Regional Educators Awards and Scholarship Program
Education is for improving the lives of others and for
leaving your community and world better than you found it.
- Marian Wright Edelman
Paducah, KY (1/16/2023) — More than 215 people were nominated for West Kentucky Community and Technical College (WKCTC)'s Sixth Annual Regional Educators Awards and Scholarship Program (REASP), officials announced today.
The awards, the brainchild of WKCTC President Anton Reece, recognize pre-K-12 teachers, administrators, and staff's critical role in their communities and society. Everyone nominated was notified of their nomination via emails and letters. The next step is for the nominee to complete a brief application by February 10, which judges will review and determine two finalists and a winner in each of the five categories. The categories are:
- Distinguished Administrator Award for individuals who hold the title of director, assistant director, assistant principal, principal, etc.
- Distinguished Faculty (Preschool/Kindergarten - 5th grade) Award
- Distinguished Faculty (6th 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 $31,000 to the Regional Educators Program
Future Educators Scholarship.
"Each of these nominees should be honored that someone took the time to nominate them," said WKCTC President Anton Reece. "We know that all educators, administrators and support staff do an excellent job for the students in our region. They deserve to be recognized."
Nominees listed by their counties are:
Debbie Wildharber, Ballard County Elementary School 1st grade teacher
DeAnn Anderson, Calloway County High School English teacher; Jodi Butler, Calloway County Middle School principal; Nicholas Calcamuggio, Calloway County High School Band director and music teacher; David Carmichael, Calloway County Middle School Assistant Principal; Chris Champion, Calloway County High School .I. S. A. E.; Kirsten Collins, Calloway County Middle School teacher; Kelly Duncan, Calloway County Middle School Language Arts teacher; Ashley Fritsche, Calloway County High School career and technical education teacher; Chelsea Futrell, Calloway County Middle School health and P.E. instructor; Erica Gray, Calloway County High School Science teacher; Jonathan Grooms, Calloway County High School history teacher; Carla Palmer, Calloway County High School special education Instructional assistant; Hope Roach, Calloway County Middle School 8th Grade teacher; Noraa Ransey, North Calloway County Elementary School teacher; Jeff Slaton, Calloway County High School engineering and technical education teacher; Steve Smith, Calloway County High School principal; Krista Schumacher, East Calloway Elementary School 1st grade teacher; April Summers, North Calloway Elementary School computer lab instructor; Brenden Thomas, Calloway County High School career and technical education teacher; Amy Whisman, Southwest Calloway Elementary Fourth grade ELA teacher
Suzie Burnett, Christian Fellowship School math and science teacher; Cheryl Hammons, Christian Fellowship School teacher; Jennifer Johnston, Christian Fellowship School teacher; Summer LeClaire, Christian Fellowship School 2nd grade teacher
Tammy Stone, Crittenden County Elementary School SPED teacher; Kara Turley, Crittenden County Middle School principal
Sarah Townsend, Fulton Independent Elementary School DOSE/preschool director
Whitney Clark, Graves County High School teacher; Adrienne Custer, Graves County High School English teacher; Sarah Duncan, Graves County High School teacher; Casey Jones, Director of the Independence Bank Performing Arts Center; Kori Flowers, Farmington Elementary School Paraprofessiona; Laura Hill, Graves County School orchestra director; Melissa Paul, Farmington Elementary School principal; Amy Poe, Farmington Elementary School preschool teacher; Brittany McIntyre, Farmington Elementary School special education teacher; Madelyn McKee, Sedalia Elementary School 5th grade teacher; Heather Miller, Graves County High School teacher; Christi Moore, Graves County High School English teacher; Allison Smith, Symsonia Elementary School 1st grade teacher; Rene Smith, Symsonia Elementary School support staff; Jenny Spann, Graves County High School teacher; Jena Thacker, Graves County High School comprehensive care counselor; Stephenie Wheeler, Sedalia Elementary School music/art teacher
Abby Boaz, Hickman County School district speech language pathologist; Carol Byassee, Hickman County Elementary School Kindergarten teacher; Amanda LeClere, Hickman County High School 11th & 12th grade Chemistry teacher; Crystal Russell, Hickman County High School college and career readiness coach; Kelly Terry, Hickman County Elementary School secretary
Gail Anderson, Livingston County Schools secretary; Zeke Berg, Livingston Central High School teacher; Amy Crenshaw, Livingston Central High School teacher; Josh Edwards, Livingston Central High School teacher; Mary Gamble, Livingston Central High School health sciences teacher; Kari Garner, Livingston Central High School school nurse; Jessie Gordon, Livingston Central High School teacher; Kayla Hatcher, South Livingston Elementary School library media specialist; Joshua Hawkins, Livingston Central High School teacher; Rita Hosick, Livingston Central High School guidance counselor; Amy Ramage, Livingston County Schools director of pupil personnel; Heather Snell, Livingston Central High School teacher; Lea Vick, Livingston Central High School teacher; Nicholas Zaim, Livingston Central High School teacher
Dawnyelle Belt, Lyon County Schools special education teacher; Natasha Cook, Lyon County Schools Kindergarten teacher; Ashley Davis, Lyon County Elementary School special education teacher; Lesa George, Lyon County Elementary School custodian; Regina Harrison, Lyon County Schools special education teacher; Rosell Knight, Lyon County Schools head custodian; Maria Matchen, Lyon County Elementary School Instructional aide; Whitney Oliver, Lyon County Elementary School 4th & 5th grade science teacher; Amy Perdue, Lyon County Schools director of elementary education; Miranda Reed, Lyon County Schools director of special education
Candace Alexander, Sharpe Elementary School 3rd grade teacher; Kimberly Anderson, Jonathan Elementary School 3rd and 4th grade teacher; Andrea Barrett, Sharpe Elementary School 3rd grade teacher; Jeff Boyd, South Marshall Middle School custodian; Amber Carver, Sharpe Elementary School 1st grade teacher; Brittany Chambers, Sharpe Elementary School Kindergarten teacher; Kalli Colley, South Marshall Middle School teacher; Evelyn Conley, Marshall County High School English/Language Arts teacher; Carissa Culp, Sharpe Elementary School secretary; Ashley Darnell, South Marshall Middle School teacher; Brad Darnall, Benton Elementary School assistant principal; Chad Darnall, Marshall County High School teacher; Shannon Hamlet, Sharpe Elementary School 4th grade teacher; Laura James, South Marshall Middle School teacher; Blair Mathis, Sharpe Elementary School 5th grade teacher; Erin Mathis, Marshall County High School Social Studies teacher; Jennifer McClard, Sharpe Elementary School 5th grade teacher; Michelle Owens, Sharpe Elementary School resource instructional assistant; Kayla Scheer, Jonathan Elementary School Kindergarten teacher; Aretta Terry, Sharpe Elementary School principal
Darrin Abren, Mayfield High School band director; Candice Cochrum, Mayfield Middle School 5th grade teacher; Ashley Collins, Mayfield Middle School Science teacher; Taylor Collins, Mayfield High School English teacher; Natalie Crawford, Mayfield Independent School Family Resource Youth Service Center coordinator; Payton Croft, Mayfield High School physical education teacher; Kara Dowdy, Mayfield High School English teacher; Heather Dublin, Mayfield Elementary School principal; Jamie Dunn, Mayfield Elementary School assistant principal; Theresa Hobbs, Mayfield High School, special education paraprofessional; Kattie Pacheco, Mayfield High School teacher; Paula Pedley, Mayfield High School secretary; Brittany Morris, Mayfield Elementary School preschool teacher; Emily Shelton, Mayfield Middle School 7th grade social studies teacher; Teresa Strickland, Mayfield High School social studies teacher; Patrice Wyatt, Mayfield/Graves County Area Technology Center administrative specialist
McCracken County Schools: James Amundson, McCracken County High School History teacher; Amanda Atnip, McCracken County High School 9th -12th grade Science teacher; Kim Beyer, Reidland Elementary School 1st grade teacher; Shannon Ballard, Lone Oak Intermediate 4th grade teacher; Megan Bolin, McCracken County High School career counselor; Melissa Bogle, McCracken County Schools orchestra teacher; Emily Bremer, Lone Oak Elementary School teacher; Lexie Brinly, McCracken County High School Math teacher; Clay Burgess, McCracken Country High School orchestra teacher; Courtney Butler, Heath Elementary School 3rd grade teacher; Michelle Champion, McCracken County Schools student information systems associate; Tammy Chapman, McCracken County High School assistant principal; Alecia Clark, Concord Elementary School 3rd grade teacher; Cliff Clark, Lone Oak Intermediate & Lone Oak Middle School custodian; Christa Cochran, Heath Elementary School 1st grade teacher; Laine Cooper, Heath Elementary School principal; Leslee Cope, McCracken County Schools FRYSC; McLane Crane, Heath Elementary School 2nd grade teacher; TJ Davidson, Concord Elementary School 1st grade teacher; Kaylee Dickens, Concord Elementary School 1st grade teacher; Rachel Dodson, Heath Elementary School 2nd grade teacher; Jill Dobson, Heath Elementary School 1st grade teacher; Coye Elliott, Lone Oak Middle School principal; Amy Gloyd, Concord Elementary School Kindergarten teacher; Sarah Goode, McCracken County High School English teacher; Christina Grace, McCracken County High School math teacher; Elizabeth Guess, McCracken County High School nurse; Micah Greene, Lone Oak Middle School 6th grade math teacher; Megan Hall, Concord Elementary School 2nd grade teacher; Abby Henshaw, McCracken County High School nurse; Lori Hyde, Reidland Middle School principal; Randy Hines, McCracken County High School computer technician; Jessica Holder, Reidland Middle School writing teacher; Molly Horton, Lone Oak Intermediate & Lone Oak Middle School Family Resource and Youth Service Center coordinator; Christi Hughes, Lone Oak Intermediate / McCracken County teacher; Kelsey Kendall, Lone Oak Middle School Language Arts and Reading teacher; Coby Lewis, McCracken County High School teacher; Kenneth Lang, Lone Oak Middle School Science teacher; Robin Lanier, McCracken County Schools attendance secretary; Mandi Lee, Heath Elementary School Preschool teacher; Sara Leonard, Lone Oak Intermediate & Lone Oak Middle School special education teacher; Katrina Masek, Hendron Lone Oak Elementary School 3rd grade teacher; Marc Mavigliano, Lone Oak Intermediate principal; Morgan Morris, Lone Oak Middle School assistant principal; Andria Mullinax, Concord Elementary School 4th grade teacher; Erin Murphy, Heath Elementary school teacher; Beth Poore, McCracken County High School social studies teacher; Lavina Rogers, Reidland Elementary School 2nd grade teacher; Kelly Rottman, McCracken County High School Spanish teacher; Derek Rothrock, Lone Oak Middle School teacher/coach; Brian Schooley, Heath middle school teacher; Kaitlyn Scrivner, Reidland Elementary School cafeteria manager; Meaghan Schoensiegel, Reidland Intermediate School special education teacher; Aaron Smith, McCracken County High School teacher; Laura Smith, Lone Oak Intermediate & Lone Oak Middle School 5th grade Math teacher; Spencer Sullivan, Reidland Middle School band director; Beka Sutton, McCracken County High School English teacher; Katherine Tilley, McCracken County Schools secretary; Aris Tomes, Lone Oak Intermediate & Lone Oak Middle School Family Resource & Youth Service Center administrative assistant; Wendy Turnage, Lone Oak Intermediate School special education teacher; Mindy Varel, Hendron Lone Oak Elementary school secretary; Stacie Walton, Concord Elementary School special education instructional assistant; Drake Williams, McCracken County High School teacher; Karen Wilson, Hendron Lone Oak Elementary School 2nd grade teacher; Ashley Woodruff, McCracken County High School family & consumer science teacher; Sarah Wurth, Hendron Lone Oak Elementary School 1st grade teacher
Kandi Dawson, Murray Elementary School 3rd grade teacher; Sarah Hultman, Murray High School MHS Math teacher; Beth Stribling, Murray Independent School District MMS band director; Natalie Wilson, Murray Middle School Special education teacher; Timothy Zeiss, Murray Independent School District band director
Ashley Adkins, Paducah Tilghman High School assistant principal of curriculum and instruction; Tammy Bedwell, Paducah Independent Schools administrative assistant; Will Black, Paducah Independent Schools assistant superintendent; Amy Crowe, Paducah Tilghman High School teacher; Lisa Chappell, Paducah Independent Schools administrative assistant; Cerita Crouch, Morgan Elementary School 4th grade teacher; Kayla Griggs, Paducah Tilghman High School special education teacher; Rona Knox, McNabb Elementary School School counselor; Timothy Meadows, Paducah Tilghman High School Math interventionist; Erin Morehead, Paducah Tilghman High School special education teacher; Diana Sample, Paducah Tilghman High School bookkeeper; Tasha Seig, Paducah Independent Schools psychologist; Emilee Sigler, Clark Elementary School teacher; Patti Slankard, Paducah Tilghman High School English teacher; Ashley Thompson, Clark Elementary School cafeteria manager; Melissa Winklepleck, Clark Elementary School 2nd grade teacher; Lindsey Williams, Paducah Middle School band/ orchestra teacher; Samantha Veal, Paducah Middle School choral director
Vicki Lamb, St. Mary Elementary School resource teacher; Darlene Paschall, St. Mary Elementary School PreK- 4th grade teacher: Mary Smith, St. Mary Elementary School principal
Winners of the Regional Educators Awards and Scholarship Program will be announced during a red carpet celebration on March 30 in the Clemens Fine Arts Center.
The 2022 Regional Educators Awards and Scholarship Program can be viewed online.
Interested in contributing to the scholarship fund or serving as a sponsor for the 2023 Regional Educators Awards and Scholarship Program? Contacting Kyle Fisher at kyle.fisher@kctcs.edu or (270) 534-3086. Event sponsors are featured in program publications.
