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Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) will host its first “Celebrate Languages Week” beginning March 27, highlighting the benefits of students speaking different languages learning alongside each other.
With more than 130 languages spoken by students in JCPS, an average school day can sound like a symphony of speech. That blend of voices is music to the ears of Eli Beardsley, the district’s English as a Second Language (ESL) coordinator.
“Second language learners are another example of how our rich diversity strengthens the learning environment at JCPS,” Beardsley said. “Not only do they help students for whom English is their primary language to learn a new language, but they foster an understanding and acceptance of other cultures that will prepare our students to be successful citizens in a global economy.”
Throughout the week, schools will host events to highlight and celebrate the various languages spoken by students, including having students making morning announcements in their native language; welcoming students each morning with a world-language greeting; and promoting bilingual books in school libraries. World-language classrooms will also participate in poster contests.
In addition, some sites will hold schoolwide events to mark the celebration:
- ESL Newcomer Academy, 4018 W. Market St., Global Homecoming, Thursday, March 23, events during the day and open house from 3-5 p.m.
- Goldsmith Elementary School, 3520 Goldsmith Lane, International Festival, Tuesday, March 28, 6 p.m.
- Seneca High School, 3510 Goldsmith Lane, Cultural Extravaganza, Thursday, March 30, during the school day
- Semple Elementary School, 724 Denmark St., International Festival, Thursday, March 30, 6 p.m.
The District’s English Language Learner population – students born in other countries or raised by parents who speak another language – has boomed, growing by 30 percent over the past five years, to more than 8,100 in 2017. The number is projected to top more than 10,000 by the 2018-19 school year.
For more highlights on the District’s World Language programs, click here.
Michelle McKelvy, an English teacher at Ballard High School, has been awarded the Excellence in Classroom and Educational Leadership (ExCEL) Award. Representatives from Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) and from the award sponsors — LG&E and KU and WHAS11 — honored the teacher earlier this week during a ceremony at the school.
“Mrs. McKelvy stands out because of the heart and compassion she shows every student,” said Ballard Principal Staci Eddleman. “Every conversation she has with a student is validating and uplifting. If a student is having a hard time, she is the gentle ear they seek. If a student is proud of an accomplishment, she is the one with whom they share. In her words and actions she makes each child feel special.”
Praised by fellow educators for her ability to make an impact on Advanced Placement and Achievement Gap students alike, McKelvy was recognized by the District with a Golden Oar Award in fall 2016. She has presented and facilitated a number of discussions and professional development seminars, including “Building a Classroom Community” in 2015, “Book Love: Developing Depth, Stamina, and Passion in Adolescent Readers” in 2016; and “Reeling in the Reluctant Reader” in 2016.
McKelvy works continuously to improve instruction through professional development opportunities, said Kerri Dixon, assistant principal. “Although she juggles an extremely demanding workload of a myriad of grade levels courses, she volunteers to lead the 11th-grade English Professional Learning Community so that this group can benefit from her expertise and collaborative knowledge.”
“Every school has one of those teachers who everyone knows do a great jobs,” said Library Media Specialist Laura Younkin. “Mrs. McKelvy is one of those teachers at Ballard. She will not teach her students just the basics of English and have them read novels. She will love them and they come out of her class better students and better people.”
As an ExCEL Award winner, McKelvy will receive a $1,000 instructional grant.
Dennis Robinson, a counselor at the Youth Performing Arts School (YPAS), was named the 2017 Outstanding High School Counselor of the Year by the Kentucky School Counselor Association (KSCA). The award was presented during the KSCA’s annual conference in Lexington.
Now in his ninth year as a secondary guidance counselor at YPAS, Robinson also serves as scholarship coordinator for YPAS and duPont Manual High School. During his tenure, students from the YPAS magnet program alone were offered more than $91.5 million in scholarships, and graduates of Manual’s five magnet programs have regularly received more than $60 million in scholarships annually.
In addition, he has 40 years of experience in music education, serving in multiple capacities at numerous schools during that time, including band director music department chairman at YPAS.
“I am greatly humbled and honored to have received this wonderful award and wish to offer my sincerest gratitude to the Kentucky School Counselor Association for this most meaningful recognition,” Robinson said. “Words cannot describe how fun it is to work in a place where the school’s motto is “Artists of Tomorrow in Performance Today.” For the past nine years, I have been in my own version of “La La Land,” and have enjoyed every second of the journey.”
“Dennis is a real champion for all students,” said Cyndi Young, sculpture and visual art teacher in Manual’s visual art magnet program. “His kindness and unassuming manner are amazingly effective tools that he puts into action in garnering support from faculty and parents in fighting for our students’ rights and well-being. We are a fortunate place to have such an invested counselling staff.”
A certified QPR suicide prevention gatekeeper counselor, Robinson has also been recognized by the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts; was a 2015 participant in the Harvard Summer Institute for College Admissions; has received the Kentucky Parent Teacher Association Certificate of Honorary Life Recognition; and has been awarded the University of Chicago Certificate for Excellence in Teaching and Mentorship.
He received a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in music education from the University of Louisville School of Music in 1977 and 1980, respectively. He has since earned his Rank I in educational counseling and psychology from UofL.
Meghann Clem Mattingly, a health and wellness teacher at Cane Run Elementary School, has been awarded the Excellence in Classroom and Educational Leadership (ExCEL) Award. Representatives from Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) and from the award sponsors — LG&E KU and WHAS11 — honored the teacher last week during a ceremony at the school.
“Visiting Ms. Clem Mattingly’s classroom is a relaxing and rewarding experience,” said Cane Run Principal Kimberly Coslow. “Her creative teaching techniques enhance classroom learning, and she fosters academic success through mindful movement, self-regulation and focused attention, all through the lens of compassion.”
A leader with the Compassionate Schools Project (CSP) Professional Learning Community, she frequently collaborates with the University of Virginia’s CSP project director as well as the District’s CSP resource teacher and the school’s physical education teachers to ensure the unique CSP curriculum is implemented with fidelity. She has been featured in numerous national media outlets advocating for the project, including National Public Radio and the Christian Science Monitor.
“Meghann is a force to be dealt with,” said Heather Watson, a counselor with JCPS. “She exudes positive energy and calmness throughout the building. She is the compassionate vision of what we need to have in place for our students to thrive in life.”
In addition, she is a strong advocate for the school, serving as a member of the Site Based Decision Making Council, the Instructional Leadership Team and the Interview Committee, and regularly meeting with guests and community leaders about the CSP and its impact on her students. She is also the school lead for the American Heart Association fundraising initiative.
As an ExCEL Award winner, Clem Mattingly will receive a $1,000 instructional grant from LG&E KU.
Nine students from the Jefferson County Public School (JCPS) District are national award recipients of the 2017 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, the nation’s longest-running and most prestigious recognition program for creative teens in grades seven through 12. The nonprofit Alliance for Young Artists & Writers announced the names of the more than 2,500 national award recipients today.
“This is the Oscars of the teen art world, so we are very excited to see these talented JCPS students recognized on the national stage,” said JCPS Superintendent Dr. Donna Hargens. “The arts are important and truly have the ability to energize classrooms and inspire the students inside them. Congratulations to our national recipients—we’re excited to celebrate their creativity and achievements.”
The recipients, which include students from Atherton, Butler Traditional, duPont Manual and Pleasure Ridge Park, are:
Gold Medal
- Morgan Betsill, DuPont Manual High School, Mixed Media – Jasmine, Art Teacher: Alana Alford
- Morgan Betsill, DuPont Manual High School, Sculpture – Who Are You?, Art Teacher: Cyndi Young
- Teanna Courtney, Pleasure Ridge Park High School, Ceramics – Clifton’s Tea Time, Art Teacher: Tammy Podbelsek
- Jordan Heller, Atherton High School, Drawing & Illustration – Imprisoned, Art Teacher: Rachel Gibbs
Silver Medal
- Grace Bradley, DuPont Manual High School, Photography – Grasping for News
- Megan Dyer, Butler Traditional High School, Art Portfolio – Sun Tea, Art Teacher: Becky McClinton
- Mackenzie Smith, DuPont Manual High School, Drawing – Outdoor Portrait, Art Teacher: Alana Alford
- Abigail Stewart, Pleasure Ridge Park High School, Ceramics – Decorative Bone, Art Teacher: Tammy Podbelsek
- Celeste Stokes, Pleasure Ridge Park High School, Sculpture – My Urban Queen, Art Teacher: Tammy Podbelsek
- Tammy Trieu, Atherton High School, Painting – Beneath, Art Teacher: Rachel Gibbs
American Visions Medal
- Morgan Betsill, DuPont Manual High School, Sculpture – Who Are You?, Art Teacher: Cyndi Young
All submissions are judged based on the program’s three criteria: originality, technical skill and emergence of personal vision or voice. Student works are first judged regionally, with students receiving Gold Keys, Silver Keys, Honorable Mentions or American Visions & Voices Nominations.
Gold Key works are then judged nationally by a panel of creative-industry experts to receive Gold, Silver, American Visions & Voices, Portfolio Silver with Distinction or Portfolio Gold Medals.
An online gallery of artwork from the JCPS students is available here.
Sixteen seniors from Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) have been awarded the 2017 Vogt Educational & Leadership Scholarship, which recognizes the students for their academic achievements and leadership in and out of the classroom. The students will be celebrated for their accomplishments during the annual awards luncheon, held yesterday at The Olmsted, 3701 Frankfort Ave.
Prior to his death in 1999, Henry V. Heuser Sr. established the endowed scholarship fund at the Community Foundation of Louisville to provide $10,000 college scholarships annually to remarkable JCPS high school seniors. This special award honors exceptional students throughout Jefferson County who have demonstrated high standards of scholarship, leadership, character and citizenship. Including this year, more than $2.7 million has been awarded to 278 students.
Henry V. Heuser Jr. will host the annual awards luncheon to present the scholarships. He will be joined by Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer, JCPS Superintendent Dr. Donna Hargens, JCPS principals, more than 100 business and community leaders, and several university and college presidents from the region who have contributed additional scholarship incentives if the awardees attend their colleges.
Student winners are selected based on SAT/ACT scores and cumulative GPAs, as well as demonstrated community and campus leadership, participation in extracurricular activities, and recommendations from principals and community leaders.
The 2017 Vogt Educational & Leadership Scholarship recipients are:
- RyAnn Schoenbaechler, Atherton High School
- Laina Meyerowitz, Ballard High School
- Sylvia Ramsey, Butler Traditional High School
- Matthew Sato, Brown School
- Jasmine Scott, Central High School Magnet Career Academy
- Lydia Mason, duPont Manual High School
- Evan Conder, Eastern High School
- Shan’Taya Cowan, Fairdale High School
- Mary Daniels, Iroquois High School
- Anna Nelson, Jeffersontown High School
- Cameron Fontes, Louisville Male High School
- Johnathan Frech, Pleasure Ridge Park High School
- Julia Easley, Seneca High School
- James Painter, Southern High School
- Kelsey Gatton, Valley High School
- Ethan Taylor, Waggener High School
Solution Tree, an educational publisher and professional development provider, has announced Fern Creek High School as the winner of the second annual DuFour Award.
Named in honor of Dr. Richard DuFour, the award was created to honor high-performing schools that demonstrate exceptional levels of student achievement. In a career that spanned four decades, Dr. DuFour was a teacher, principal, superintendent, and champion of the Professional Learning Communities at Work™ process. His advocacy and tireless dedication to school improvement led to the founding of the DuFour Award in 2016.
Fern Creek High School was recognized during the Summit on PLC at Work™, which took place in Phoenix, Ariz., February 22-24, 2017. During the ceremony, Solution Tree presented the school with a check for $25,000.
“Fern Creek was a finalist for the first annual DuFour Award last year,” said Solution Tree’s CEO, Jeffrey C. Jones. “Through hard work and persistence, they were able to take it to the next level and earn the top honor this year. I’m delighted to honor their commitment to continuous school improvement.”
Fern Creek’s application included an essay and short video detailing the school’s dedication to the professional learning community process, improving student learning, and advancing instructional best practices.
“Fern Creek High School’s turnaround story is grounded in our commitment and fidelity to professional learning communities,” said Principal Nathan Meyer. “The workshops and institutes led by Rick DuFour that we attended when we were first identified as a Priority School in 2010 galvanized us and strengthened our resolve to improve student learning. Rick DuFour publicly recognizing our school’s work during the past year has been an incredible honor for our entire staff. This award becomes a tangible representation of our teachers’ commitment to the three big ideas of a PLC, centered on student learning, professional collaboration, and being results driven.”
DuFour Award Committee chairman Thomas W. Many said, “Along with a litany of impressive statistics, the school has expanded access to more rigorous curriculum, disrupted inequity, and expanded opportunities for college and career readiness all while improving their ranking in the state from the 10th to the 87th percentile in academic achievement.”
