1. education
2. school

Make your voice heard
Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) will conduct the 2014-15 Comprehensive School Survey (CSS) from Mon., Feb. 2, through
Fri., Mar. 13. The survey is administered to all classified and certified staff members, all parents/guardians, all middle and high
school students, and elementary school students in grades four and five. The process is the same as last year for middle and high
schools using Classroom Assessment System & Community Access Dashboard for Education (CASCADE).
This year, elementary school students in grades four and five, will participate in the survey online, rather than using paper-and-pencil.
The online survey will be administered using the Data Management Survey Tool (DMST), and an email to the survey link will be sent
to students from CASCADE.
Elementary school surveys will be conducted using the DMST online through a survey link sent from CASCADE.
Middle and high school surveys will be conducted through CASCADE as paper-pencil bubble sheets.
Staff surveys will be conducted through DMST, and a survey link will be sent to all employees.
Parent/Guardian surveys will be available through DMST through e-mail. Paper-and-pencil parent/guardian surveys will be
sent to schools.
With the support of schools, all parents/guardians are encouraged to complete the survey online, but they can also fill out a printed
version. The ultimate goal is to collect all data online. Everyone is encouraged to participate in the important annual survey, which
identifies specific district needs and help district staff members craft strategies to ensure student success. Participating in this survey
ensures that your voice will become an integral part of the district’s decision-making process. Your opinions are important, and the
district values your input.
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There will be a Comprehensive Survey Training offered on Thurs., Feb. 5, for elementary, middle, and high school CSS coordinators
in Stewart Auditorium at VanHoose Education Center.
Interested in National Board Certification?
Are you interested in improving your classroom practice while earning your Rank 1? Consider working on your National Board
Certification! It’s a standards-based process that allows teachers to focus on classroom instruction and student achievement in their
own classrooms. Achieving National Board Certification is a practical alternative to traditional university coursework. Teachers who
have a master’s degree can also earn their Rank 1 for achieving National Board Certification. Eligible applicants must have:
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A bachelor’s degree
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A valid state teaching license
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Three full years of teaching experience
It is not too late to sign up for the 2014-15 candidacy cycle. Candidates who begin the process at this time should expect to work at an
accelerated pace. Candidates may apply online with the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS). The total cost
is $475 for each of the four certification components. (Only two components are being offered during 2014-15.) The final deadline for
application and fees is Sat., Feb. 28.
JCPS offers a candidate support program for those teachers who are pursuing certification. A National Board Candidate Orientation
will be held from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Mon., Feb. 9, at Gheens Professional Academy. The orientation will explain the three-year
process and the four components that comprise National Board Certification. This will be the final orientation of the year. Register for
the orientation session at pdCentral. A $250 fee reimbursement is available for as many as 80 candidates who complete both
Components 1 and 2 during the 2014-15 candidacy cycle. For more information about the National Board Certification process, fees,
and orientation registration, send an e-mail to Susan Thurman at [email protected].
Tully students to explore Anansi
The Exceptional Child Education (ECE) classes at Tully Elementary will participate in VSA Kentucky Arts Inclusion Program during
the week of Mon., Feb. 16. The award, valued at $1,250, will bring artist-in-residence Angela Bartley to Tully where she will
introduce students to African-Cuban music, dance, and visual arts. During the project a group of teachers will coteach with Bartley to
provide support, adaptations, or modifications that the students may need to insure the activity is accessible. Students will use art to
describe characters, settings, and events of the story, Anansi Does the Impossible! An Anansi Tale. Students will participate in handson activities that involve making instruments, costumes, and props. Students will perform the Anansi folktale using African-Cuban
music and dance at 1 p.m. on Fri., Feb. 20. Parents/Guardians and other visitors are welcome to attend. For more information, call
485-8338.
Nominate a great librarian
Nominations for the Outstanding School Media Librarian Award are now being accepted by the Jefferson County Association of
School Librarians (JCASL). All nominees must be current members of JCASL, the Kentucky Library Association (KLA), and the
Kentucky Association of School Librarians (KASL). For more information about the nomination process or to receive a nomination
form, call Debbie Martin at 485-8251 or send her an e-mail at [email protected]. The nomination deadline
is Fri., Feb. 13.
Scrapbooking Event benefits visually impaired
The Fund for the Eyes will host its ninth Annual Scrapbooking Event from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sat., Feb. 21, at Buechel Park Baptist
Church, 2403 Hikes Lane. The registration fee includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner as well as snacks throughout the day. Participants
will enjoy door prizes, scrapbooking contests, access to vendors, and rummage tables where participants may sell or buy scrapbooking
items. All proceeds will benefit the Fund for the Eyes, a nonprofit organization that helps children with vision impairments who live in
Jefferson County. The rummage tables will be staffed, and all items should be marked with the seller’s name and a price. Registration
costs $30 before Sat., Feb. 14. Vendors are also welcome, and their fee is $35 before Sat., Feb 14. After that date, the cost increases
by $5. No checks will be accepted the day of the event for registration or the rummage sales. For more information or a registration
form, send an e-mail to Cheryl Harrington at [email protected] or call her at 241-1691.
JCAESP/AFSCME scholarships and awards
Applications are now available for scholarships and awards from the Jefferson County Association of Educational Support
Personnel/American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (JCAESP/AFSCME). Applications can be found on the
group’s Web site and will be accepted now through Thurs., Feb. 26.
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All JCPS seniors who meet the eligibility criteria may apply for a $1,000 scholarship. Click here for the form.
All union members in good standing may apply for a $500 education scholarship. Click here for the form.
All Local 4011 members may submit a nomination for the JCPS Administrator of the Year Award. Click here for the form.
Learn with LearnZillion
Each week, the Computer Education Support (CES) Office provides information about education technology. The CES mission is to
help JCPS employees become proficient users of technology and to support student achievement and technology literacy through the
effective integration of technology with learning and teaching. For more information, click here or call 485-3010. Follow CES on
Twitter: @JCPS_CES.
LearnZillion is a collection of Web-based applications that help teachers meet the educational needs of every student. Each Common
Core lesson includes a short video, downloadable lesson guide and resources, and a coach’s commentary to help with teacher
development. CES will host a PD session—LearnZillion, Illuminaton, and ReadWriteThink (P1 through grade five)—from 4:30 to
7:30 p.m. on Mon., Feb. 23. To register, visit pdCentral and search for session 14-1565212. For more information, send an e-mail to
Michele Ezedi at [email protected].
Teacher Excellence Award nominations accepted
Nominations are now being accepted for the Hilliard Lyons Teacher Excellence Awards. These awards support the innovation of
teaching and leadership through the Strategic Plan: Vision 2015. Nominations must be submitted by 4:30 p.m. on Mon., Feb. 9. For
more information, click here.
Ten award categories will highlight individual and team efforts. Applications may be submitted by JCPS employees or community
members. The awards are as follows:
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Five principals will each receive $1,000.
Five teachers will each receive $1,000.
Five Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) will each receive $2,000.
One 5-Star Teacher will receive $1,000.
One goal clarity coach will receive $1,000.
One person will receive the Audwin and Rae Helton Award of $1,000.
One person will receive the Bellarmine University Graduate School Award of $1,000.
One person will receive the Ernst & Young Award of $1,000.
One person will receive the Jefferson Community & Technical College (JCTC) Award of $1,000.
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One person will receive the University of Louisville (UofL) Graduate School Award of $1,000.
Also, this year applications are being accepted for the Carbide, Lubrizol, and Zeon Chemicals Award, which is a student-nominated
award for a teacher who displays three of our district’s nine core values. Student nominations may be in the form of an essay, poem,
thank-you letter, or video essay. One elementary and middle school teacher will each receive a $1,000 award.
In addition to these awards, several community partners will also honor JCPS staff members who support their mission through
partnerships. They are as follows:
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One Metro United Way Award of $1,000
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One Fund for the Arts Award of $1,000
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One Junior Achievement Award of $1,000
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One YMCA Award of $1,000
A committee, led by Hilliard Lyons and comprising of community leaders, will select the winners, all of whom will be notified by
receiving an invitation to attend a celebration on Thurs., May 21, hosted by Hilliard Lyons. For more information, contact Teresa
Gray at 485-3995.
ExCEL nominations being accepted
Nominations of teachers are now being accepted for the LG&E KU/WHAS11 Excellence in Classroom and Educational Leadership
(ExCEL) Award. Since 1989, more than 300 teachers in JCPS and surrounding counties have received the award, which includes a
$1,000 instructional grant from LG&E KU. Nominations must be submitted by a principal or a district colleague. One of the letters of
support must be from the candidate’s current principal if the principal is not the nominator. The nomination deadline is Fri., Feb. 6.
All nominations must be sent to Terri Robinson in Communications North Office at C. B. Young Jr. Service Center, Building Four.
For more information, call Robinson at 485-7654. To view a poster, click here. To access a nomination form, click here.
Going to state with the right stuff
Since September, two teams of Meyzeek Middle students have focused their intellectual powers on dominating a competitive field,
specifically a 45 by 93 inch rectangular tabletop.
The efforts of the two competitive Meyzeek Robotics Teams led them to a strong December performance at the First LEGO League
(FLL) Regional Tournament in Mt. Washington. Now, they advance to the FLL State Competition at Northern Kentucky University
(NKU) on Sat., Feb. 7. Meyzeek’s Team Red and Team Black will be the only JCPS representatives at the state contest.
The Meyzeek Robotics Program, led by teacher Victoria Johnston, is in its eighth year, and students compete for a coveted spot on
the afterschool team or take a robotics class during the school day. Students program LEGO robots to perform a series of 16 complex
obstacles on the tabletop field. Robots must navigate around other obstacles, arrive at a destination, and attempt to perform a defined
task, such as use the robot’s arm to remove an item, open a door, or transport an object.
Leading up to the state competition, the team has practiced two days each week afterschool for 90 minutes. The team has also gathered
for three-hour training sessions on the weekend. When not in class or practicing, it’s common to find students from the team chatting
or strategizing about how to solve the problems.
“That’s what this club is all about,” Johnston said. “Break down the problem and bring it back to the bigger picture.”
Students compete for 700 possible points. They’re scored for each of the 16 obstacles, but students also get scored on the game’s core
values, their ability to work as a team, and for technical design. Just as any sport teaches greater concepts than moving a ball from
point a to point b, Meyzeek’s robotics teams learn the value of working as a team, overcoming obstacles through analysis, and
competing with “gracious professionalism,” Johnston said.
Students have three rounds of 2 minutes and 30 seconds each for competitions. A team of six has two players each who serve as
programmer, creative presenter, and researcher. Teams must think and act rapidly to meet an obstacle with a solution. The intellectual
pace and conversations among team members is electric and frantic but with a sharp focus.“They help each other out,” Johnston said.
“There are times where things don’t go the way they’re supposed to. They work it out. They problem solve. Finally, it’s success, and
they love it.”
Ann Schwartz, a parent of a Meyzeek Robotics student, attended a recent practice and marveled at the students as they hustled to
program adjustments into the robots to improve performance. Schwartz is a mother of three, with two of her older children attending
duPont Manual High. All three of her children have participated in Meyzeek Robotics with Johnston. All three of her children are
anticipating future educational and career pursuits involving science, technology, engineering, or math. This year, her middle child is
participating in a new freshmen robotics team at Manual.
“There are a lot of teachers here who give a lot of time and energy,” Schwartz said. “The academic teams here are just as competitive
as the athletic teams. These students are able to be with like-minded students. It attracts a certain kind of student and they feed upon
each other.”
When teams make adjustments and create success, Johnston helps them analyze what factors led to the successful effort. The school
hosts an annual night where robotics efforts are highlighted for parents/guardians and peers, and Meyzeek Robotics is a powerful force
at the district’s robotics events. Meyzeek students were honored for teamwork when they competed in 2009 at FLL State Competition.
Whatever the result of the upcoming state competition, Johnston said one prediction was a certainty.
“They go out there and they shine,” she said. “They know their stuff.”
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The following article was written by Holli Duke, a counselor at the school serving Brooklawn Youth Services.
Brooklawn’s Sand Rail Project
For the past two years, the students and staff members in the automotive program at the Brooklawn School have been building a dune
buggy from the ground up.
Automotive teacher Chris Junga and instructional assistant Steve Goldberg had the frame and motor built, but the rest was up to the
students. Some of the project details included welding tabs for component mounting locations; designing the console, speaker boxes,
and dashboard; designing the electrical system and running wire; welding, design, and fabrication of roof rack from scratch; and
installing the brake system.
The electrical wiring includes lights, radio, switches, ignition, gauge lights, and GPS speedometer. Many of the components were
student designed and from scratch and required a lot of measuring. By building the vehicle from scratch, students learn basic
operations of automotive components and gain valuable skill sets as they relate to automotive and custom manufacturing.
The program focuses on teaching the students the manufacturing stages as well as the skill sets to arrive at a finished product. Such
skills include measuring, quality control, finishing work, and Metal Inert Gas (MIG) welding.
The most exciting news is that when completed by the end of the 2014-15 school year, the Sand Rail will be street legal and with an
authentic VIN number.
Kudos to Sarah Hodges, fourth-grade teacher at Greenwood Elementary. Hodges was honored with an Excellence in Classroom and
Educational Leadership (ExCEL) Award during a special ceremony at her school on Wed., Jan. 21. “Hodges is the definition of
instructional leadership at Greenwood,” Principal Dylan Owens said. “Her classroom is a vibrant place where high expectations are
the norm from day one,” Owens said. “These expectations permeate the learning culture of her classroom and bring out the star in
everyone.” Hodges earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a master’s in special education learning and behavior
disorders at Kentucky State University (KSU), where she received the Mildred Jacobs Dedication to the Teaching Profession Award.
For both degrees, Hodges graduated magna cum laude. She began teaching at Maupin Elementary in 2007, and then she joined the
staff at Greenwood in 2009. “Hodges is a pedagogical dynamo in her classroom,” Owens said. “From the moment students walk in,
she engages each of them in high-level learning. Students take responsibility for their work ethic and achievement in every subject
area.” Charita Kimbrough, goal clarity coach at Greenwood, said: “Hodges is a phenomenal fourth-grade teacher. Her areas of
expertise include science, math, and reading. She has excellent communication skills, linking the instructional purpose of students’
learning with their interests.” Hodges has served in several leadership positions at the school, including Science Leader and FourthGrade Team Leader. She also has served as a Kentucky Teaching Internship Program (KTIP) Mentor Teacher, and she’s a member of
the University of Louisville (UofL) Academic & Behavior Response to Intervention Project. LG&E KU and WHAS11 sponsor the
award. As an ExCEL Award winner, Hodges will receive a $1,000 instructional grant from LG&E KU.
Kudos to Jeremy Hedges, art teacher at Doss High. Hedges’ twelfth-grade student created a mixed media piece—mostly with
watercolors—that was honored with the top prize in the Picture Freedom Art Competition, sponsored by the National Underground
Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. As the winner of the national contest, the student and a guest will receive travel and
hotel accommodations for a museum reception in March. The student also receives $2,000. For more information about the museum,
click here.
Kudos to Joyce Pryor, School Administrative Manager (SAM) at Kammerer Middle. Pryor was honored as the Montest Eaves
Woman of the Year during Project One’s twenty-ninth annual Awards for Excellence Reception and Banquet on Tues., Dec. 9. Pryor
was honored for her service to JCPS and to students since 1992. Pryor, a mother of five children, introduced her son to Project One in
1995. She was later approached with an idea for Summer Earning and Education Program (SEEP), and Pryor constructed the program
to help serve youths ages 12 to 15 who were too young to be employed in the summer and too old for childcare. During the first year
of SEEP, more than 100 youths participated in volunteer work, computer training and job readiness skills development. Pryor
continues to contribute her time and talents to Project One and to SEEP.
Kudos to Trina Reaves, business teacher at Southern High. Reaves recently hosted Theresa Hinton, executive director of Capacity
Care, for a visit to the school’s Financial Literacy Club. The visit is connected with an existing partnership with the National
Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO), who send speakers several times each school year to Southern High, Doss High,
and Eastern High as well as coordinate field trips to area businesses. NAWBO volunteers have also participated in interviews with
Southern’s business classes to help students use the research and interview skills they learn in class.
Kudos to five JCPS educators who worked four years on a book, which is now available. The book, What Did You Learn Today?:
Implementing Family Message Journals K–12, is available on Amazon.com, and features content from Elizabeth Fuller, goal clarity
coach at Carter Traditional Elementary; Kimberly Mucker-Johnson, goal clarity coach for the district and part-time at Waggener
High; Beth Meadows, goal clarity coach at Maupin Elementary; Laurel Oskins, fifth-grade teacher at Farmer Elementary; Kari
Stewart, instructional coach at Bullitt County Public Schools; and Catherine Timmerman, fifth-grade teacher at Shelby Traditional
Academy. The book covers topics that the educators have discussed and presented several times at UofL’s mini-conferences. The
educators will host a book signing from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sat., Feb. 7, at Louisville Coffee Company, 10414 Watterson Trail.
Kudos to Libby Berry, art teacher at Louisville Male High. Berry has four Advanced Placement (AP) studio art students. The four
will have their artwork showcased at two Sunergos Coffee locations from January through April. The art on display includes drawings,
paintings, and photography. To view the artwork, visit the locations at 2122 South Preston Highway or 306 West Woodlawn Avenue.
Kudos to Angela Page, environmental and integrated science teacher at Louisville Male High. Page was published in a chapter,
“Struggles and Successes of Problem-Based Learning,” in a new educational textbook, Practitioner Teacher Inquiry and Research,
which is geared toward a graduate school audience. The book advocates the value of project-based, inquiry-based classrooms. Page’s
chapter details her journey, accomplishments, and struggles with the AP Environmental Science (APES) Beargrass Creek Project.
That project is a “long-term restoration and research project “that immerses students in a “real-world environmental situation.” Page
writes that “students learn by doing, and if given the opportunity to conduct true research … students can achieve deeper learning, a
sense of community, and a strong sense of pride.” Page ends the chapter with effective strategies that teachers can use to plan
successful inquiry-based projects. “I have seen my students change and grow into amazing and conscientious citizens in their
communities,” Page writes. “And that fulfills me completely.”
Information session about tuition waiver
The UofL College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) offers Ed.S., Ed.D., and Ph.D. in educational leadership programs,
and qualifying students may also be eligible for the JCPS tuition waiver. For more information about these and other CEHD degree
program options, attend the following information session. For more information, click here or call 852-6475.
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From 4:45 to 5:45 p.m., on Tues., Feb. 3, at Valley High
2015 KET Young Writers Contest
The 2015 Kentucky Educational Television (KET) Young Writers Contest is now accepting submissions through Sat., Apr. 11. A
short story contest is open for students in grade four and five. An illustrated story contest is open for students in P1 through P4 (grade
three). A parent/guardian must sign each student’s official entry form, but teachers may submit the stories. A panel of judges will read
all stories that meet contest guidelines. For more information or contest rubrics, click here or send an e-mail to [email protected].
Schools invited to Kentucky Opera
Kentucky Opera offers education programs and opportunities for schools. For more information about these programs or to schedule a
visit, call Aubrey Baker at 561-7938 or send an e-mail to [email protected].
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Kentucky Opera offers Battle Cry of Freedom In-School Tour now through Fri., Mar. 6. The program celebrates 150 years
since the end of the Civil War, incorporating regional history with music from the North and South. The 45-minute
program features three studio artists. Each performance costs $500. Some schools may be eligible for sponsorship funding.
Kentucky Opera offers the Final Dress Rehearsal for Students for Andre Previn’s A Streetcar Named Desire on Wed., Feb.
11. This work is adapted from Tennessee Williams’ stage play of the same name. The opera has a PG13 rating, and
students in attendance should be in high school and older. Tickets cost $5 each for students, their educators, and family
members. Reservations are now being accepted.
Derby Dinner offers The Tooth Fairy
Derby Dinner Playhouse offers student matinees of The Tooth Fairy, a musical about a group of first-grade students who devise a plan
to trap the fairy and demand answers from her. In addition to themes of imagination the musical explores recycling and reusing topics.
Student matinees will be held from Mon., Feb. 23, through Fri., Mar. 13. Matinees begin at 10 a.m., and tickets cost $5 a student.
Visits include a study guide and lesson plan. For more information or to schedule a visit, call Missy Braun at 812-288-8281 or click
here.
Author available to discuss her books
Author and illustrator Tytianna N.M. Wells Smith’s is available to visit schools and discuss her four-volume book series, Sweet Pea &
sugar Tea’s Country Family Adventures: A collection of African-American Poems. Students in P1 and older are offered a book
reading, interactive lesson, a questions and Answer session, and a complimentary signed book for the school. For more information,
contact Tytianna N.M. Wells Smith at 298-7392 or at [email protected]. For more information, click here.
Presentation for guardians
Grandparents Raising Grandchildren will host Adding to Your Discipline Toolbox, a presentation with George Humlong, from 9 a.m.
to 3 p.m. on Mon., Feb. 16, at Jewish Family & Career Services, 2821 Klempner Way. Humlong is the director of the Resource
Parent Training Program and a presenter on topics of discipline and childhood trauma. Lunch will be provided. Registration is
required. For more information, click here or call Jo Ann Kalb at 452-6341, Ext. 335.
Free film celebrates Merton
The Center for Interfaith Relations will host a centennial celebration of Thomas Merton’s birth on Sat., Jan. 31. The celebration
includes a 1 p.m. screening of The Many Storey’s & Last Days of Thomas Merton, a film directed by Morgan Atkinson, at Brown
Theatre. The screening is free and open to the public, but seating will be limited. For more information about this screening or May’s
2015 Festival of Faiths Sacred Journeys & The Legacy of Thomas Merton, click here.
Earth science and archaeology outreach
The Falls of the Ohio State Park Interpretive Center is closed for renovation and new exhibit installation, but the park’s interpretive
services are available for hands-on labs for classes from February through May. The cost is $2 a student. Labs last about 45 minutes
and accommodate up to 30 students at a time. For more information, click here, call (812) 280-9970, or send an e-mail to
[email protected]. Some of the available labs are as follows:
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Fossil Lab: P4 and above—This hands-on fossil lab focuses on describing and identifying fossils and how extinct
organisms can be understood as members of an ecosystem. Using local fossils, students will match them with identification
sheets and distinguish fossils from their sedimentary matrix.
Fossil Lab: P1 through P3—This hands-on fossil lab focuses on recognizing fossils and understanding what is in the ocean
today. Using local fossils, students will match them with identification sheets and, guided by an instructor, draw a
Devonian living sea.
Minerals and Our World: P4 and above—This lab focuses on observing the characteristics of minerals and how the ores are
used in our lives. It will help students make the connections to real-world applications of minerals.
Archaeology Lab: P4 and above—This hands-on lab introduces students to basics of the science of archaeology. This lab
will help students make the connection between common everyday items and what can be learned about peoples from the
past
http://www.jefferson.k12.ky.us/Pubs/MondayMemo/index.html