WKCTC Recognizes Area Elementary and Secondary Educators and Staff in Virtual Event

Paducah, KY (03/12/2021) — A worldwide pandemic and the restrictions that followed made having an in-person Regional Educators Awards and Scholarship Program at West Kentucky Community and Technical College out of the question this year. The college was still able to celebrate this area's elementary and secondary educators, administrators and staff with a virtual program that premiered on WKCTC's Facebook page and YouTube channel Thursday.

"As an educator, I know how stressful the last year has been. This pandemic has forced us all to adapt and to make sacrifices, and I am proud to say that our schools have met this challenge with courage and compassion," said Kentucky Lieutenant Governor Jacqueline Coleman in a recorded message in the program. "Each day you have faced uncertainty and been asked to adapt on the fly. This is no easy task, but you have risen to it at every turn. And the educators we are honoring today, in particular, have taken an even greater step in building a world-class education system for our kids."

Deserving faculty and staff from throughout the Jackson Purchase were nominated for awards in four categories: distinguished faculty for grades pre-kindergarten through fifth, distinguished faculty for grades sixth through 12th, distinguished administrators, and the Cornelia Reece Unsung Hero Staff Award, named for the wife of WKCTC President Anton Reece.

"The COVID-19 pandemic prevented us from being able to recognize our regional educators and administrators with an in-person ceremony," said Dr. Reece. "We did not want to miss the opportunity to honor our elementary and secondary partners and their service and dedication to students and their families in our region."

The awards program was established in August 2017 to recognize pre-kindergarten through high school educators, administrators and staff members who have gone beyond their daily responsibilities and have worked tirelessly on behalf of students, parents and the community. The recognition is for individuals in WKCTC's service region, which includes Ballard, Calloway, Carlisle, Fulton, Graves, Hickman, Marshall, McCracken, Livingston and Lyon counties in Kentucky, and Alexander, Hardin, Massac, Pope and Pulaski counties in Illinois.

Students, parents, community members, and colleagues nominated more than 80 faculty, staff and administrators. Each nominee was then asked to submit an application. A selection committee made up of educators and business and community leaders then reviewed the fifty-nine submitted applications.

The winners and finalists in each category were:

• Distinguished Faculty (Pre-K-5th grade) Award Winner - Beverly Claybrooks, Fulton County Elementary School second grade teacher
  Finalists - Brittany Riley, Morgan Elementary School technology resource teacher and Renda D. Childress, Reidland Elementary School Read to Achieve teacher
• Distinguished Faculty (6th - 12th grade) Award Winner - Danette Humphrey, Paducah Middle School instructional coach/GTC teacher)
  Finalists - Stephanie Barker Ford, Reidland Middle School eighth grade language arts teacher and Greta Ramage, Livingston Central High School business and marketing teacher
• Distinguished Administrator Award Winner - Sondra Gibbs, Fulton County Elementary School principal
  Finalists - Julie Workman Jackson, Fulton County Schools director of operations and Denise Ann Whitaker, Murray Elementary School principal
• Cornelia Reece Unsung Hero Staff Award Winner - Marianna L. Romero, Reidland Elementary School Family Resource Center director
  Finalists - Jim Baurer, Murray Independent School District director of maintenance and Charles W. Ligon, Paducah Tilghman High School head custodial supervisor

In conjunction with the awards program, a scholarship for WKCTC students interested in K-12 teaching or educational support majors was established to encourage and assist the region's future educators. Since the program's inception, sponsors and other contributors have given $30,757 for the Regional Educators Program Future Educators Scholarship. Six students have received the scholarship thus far.

Lt. Gov. Coleman praised all educators in the Commonwealth who have had to adapt and make sacrifices in order to meet the challenges of 2020.

"The fact that nearly 60 individuals are being recognized (in the awards program) is indicative of the incredible work being done in western Kentucky and all across the Commonwealth," Coleman said. "It shows that Kentucky isn't going to be held back by this virus; it shows that Kentucky is only moving forward towards an education system that works for every single family."

Adding to her recorded message to the nominees, Coleman said, "It says a lot about each of you individually. You are fantastic at what you do for our kids. And it says a lot about you as a group. That our Commonwealth contains such talent, compassion and leadership. Not only are you exceptional for proving your dedication to our children during a global health pandemic, but you are also part of a movement strengthening our schools for generations to come." \

During the program, Dr. Reece also recognized four individuals with a special award to recognize their excellence in leadership and service to education. The President's Awards went to Mike Miller, Mayfield-Graves County Area Technology Center principal; Michael Wood, McCracken County Agriculture Program director; Steven Elder, WAVE River Counties Agriculture consultant; and Olivia Burr, a retired life-long educator, who served as the first Family Resource Center Coordinator in Paducah/McCracken County.

Registration for summer and fall classes is underway with the college excited to offer more face-to-face classes in fall 2021 along with our flexible hybrid and online courses. For more information, visit west.kentucky.kctcs.edu or call 270-534-3435.

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