Friday January 23, 2026
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Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) is calling on local businesses and organizations to recruit volunteers for Make the Connection, a JCPS initiative providing seventh-grade students across the district the opportunity to speak with caring community adults about the importance of planning for college and a career.
Each October, the Make the Connection program connects JCPS seventh graders with professionals who volunteer an hour of time speaking with the students at school about their career and the path that got them there. Volunteers from a range of occupations visit schools and conduct two 30-minute sessions with the students.
“Our valued community partners are a critical asset to the district and our students as we prepare them for college and for their future careers,” said JCPS Superintendent Dr. Donna Hargens. “That’s why we’re asking 800 volunteers to give one hour of their time between Oct. 5 and Oct. 31 to share with our students about the importance of planning for their future. With these students at a transitional point in their lives, the Make the Connection program provides citizens a meaningful opportunity to help guide them as they look ahead to high school, explore careers and learn what it takes to work in an industry that interests them.”
To get involved, businesses and organizations can click here to find a date, time and location. Those interested in volunteering may also call the JCPS Office of Business Partnerships at 502-485-3995 for additional information.
JCPS elementary school one of 329 nationwide to earn distinction by U.S. Education Secretary
Today Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) Superintendent Dr. Donna Hargens announced that Schaffner Traditional Elementary has been selected as a Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Education Secretary. The award, given to 329 schools across the country, is based on the school’s overall academic excellence or progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups.
“I am proud to lead a school district that is focused on raising the achievement of every child in every school,” said Dr. Hargens. “Congratulations to Principal Phil Poore and his teachers for achieving this prestigious honor for our district.”
The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program honors public and private elementary, middle and high schools where students achieve very high learning standards or are making notable improvements in closing the achievement gap. The award affirms the hard work of students, educators, families and communities in creating safe and welcoming schools where students master challenging content.
“We are very excited to receive the 2016 National Blue Ribbon Award for excellence in education,” said Schaffner Principal Phil Poore. “This honor is a testament to the committed partnership between our parents, our staff and our students for the success of all.”
All schools are recognized in one of two performance categories, based on all student scores, subgroup student scores and graduation rates:
- Exemplary High Performing Schools are among their state’s highest performing schools as measured by state assessments or nationally normed tests.
- Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing Schools are among their state’s highest performing schools in closing achievement gaps between a school’s subgroups and all students over the past five years.
The National Blue Ribbon Schools flag gracing a school’s building is a widely recognized symbol of exemplary teaching and learning. National Blue Ribbon Schools are an inspiration and a model for schools still striving for excellence.
Now in its 34th year, the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program has bestowed this coveted award on fewer than 8,500 schools. On Nov. 7 and 8, the department will formally recognize the 279 public and 50 private schools at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C.
The department invites National Blue Ribbon School nominations from the top education official in all states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the Department of Defense Education Activity and the Bureau of Indian Education. The Council for American Private Education (CAPE) nominates private schools. A total of 420 schools nationwide may be nominated each year.
Educators qualify to compete for 2017 Teacher of the Year
Three teachers from the Jefferson County Public School (JCPS) District are among the 24 statewide named this week as recipients of the 2017 Valvoline Teacher Achievement Awards by the Kentucky Department of Education and Valvoline.
Winning teachers Carren Cook of Kenwood Elementary, Alexandra Howard of Barret Traditional Middle and Kip Hottman of Fern Creek High now qualify to compete for the 2017 Kentucky Teacher of the Year Award, which will be announced next month.
“I am extremely proud of these remarkable teachers who are highly deserving of this great recognition,” “Each Teacher Achievement Award recipient is selected by a process that includes recommendations from peers, students, parents and administrators – making this award a very special honor and true reflection of the dedication and passion these teachers have for their students and for learning.”
Judging was conducted in August by a blue-ribbon panel of veteran educators, many of whom have more than 25 years of teaching experience.
All 24 teachers will be honored at a ceremony in Frankfort on Oct. 19 in the State Capitol Building. State leaders and Valvoline company officials will honor the teachers and recognize the Kentucky Elementary, Middle and High School Teachers of the Year.
From this group of three finalists, the Kentucky Teacher of the Year will be named and will represent the state in the National Teacher of the Year competition.
More than 50 students from the Jefferson County Public School (JCPS) District are among the 16,000 
across the country competing for merit scholarships worth about $33 million.
Semifinalists in the 62nd annual National Merit Scholarship Program were announced last week by the National Merit Scholarship Corp. Semifinalists from JCPS include students from Atherton, Ballard, DuPont Manual, Eastern, Male Traditional and Seneca High. Those students are:
- Atherton High School’s Madison Dalton
- Ballard High School’s William Brennan and Leah Kasdan
- DuPont Manual High School’s Vaannila Annadurai, Andrea Ballena, Clare Bosco, Sylvia Bosco, Austin Bridges, Veronica Chancy, Emily Coffield, John Cullen, Emily Dotson, Nicholas Dudzinski, Joshua Dye, Eleanor Ellis, Ryan Folz, Sara Frigui, Anna Gilbert, Rebecca Goldberg, Catherine Ho, Morgan Horsley, Lavanya Kanneganti, Jacob Keisling, Jumin Kim, Austin Kline, Sanjana Kothari, Rohan Kulkarni, Sofia Labrecque Nieves, Emily Liu, Vincent Liu, Lydia Mason, Diya Mathur, Andrew McFarland, Nicole McGrath, Praharshasai Paladugu, Nelson Penn, Benjamin Ragsdell, Matthew Raj, Sterling Richmond, Abraham Riedel-Mishaan, Nathaniel Stromberg, Rishi Talati, Sneha Thirkannad, Mukund Venkatakrishnan, Carolyn Williams, Callie Wright and Manting Xu
- Eastern High School’s Silas Zoeller
- Male Traditional High School’s Cameron Fontes and Makenzi Mulkins
- Seneca High School’s Chloey Ramsey
“I am extremely proud of these remarkable students and what they have accomplished,” said JCPS Superintendent Dr. Donna Hargens. “They are leaders – both in our schools and in our community. At JCPS, we’re producing some of the brightest students in the state and the country, and the accolades today are a reflection of the hard work of these students as well as the dedicated efforts of our teachers and staff.”
The students were among approximately 1.6 million juniors in more than 22,000 high schools who entered the program by taking the 2015 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, which serves as an initial screen of program entrants. The nationwide pool of semifinalists, representing less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors, includes the highest-scoring entrants in each state.
To become a finalist, the semifinalist and his or her high school must submit a detailed scholarship application, in which they provide information about the semifinalist’s academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment, and honors and awards received.
From the approximately 16,000 semifinalists, about 15,000 are expected to advance to the finalist level. Finalists will be announced between April and July of next year.
Jefferson County Public Schools announced that they are planning to increase the maximum number of students per class. They state that this change would allow approximately 280 teachers to be moved around the county to other schools or programs that are in need of support.
Superintendent Donna Hargens states that the proposal isn’t for saving money, but a proposal that allows the money already there to be used towards initiatives that have been identified as priorities, such as putting more teachers in low-performing school.
The budget in which this proposal is located will be available for approval on January 24.
Event set for tomorrow at Southwest YMCA
Councilmen Rick Blackwell (D-12) and David Yates (D-25) have a special night planned to help kick off the new school year for students. The Back to School Bash is set for Friday, August 21st from 6:00pm to 8:00pm at the Southwest YMCA.
“As an educator, I know the importance of starting the new school year on a positive note,” says Blackwell. “I am excited to again partner with the Southwest YMCA to host this celebration for our students and their families.”
The Back to School Bash will feature swimming, food and fun; and it’s all free. There will be inflatables, group fitness demonstrations and swim time at the Y’s pool. Mad Science will be on hand for kids to make their own slime and cotton candy.
“This is a great family event that helps our children ease into the new school year as the summer winds down,” says Yates. “It is also an opportunity to explore the many programs offered by the Southwest YMCA and how it serves our community year round.”
For Safety reasons the Southwest YMCA has the following rules in place:
- Family appropriate swim wear must be worn in the swimming pool. A white t-shirt can be worn on top of suit for women and as a shirt for men if you choose. Cut-offs or shorts will not be permitted as swim wear in the pool.
- Minimum of one adult per child in the pool for children 6 and under.
- One parent required to stay in pool area (not necessarily in the water) for children 7 and older.
- Children 7 and older who want to swim in the deep end will be required to take a swim safety test.
- This is a family event—an adult must stay with the children—no drop offs.
Pizza, drinks, and cookies will be provided by Metro Council Districts 12 and 25.
The Southwest YMCA is located at 2800 Fordhaven Road, just off of St. Anthony Church Road. The event is free and no reservations or YMCA membership are required.
If you would like more information about the Back to School Bash, contact Councilman Blackwell’s office at 574-1112 or Councilman Yates’ office at 574-1125.
LMPD is reminding area residents that school is back in session and drivers should watch for school buses and students walking to and from school.
