Durell “Butch” Hamm, an English and communications teacher at Larry A. Ryle High School in Boone County, has been named Kentucky’s Teacher of the Year.
Hamm was honored — along with Melissa Evans from Corbin as Middle School Teacher of the Year and Jan Vaughn Horn of Clark County as the Elementary School Teacher of the Year — at a ceremony Friday sponsored by Ashland Inc.
Hamm won a $10,000 cash prize as well as a sabbatical financed by the Kentucky Department of Education. Evans and Horn received $3,000 checks.
In all, 24 Kentucky teachers were recognized as 2010 Ashland Teacher Achievement Award Winners.
Among the 24 were Sally Robinson, teacher at Berea Community High School; James Carrier, teacher at McKinney Elementary in Lincoln County; Jennifer Chaplin of Monticello High School; Anita Laney of Elliott County High School; and Melissa Singleton of Rockcastle County Middle School.
Each of the 24 nominees received a $500 prize.
Hamm earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Morehead State University. He received library media services certification from Marshall University and a Rank I certification from Wayne State University.
He received a Kentucky Distinguished Teacher Award from the Presidential Scholars and U.S. Department of Education and Excellence in Teaching Award from Campbellsville University.
Evans has taught for 16 years, most of them teaching science and language arts. She earned bachelor’s and masters degrees and her Rank I certification from Union College. But she deflected individual praise, instead sharing credit with her colleagues.
“It’s a really big honor,” Evans said. “But I feel like it’s shared with everyone in my district. It’s hard to really stand out in Corbin because you’re around so many excellent teachers. I feel like it’s because of my colleagues who inspire me every day.”
Evans said her teaching style is tailored to her middle school students – a time of life when they experience many changes.
“I don’t really like to lecture middle school kids because you’d lose them inside of five minutes,” Evans said. “So I try to keep them active and busy, hands on and minds on.”
Horn is beginning her ninth year teaching and sixth at Shearer Elementary in Clark County where she teaches language arts to fifth-graders. Horn earned a bachelor’s degree at Transylvania University and a master’s degree and Rank I from Eastern Kentucky University. She is the recipient of a 2009 Campbellsville University Excellence in Teaching award.
According to Helen Mountjoy, Secretary of the Education and Workforce Development Cabinet, Ashland has awarded $575,000 to 375 teachers since 1975.
Gov. Steve Beshear was also on hand and said teachers have to be special for parents to entrust their children. They are underpaid, he said, and under appreciated.
“There is no more important job in the commonwealth of Kentucky than a teacher in our classroom,” he said.
RONNIE ELLIS writes for CNHI News Service and is based in Frankfort. Reach him at rellis@cnhi.com. Follow CNHI News Service stories on Twitter at www.twitter.com/cnhifrankfort.
Local News
Boone County teacher named state’s teacher of year
- Local News
-
-
BREAKING NEWS: Grand jury indicts men in double-murder
Two men accused of killing a Richmond couple for money and then hiding their bodies in graves along Tates Creek Road were indicted Wednesday on capital charges by a Madison grand jury.
Matthew Denholm, 27, and Daniel Keene, 26, were both indicted on two counts each of murder, kidnapping and abuse of a corpse charges. They also were each indicted on tampering with physical evidence and first-degree burglary charges. -
Kentucky fallen officers honored at annual ceremony
The best part about Alexandria Police Department Officer James Sticklen’s job was being able to work with kids almost every day.
He was the school resource officer Campbell County Middle School.
“He always used to say there are no bad kids, they just make bad decisions,” said his wife, Laurie. -
Shell beats Mick by 54 votes
Republican Jonathan Shell and Democrat Bradley “Bud” Montgomery will face off in November for the 36th District state representative seat.
Shell received 810 votes in Madison County, beating Republican opponent Nathan Mick by only 54 votes. -
Woman attacked on Berea College walking track
A woman on the Berea College walking track suffered minor injuries Saturday when an unknown man struck her in the face twice, according to Berea Police Public Information Officer Jake Reed.
-
Obama beats ‘uncommitted’ only by 85 votes in Madison County
President Barack Obama won the votes of slightly more than half of Madison County’s Democratic voters Tuesday in the Kentucky primary to select delegates to his party’s nominating convention.
-
Stolen saxophone recovered, two people arrested in connection with theft
Police recovered a saxophone reported stolen earlier this month and arrested two people in connection with its theft.
-
Election results
Madison Circuit Court Clerk Darlene Snyder
-
Newcomer Morgan leads city commission voting
Laura Durham Morgan led the ballot of 14 candidates Tuesday in the non-partisan primary to select eight finalists in the Richmond City Commission race. -
Snyder wins clerk’s race
Darlene Snyder won the Madison circuit court clerk’s race by nearly 400 votes Tuesday, an outcome she attributes to her campaign volunteers.
“It feels like our hard work has paid off,” Snyder said Tuesday night outside the home of A.B. Grant, the site of her victory party. Nearly four dozen supporters were hugging, cheering and high-fiving both outside and inside the home after the results came in. -
Berry kept wheels going round and round for 45 years
Madison County Schools had 29 employees retire this year, some after careers spanning several decades.
While several retirees have more than 30 years of service, only bus driver Louda Berry can boast a tenure of 45 years. - More Local News Headlines
-
BREAKING NEWS: Grand jury indicts men in double-murder
Secret Service Boss: 'I Apologize'
Giant Bull Head Draws Drivers to South Dakota
Astrodome Fades As Houston Decides Fate
Egyptians Vote in Historic Presidential Election
Franciscan Files Tell Stories of Priest Abuse
Wildfire Destroys 2 Homes
Flight Diverted After Suspicious Note
Joplin Remembers Deadly Tornado, 1 Year Later
Panel Recommends Against Routine Prostate Test
Fired Lingerie Employee Claims Discrimination
Joplin Marches to 'Remember' Tornado Victims
Facebook Shares Continue Negative Slide
Cuba Waiting for Cyber Age to Come
8 Hurt in Oklahoma Shooting After NBA Playoff
Sheriff: DNA Links Suspect to Missing CA Teen
US Airways: Diverted Flight Has 'Landed Safely'
Revived Focus on Regulation After JPMorgan Loss
