West Kentucky Educational Cooperative named Outstanding Educator of the Year

The Challenger Learning Center has named the West Kentucky Educational Cooperative the 2026 Outstanding Educator of the Year in recognition of its support of STEM education and its partnership in providing learning opportunities for students and teachers across the region.

Founded in 1976, the cooperative serves 26 rural school districts in far western Kentucky. Through professional development, cooperative services, grant support and innovative programming, it works to strengthen educational opportunities throughout the region.

The Challenger Learning Center said it has benefited from the cooperative’s commitment to expanding access to high-quality STEM experiences. The partnership has helped provide students and educators with hands-on learning opportunities that encourage curiosity, teamwork and real-world problem-solving.

The center is concluding an eight-year partnership with the cooperative’s GEAR UP grant, a program designed to prepare students for life after high school. Beginning in fall 2026, the Challenger Learning Center will participate in the cooperative’s Nuclear Energy Education and Workforce Plan. The initiative will focus on developing a sustainable, STEM-focused K-12 program aimed at building a skilled workforce pipeline for nuclear energy careers in far western Kentucky.

The Challenger Learning Center said it looks forward to continuing its partnership with the cooperative.

For more information, contact Mellisa Duncan, center director, Challenger Learning Center at Paducah, at (270) 534-3097.