly Smith, Concord Elementary School kindergarten teacher
Jennifer Solomon, Heath Elementary School interventionist
Erin Soltys, Heath Elementary School fifth-grade teacher;
Margaret Southern, McCracken County Board Office RTI assistant
Dr. Lisa Stephenson, McCracken County High School college and career coach
Brittany Sterchi-Ford, McCracken County High School teacher
Spencer Sullivan, Reidland Middle School teacher
Shaun Thomas, Reidland Intermediate School principal
Heather Thornton, Heath Elementary School fifth-grade teacher;
Wendy Turnage, Lone Oak Intermediate School fourth-grade teacher
Amanda Turner, McCracken County High School assistant principal
Jessie Vasseur, McCracken County Board Office McKinney Vento Homeless liaison
Karen Walker, Concord Elementary School general music K-5
Tomi Warren, McCracken County High School credit recovery instructor
Chris Watson, Lone Oak Middle School band director, 6-8th grade
Wendy Watts, McCracken County High School counselor
Katie Williams, Reidland Intermediate School fifth-grade teacher
Michelle Wooten, McCracken County High School teacher
Murray Independent Schools:
Erica Stahr, Murray Middle School special education teacher
Summer Woolard, Murray Middle School sixth-grade teacher
Other:
Kaylee Davis, First Christian Church Preschool teacher
Darlyn Sesock, First Christian Church Preschool teacher
Halle Stevenson, First Christian Preschool teacher
Paducah Public Schools:
Jennifer Adams, Paducah Tilghman High School teacher
Katherine Arnold-Bradford, Paducah Middle School social emotional learning coach
Beth Baker, Morgan Elementary School special education teacher
Jessica Beckner, Clark Elementary School fifth-grade teacher
Savannah Beyer, Morgan Elementary School third-grade teacher
Anne Bidwell, Paducah Board Office director of Human Resources and districtwide communications
Genia Buchanan, McNabb Elementary School library media specialist
Lesheika Chamberlain, Paducah Board Office administrative assistant
Christal Crane, Clark Elementary School academic dean
Natalie DeBernardi, Clark Elementary School first-grade teacher
Kimberly DeShon, McNabb Elementary School fourth-grade teacher
Drake Dunnaway, Clark Elementary School assistant principal
Stephani Gray, Paducah Tilghman High School teacher
James Gregory, Paducah Tilghman High School teacher
Amy Hardin, Paducah Tilghman High School first-grade teacher
Shelby Hofer, Paducah Middle School sixth-grade teacher
Dylan Howard, Paducah Middle School sixth-grade teacher
Danette Humphrey, Paducah Middle School teacher
Crystal Hunt, Paducah Head Start Preschool family advocate
Ross Kelley, Paducah Tilghman High School teacher
Kate Lambert, Paducah Middle School eighth-grade teacher
Elizabeth LeNeave, Clark Elementary School second-grade teacher
Kristy Lewis, Paducah Head Start Preschool director
Laken Lindsey, Clark Elementary School kindergarten teacher
Megan Mathis, Paducah Middle School seventh-grade teacher
Kristina McDowell, Paducah Innovation Hub special education outreach coordinator
Leo McKinely, Paducah Tilghman High School teacher
Julie Mohs, Clark Elementary School fifth-grade teacher
Keshia Moore, Paducah Tilghman High School ninth-grade teacher
Casaundra Newsome, Paducah Tilghman High School counselor
Adrienne O'Neill, Clark Elementary School fourth-grade teacher
Albert Outcalt, Paducah Tilghman High School teacher
Trinity Patterson, Paducah Middle School teaching assistant
Carla Phifer, Clark Elementary School first-grade teacher
Lauren Prescott, Paducah Middle School mental health associate/counselor
Brittany Riley, Morgan Elementary School third-grade teacher
John Romang, Paducah Tilghman High School teacher
Allison Rowe, McNabb Elementary School third-grade teacher
Todd Rushing, Paducah Middle School teacher
Abigail Salings, Paducah Middle School seventh-grade teacher
Emilee Sigler, Clark Elementary School fourth-grade teacher
Molly Slone, Clark Elementary School third-grade teacher
Laura Snyder, Paducah Tilghman High School ninth-grade teacher
Mike Spissinger, Paducah Tilghman High School teacher
Jessica Thomas, Paducah Head Start Preschool teacher
Terrie White, McNabb Elementary School third-grade teacher
Matt Wyman, Clark Elementary School fourth-grade teacher
Shawn Yarbrough, Morgan Elementary School academic dean
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