Beech Tree News Network

Dr. Brenda Priddy, dean of the Campbellsville University School of Education, congratulated 167 teachers from 63 school districts throughout Kentucky as they received the CampbellsvilleUniversity Excellence in Teaching Award Saturday, May 12 at Winters Dining Hall in the E. Bruce Heilman Student Center Complex on the CU campus.

The Excellence in Teaching Award recipients include the following with their superintendent listed first:

Butler County School System—Scott Howard, superintendent; Kassie Decker, North Butler Elementary School; Penny Lynn Wallace, Butler County Middle School; and Lisa Jean Rhoades, Butler County High School.

Pictured above: Butler County School System teachers receive Campbellsville University Excellence in Teaching Awards from Dr. Brenda Priddy, dean of the School of Education, far left, and Dr. FrankCheatham, vice president for academic affairs, far right. Teachers, beginning fifth from left, include: Lisa Rhoades of Butler County High School and Penny Wallace of Butler County Middle School. Second from left is Patrick O’Driscoll, principal of Butler County High School; Jeff Jennings, principal of Butler County Middle School; and Scott Howard, superintendent. (Campbellsville University Photo by Christina Kern)

Decker is an art teacher at North Butler Elementary School. She is a 2001 graduate of Grayson County High School in Leitchfield, Ky.

She received a Bachelor of Science in Education in 2007 from Western Kentucky University.

She is the wife of Jonathan Decker.

Wallace is sixth-grade math teacher at Butler County Middle School. She is a 1981 graduate of Warren Central High School in Bowling Green, Ky.

She received a bachelor’s degree in 1985 and master’s degree in 1988, both from Western Kentucky University.

She is the wife of Greg R. Wallace, and the mother of Geoffrey, Emily and Justin Wallace.

Rhoades is a math teacher at Butler County High School. She is a 1984 graduate of Bowling Green High School.

She received a bachelor’s degree in 1989 and a master’s degree in 1993, both from Western Kentucky University.

She is the wife of Tony Rhoades, and the mother of Tyler Rhoades, Jacqueline Rhoades, LauraBaseheart and Shelby Baseheart.

“There is no doubt in my mind that the teachers we are honoring today truly believe that teaching is a ‘calling’ placed on their lives by our Lord Jesus Christ,” said Dr. Priddy.

“May God bless each of you and continue to do mighty works through your service to the teaching profession and through the example that you set for students in your classrooms and schools every day.”

She quoted from Ephesians 4:11-12 where the apostle Paul says: “Christ chose some of us to be apostles, prophets, missionaries, pastors, teachers, so that His people would learn to serve and His body would grow strong.”

Dr. Frank Cheatham, vice presidentfor academic affairs, said, “Teaching is certainly a calling. I congratulate you for your efforts in the classroom. It’s a hard job.”

Benji Kelly, vice president for development, gave the invocation for the event and thanked the teachers fortheir hard work.

The opening remarks were in the Ransdell Chapel before the awards were presented at the Winters Dining Hall. An ensemble from the School of Music played during the lunch.

Dr. Donna Hedgepath, associate dean of the School of Education and associate professor of education, read the names of the award winners.

Priddy gave some information aboutthe School of Education including its being national accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). The school has 24 teacher preparation programs and one administrator program.

The latest program is early childhood education, which is offered on the main campus and at three off-campus sites in Elizabethtown, Louisville and Somerset.

The newest graduate programs are the Teacher Leaders Master’s degrees – one in education and one in special education. The school also offers Rank I which provides a variety of professional options such as endorsements in gifted education and English as a second language.

She said many of the graduate programs are online and available at a very competitive tuition rate.

She also talked about the first annual Beulah Campbell Children’s Literature Conference April 21 during which several famous authors, including Charles Ghigna (known as “Father Goose”), presented sessions. The next conference will be March 23, 2013.

Campbell has donated her private collection of original illustrations from children’s books to Campbellsville University and Appalachian State University.

Campbellsville University began the Excellence in Teaching Awards Program in 1987 with assistance from Earl Aaron and the Ward, Cundiff and Aaron Memorial Fund. The purpose of the program is to recognize the quality teaching and learning taking place in the school systems throughout Kentucky.

Through the awards program, CU presents certificates to teachers in each grade level [preschool/elementary (P-5), middle grades (6-8) and high school (9-12)] as selected by their school districts.

At this 26th annual program, CU recognized 167 teachers from 63 school districts. A total of 2,854 teachershave been recognized for their teaching excellence throughout the years.

The Excellence in Teaching Awards program is in partnership with Lexington’s CBS-affiliate, WKYT-TV.

Campbellsville University is a widely acclaimedKentucky-based Christian university with more than 3,500 students offering 63 undergraduate options, 17 master’s degrees, five postgraduate areas and eight pre-professional programs. The website for complete information is campbellsville.edu.

By Joan C. McKinney, news and publications coordinator, and Christina Kern, office assistant