By Kasey Ricketts
Special to the NKyTribune
At the annual 32nd Excellence in Teaching Ceremony, Campbellsville University recognized 169 teachers from 60 school districts. A total of 3,749 teachers have been recognized for their teaching excellence throughout the years.
Kentucky Sen. Max Wise, R-Campbellsville, shared his appreciation for the teachers across the commonwealth during the program held at Campbellsville University.
“The ability to mentor students, the ability to watch students walk across that graduation stage, and just the ability to play a role in students’ lives is so meaningful that each of you teachers do every day in so many aspects,” Wise said.
Wise spoke about how as an educator you are along for so many experiences of your students’ lives.
“Their progression is influenced by you every day as an educator — to help them grow, to help them learn and to mature,” he said.
As a parent of four, Wise has become aware of the amount of time teachers spend with their students and the amount of time that goes into planning to provide for their classrooms.
“Your working hours do not start or end by the ring of a bell — it does not start by a calendar date. I thank each and every one of you from the bottom of my heart for the time and the effort that you put into your job to help your students succeed,” Wise said.
Dr. Donna Hedgepath, provost and vice president for academic affairs, and Dr. Beverly Ennis, dean of the School of Education, presented the certificates to the teachers before a luncheon in Winters Dining Hall.
Hedgepath, who has taught in the public school system, told the teachers, “We celebrate you today. We applaud the best of the best of teachers today.”
Ennis said “Teaching is the profession that creates all others” is a motto hanging in Campbellsville University’s School of Education building.
She said Campbellsville University is the most diverse private college in Kentucky and is in the top five lowest debt colleges in the southern region of the United States.
Dr. Chuck Hamilton, associate professor of education, introduced Wise and read the names of the honorees.
Kelli Evans, a Campbellsville University 2018 graduate, sang, and Corey Bonds, assistant director of bands and instructor in music, accompanied her on piano.
The Excellence in Teaching Awards program is in partnership with Lexington’s CBS-affiliate, WKYT-TV.
Award recipients included:
Walton-Verona – Robert Storer, superintendent; Susan Scott, Walton-Verona Elementary School; and Jonathan Kneisley, Walton-Verona High School.
Scott is a fourth grade teacher at Walton-Verona Elementary School, where she has been teaching since 2012. Previously, she taught third grade at Sts. Peter and Paul School from 2007 until 2012.
Scott graduated from Notre Dame Academy in 2001. She attended the University of Kentucky, where she obtained in her bachelor of arts degree in 2005. In 2012, she received her master of arts degree from Northern Kentucky University. In 2015, Scott obtained her Rank I from Western Kentucky University.
She is married to David Spinner, and they have two children, Meggie and Emma Spinner. Her parents are Mary and Jim Scott of Ft. Wright, Ky.
Kneisley is a science teacher at Walton-Verona High School, where he has been teaching since 2013. Previously, he taught the same subject at different schools, such as Garrard County High School, Leland High School in San Jose, Calif. and Orange County High School in Hillsborough, N.C.
Storer
Kneisley graduated in 1990 from Springfield North High School in Springfield, Ohio. In 1996, he received his Bachelor of Science in Education from Wright State University. In 2009, he obtained his Master of Arts in Education from Eastern Kentucky University.
Kneisley has three children, Sean, Lucia and Tate Kneisley. His parents are Patt Kneisley and Jack Kneisley, both from Springfield, Ohio.
Campbellsville University is a widely-acclaimed Kentucky-based Christian university with more than 10,000 students offering over 90 programs of study including 20 master’s degrees, six postgraduate areas and seven pre-professional programs. The university has off-campus centers in Kentucky cities Louisville, Harrodsburg, Somerset and Hodgenville with instructional sites in Elizabethtown, Owensboro, Summersville and Liberty, all in Kentucky, and one in Costa Mesa and the Silicon Valley in California, and a full complement of online programs. The website for complete information is campbellsville.edu.
Casey Ricketts is the communications assistant in the Office of University Communications at Campbellsville University
