District Voted Best Place to Work! |
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that Hopkins County Schools has received The Messenger Readers’ Choice Award for Best Place to Work for the 2nd year in a row! We are celebrating with a spirit week and jeans week. We appreciate your votes! Thanks to our employees for everything you do for our students, families, and community. We love our #TeamHopkins family! |
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Members Selected for Screening Committee |
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Members have been selected for the Hopkins County Superintendent Search Screening Committee. The committee will include the following:
- Elected by certified employees - Erica Price, School Psychologist, West Broadway Elementary School; and Jeremy Davis, Teacher, Madisonville North Hopkins High School
- Elected by classified employees - Tiffany Groves, Computer Lab CIA, Earlington Elementary School
- Appointed Board member - John Osborne
- Elected by Parent/Teacher Organization Presidents - Lori Allen, Parent, Earlington Elementary School
- Elected by District Principals - Christian Klaas, Principal, Hanson Elementary School
The committee will convene on April 1 for an orientation meeting followed by their first work session on April 20.
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There will be no school from April 5-9 for spring break. Hopkins County Schools will use the virtual #HCSatHome learning plan the following week, April 12-16. This was approved by the Board of Education when we started the 4-day-a-week in-person schedule in an attempt to avoid potential COVID-19 spread after the break. In-person instruction will resume on Monday, April 19. Please have a fun and safe spring break! |
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Gates Selected for National Teaching Award |
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National Excellence in Teaching about Agriculture Award Honors Teachers Who Use Agriculture
to teach other Subjects
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A Pride Elementary School teacher who uses agricultural themes to teach all subject areas has been selected as a 2021 National Excellence in Teaching about Agriculture Award winner. Kelly Gates, a fifth-grade teacher, introduces agricultural themes, speakers, farm tours and special events to teach her students about seed germination and plant life cycles, colonial era homesteading and farming, hybridization of daylilies and international trade, among other activities.
“I am honored to receive this award. Agriculture is an excellent way to introduce important learning concepts,” said Gates. “My students benefit from learning about ag and I believe it will help them throughout their time in the classroom and beyond.”
The National Agriculture in the Classroom Organization (NAITCO), U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA) and Farm Credit partner each year to honor teachers in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade (Pre-K-12) from around the country for the innovative ways they use agricultural concepts to teach reading, writing, math, science, social studies, STEM, STEAM and more.
“Hopkins County Schools is so proud of Ms. Gates and her outstanding accomplishments, especially at the national level,” said Superintendent Dr. Deanna Ashby. “Moving forward we are hoping Ms. Gates will share her ideas across our district. She is a fabulous teacher with a passion for teaching and learning. Effective instruction is about culminating projects incorporating all content into real-world experiences.”
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Agriculture is a wide-ranging subject, said Dr. Carrie Castille, director of USDA-NIFA, which provides federal leadership and annual funding for NAITC.
“Many people think that agriculture teaches hard work and perseverance, and it does. But, these outstanding teachers recognize that agriculture also is fertile ground for teaching botany, biology, chemistry, finance, climatology, and arts, in ways that any age or level of students can understand, appreciate and apply to their daily life,” said Castille. “When a student makes that real-life connection to the lessons their teachers share, students continue to learn and absorb the true meaning of those lessons when they leave the classroom. Innovative teachers like these are often responsible for awakening a student’s love of learning, nature and science.”
Gates will be honored at the 2021 National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference “Fields of Dreams” June 28-July 1 at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines, Iowa.
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#LionChaser / #GiantSlayer |
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Kelly Gates - Pride Teacher |
Pride Elementary School teacher Kelly Gates was honored at the March 1 Hopkins County Board of Education meeting with the #LionChaser / #GiantSlayer Award. She previously was named the 2020 Farm City Educator of the Year by the Hopkins County Regional Chamber of Commerce and Hopkins County Cooperative Extension. She has been teaching at Pride for more than 20 years and has created an outdoor learning environment for students. This program, Courtyard of Curiosity, helps students maintain, cultivate, and beautify the school’s courtyard area. |
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Dawn Miller - SHMS Secretary |
South Hopkins Middle School attendance secretary Dawn Miller received the #LionChaser / #GiantSlayer Award at the March 15 Board of Education meeting. She has led a community service project that involves students and staff making sleep mats for homeless people. Students cut up plastic grocery bags and loop them together into “plarn” – plastic yarn. Several staff members are crocheting the mats. It takes about 800 bags to make one mat. Individuals have brought in donated bags, and donations were received from local businesses. The first donation of mats was delivered to Hopkins County Assistance Center. Dawn is a #LionChaser for encouraging the school community to get involved with this helpful project! |
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Carver Recognized by Board |
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Kathy Carver was honored by the Board of Education on March 15 for receiving the Kentucky Association for Gifted Education Service and Advocacy Award. Carver, the district’s Middle and High School Gifted and Talented resource teacher, is an advocate for gifted education who works tirelessly to bring new and challenging opportunities to her students. |
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Employee of the Year Nominations |
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Hopkins County Schools is seeking nominations for the 2020-2021 Teacher of the Year and Employee of the Year awards.
Teacher of the Year nominees must have a minimum of three years teaching experience. The Teachers of the Year will be selected in the categories of Elementary (P-5), Middle (6-8) and Secondary (9-12).
Categories for Employee of the Year nominations are: Administrator of the Year, eligible nominees would include principals, assistant principals, central office administrators, and guidance counselors; Classified Support Services, eligible nominees would include instructional assistants who work in a classroom setting to enhance student achievement and Family Resource employees who provide student needs throughout the district; Facilities Management, eligible employees would include all custodians and district maintenance staff; Food Service, eligible nominees would include all cafeteria employees, cafeteria managers and district food service employees; Transportation, eligible nominees would include bus drivers, bus monitors, vehicle maintenance staff and district employees; Secretary of the Year, eligible employees would include all school secretaries; and Central Office Employee of the Year, eligible employees would include all central office staff.
Nominations will be accepted through the close of business, 4 p.m. Friday, June 4, 2021. Online nomination forms are available at the following links:
A printable form is available at the following link. It should be mailed to Employee of the Year, Hopkins County Schools, 320 S. Seminary Street, Madisonville, KY 42431. Attention: Crystal Carlton.
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Information on 'Buy-Back' Time |
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For any certified employee who was on an approved unpaid leave (FMLA, ext disability, maternity, etc.) they are eligible to “buy-back” their time from TRS. The longer they wait to do this, the more expensive it will be. Many times when employees are ready to retire they are missing 0.48 of a year and something small that keeps them from retiring when they had planned. When they look into purchasing that time 15-20 years later, it is not economically feasible for most people. The “buy-back” cost is based on your current salary. |
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Madisonville North Hopkins High School ag students are taking part in a project that serves the community while building math skills.
The Ag Structure and Design class is working with Habitat for Humanity to build sheds for homes built by that organization. The class, which is offered as dual credit with Madisonville Community College, connects mathematics to practical skills for students who thrive in an experiential course.
For more Information:
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A revitalization project for Browning Springs Middle School track area is intended to turn the area into a park-like space for outdoor classroom opportunities and community use. The first Saturday work day involved community members and the district’s inclusivity coaches. |
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Remind Parents to Check Portal Log-Ins |
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In preparation for Online Registration for the 2021-2022 school year, we ask parents to attempt to log in to their Parent Portal Accounts. If there are any issues with logging in, please use the online request form at the link below. Parents who do not already have a Parent Portal account should follow the instructions available at this link to create an account. It is very important for parents with students enrolled in Hopkins County Schools to have a Parent Portal account, not only for Online Registration, but to view grades and more.
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2021 Commissioners Listening Tour |
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The Kentucky Department of Education has opened its registration website for Commissioner of Education and Chief Learner Jason E. Glass’ virtual listening tour to gather input on long-term aspirations for the Commonwealth’s education system.
Nine sessions will be held across the state April 6-May 6, one in coordination with each cooperative region and one in Louisville. The sessions will be in the evening and will last approximately 90 minutes and feature breakout rooms facilitated by Kentucky high school students and Team KDE staff. The questions will be focused on several key areas – teaching, learning, engagement, mental health, testing, equity, civics and career and technical education.
Those who already have pre-registered will receive a customized Zoom link with the meeting information and do not need to register again unless they are requesting a different tour date.
In order to participate in the Commissioner’s Virtual Listening Tour, you must register for at least one of the sessions. The meetings will not be live-streamed on the KDE Media Portal. ASL interpreters will be available if requested at registration. |
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