Beech Tree News Network

Each year, KECSAC and the State Agency Children School Administrators Association (SACSAA) recognize exemplary educators and support personnel at the annual Alternative Strategies for Educating Students At-Risk Conference. These honors are designed to highlight the dedication and skill that teachers, administrators, and support staff in KECSAC programs bring to the education of students at-risk. Today, outstanding teachers, school administrators, and staff persons seek out positions in KECSAC programs because they can immediately see the impact they have on these vulnerable students’ lives and careers. These students come to KECSAC programs with a multitude of challenges; many are several grade levels behind in both reading and math. When they finally get the individualized attention of truly excellent teachers, they thrive. So these “outstanding” awards are really going to the most “outstanding” of a highly qualified, professional and inspiring population of educators. 
 
This year’s 11th annual Alternative Strategies for Educating Students At-Risk Conference was held on July 24 – 26 at Eastern Kentucky University.  Nearly 300 educators from across the state gathered to learn from each other and from renowned experts in the field, such as Dr. Debbie Silver, Jason Gibson and Ron Clark.  The First Lady of the Commonwealth, Mrs. Jane Beshear, was present to honor four outstanding educators and two inspirational students. The First Lady shared with the group the importance of their work of educating Kentucky’s at-risk students and presented the awards.

Along with presentations of outstanding support staff, teacher and student of the year, one outstanding school administrator was recognized.  This year’s Outstanding School Administrator of the Year Award winner was Jim Green of the Green River Youth Development Center in the Butler County School District.  Jim Green is described as a great leader, one who advocates for his staff and students and who provides the guidance and support needed for them to excel. Mr. Green has been an educator for over thirty years, the last five at Green River YDC. He has been a coach, an innovator in service-learning, field trips, academic competitions (including engineering competitions for students) and he has brought more than 28 speakers to inspire and engage the students at Green River YDC over the past five years. As part of the nomination packet, a hand-written, heartfelt student letter was submitted. That student reflected:

“Life can knock you down quicker than you can blink. Life is full of negativity, but you have two options: option one is that we let it corrupt and overwhelm us and option two is that we let it make us stronger. There is a man who taught me the three essentials to pass the test of life. That man is Jim Green. He said ‘the three keys to unlock the difficulties of life is to Live, Love & Laugh. If you can do that, then you can do anything.’ I believe him. While I have been living at Green River Youth Development Center, I have learned that anything is possible. I learned that even though it seems like everyone else around me are my enemies, they are actually the ones who help me with the war against myself. I have learned that if you visualize the end in mind and make it a target, your choices will be a lot easier. Create what you want to be and the rest will fall into place if you follow Mr. Green’s essential L’s.”

KECSAC and the State Agency Children School Administrator Association look forward to working with Mr. Green and all of the outstanding educators in state agency programs to help students reach the highest level of achievement possible.

Green's second award was from the Kentucky Association of School Administrators (KASA). Named this year’s building-level winner for Outstanding Administrator of the Year, an award designed to recognize dynamic leaders who embody the zeal for leadership in education that KASA represents. Those who win are quintessential leaders in education that drive improvement in all aspects of schools. This year’s recipient is Mr. Jim Green, principal of the Juvenile Justice Green River School in Butler County. 

Green received the Spirit of a Leader Award July 18 during the opening session of KASA’s 44th Annual Leadership Institute at the Galt House Hotel & Suitesin Louisville. The award is presented annually to two education leaders statewide—one to a building-level administrator and one to a district-level administrator.

Green is known for combining talents that are as diverse as the demands of the high needs of the students he serves. Nominators describe him as an instructional leader and child advocate, incredibly organized, a gifted communicator and relationship builder, and an extremely hard worker who still takes time to nurture individual students.

A member of KASA for 25 years, Green has played a major role in students’ second chances.  In a short time period, 57 students have received their GEDs and 41 their high school diplomas. His efforts go beyond the classroom and onto the court where he has served as the boys high school basketball coach for 10 years, the middle school girls basketball coach for six years, and the track and cross country coach, as well.

KASA is the largest school administrator group in Kentucky, representing more than 3,000 education leaders from across the commonwealth. Formed in 1969, KASA connects education leaders to policymakers, legislators, and other interest groups, and provides numerous benefits and services to Kentucky’s school administrators.