August 2021
Staff eNews
Message from the Superintendent
For the 2021-2022 school year, our theme is “Remember Your Why.” When I reflect on the “why” regarding my choice to be a teacher, it brings back wonderful childhood memories of playing school with my friends and family. That love was influenced by educators who encouraged me to follow my heart and put forth the work to make my dreams come true. Our bus drivers/monitors, custodians, food service workers, maintenance technicians, diesel mechanics, secretaries, principals, counselors, and classroom support staff also influence the choices of our students. Therefore, more times than not, our “why” focuses back on our kids and the love we have for one another.
 
As we unite together as one team, one mission, one community, keeping our students and staff safe and working together for a healthy community are top priorities. Your support to keep our students in school is vital as we continue to see positive cases of COVID. To help prevent the spread of the virus, we will continue to administer mitigation strategies. We have learned through the past several months that we are a community of perseverance. Let’s continue to collaborate together and share suggestions to help us move forward and celebrate the successes in our community!
'Remember Your Why' Award Nominations
Hopkins County Schools wants to recognize employees for good deeds and kindness shown to others. Remember Your Why Award winners may be nominated by any district stakeholder, including staff, students, parents, and community members.

The district’s theme for this year is Remember Your Why. Faculty and staff are encouraged to focus on what’s most important – the reason they went into education or chose to work in the schools. This initiative is designed to motivate staff. We always want to be there for our students! Raising the motivation levels of staff will have positive impacts on students, parents, co-workers, and the community. Faculty and staff members may be nominated by anyone in the community through a form on the Hopkins County Schools’ website.
Welch Becomes 1st Recipient of New Award
Madisonville North Hopkins High School agriculture teacher Brian Welch became the first recipient of the district’s Remember Your Why Award during Monday’s Board of Education meeting.
 
Welch is the recipient of the Outstanding Early Career Teacher Award for the state of Kentucky and our Region through the National Association for Agricultural Educators. This award honors individuals with fewer than 7 years teaching, with a focus on quality of teaching and innovation in the profession. Regional winners are honored at the national conference. He is also a finalist for Harbor Freight’s Tools for Schools recognition, which rewards teachers for quality mechanics/CTE teaching and innovation in the classroom. He is among 61 finalists selected out of 700 applicants.
 
When asked to share his “Why,” Welch said “To make the same impact on students and community my teachers have had on me.”
 
Congratulations, Mr. Welch!
Have Questions about School?
Check the District Website
Information on the district's Return to School for 2021-2022 is posted on the district website. This includes answers to Frequently Asked Questions, the Student Symptom Protocol, and the Covid-19 Dashboard.
Lend a Hand Donation Drive
$1,000 Supplemental Pay
In appreciation of the commitment shown by district employees throughout the pandemic, the Board of Education has approved supplemental pay of $1,000 for full-time Hopkins County Schools’ employees. This supplemental pay will come in two additional paychecks of $500, the first on October 1, 2021, and the second on April 1, 2022. This initiative was announced by Superintendent Amy Smith during the #TeamHopkins Day program and formally approved during the August 16 Board of Education meeting.
Attendance Tracking for Quarantined Students
Quarantined and isolated students are coded with a QRS: Quarantined Receiving Services code in Infinite Campus. These students must continue receiving six hours of daily instruction in order for this code to be used. The instruction does not have to be synchronous but should include interaction with a teacher during the quarantine period. Be sure to reach out to students with a QRS code to offer help with Google Classroom activities and any other technology platform assignments.
Glema Center Announces School Days
Matinees Schedule
Glema Mahr Center for the Arts has released the School Days Matinees schedule for Hopkins County Schools. As a reminder, teachers will need to email the Glema Center to reserve seats and turn in their Travel Tracker request at least three weeks before the event.
Wanted! Home Hospital (Homebound) Instructors
The DPP office is looking for teachers who would like to work with students in a virtual setting after school hours. Teachers are required to meet with students two times per week for an hour each time. These visits will be made virtually this school year. Most long-term students will receive instruction through an online platform. Please contact Angie Lester at angie.lester@hopkins.kyschools.us to indicate your interest in teaching home/hospital.
First Dayof School!
Congratulations to the Employees of the Year!
Hopkins County Schools Employees of the Year for 2020-2021 were honored during #TeamHopkins Day activities on Aug. 4. Those honored include the following:
  • Elementary Teacher of the Year – Barbara Stoltz, Grapevine Elementary
  • Middle School Teacher of the Year – Kia Zieba, James Madison Middle School
  • High School Teacher of the Year - Micki Clark, Madisonville North Hopkins High School
  • Administrator of the Year - Brandon McClain, principal of Jesse Stuart Elementary School
  • Food Service Employee of the Year - Heather Dunlap, Earlington Elementary School
  • Facilities Management Employee of the Year – Kenneth Ashby, West Hopkins
  • Classified Support Service Employee of the Year - Dana Byrum, Hopkins County Central High School
  • Secretary of the Year - Marjorie Strader, Madisonville North Hopkins High School
  • Transportation Employee of the Year – Dennis Hart
  • Central Office Employee of the Year – Dana Nance
Congratulations to all!
Students to Benefit from Tasty Grant
Pride Elementary School has received a $23,460 grant to offer the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program.
 
The federally assisted program provides free fresh fruits and vegetables to children at eligible elementary schools during the school day. The goal of the FFVP is to introduce children to fresh fruits and vegetables, to include new and different varieties, and to increase overall acceptance and consumption of fresh, unprocessed produce among children. The FFVP also encourages healthier school environments by promoting nutrition education.
 
The fresh fruits and vegetables will be offered to Pride students as they return to the building after recess, said Hopkins County Schools’ Child Nutrition Director Lisa Marsh.
 
“It’s usually fruits and vegetables that students may not be exposed to at home,” she said. This may include mango, grapefruit, starfruit, kiwi, asparagus, and more. “I think the kids will try something different. If we can encourage them to do that, that’s awesome.”
 
Pride will also have a fun fact sheet to go along with the fruit or vegetable fo the day. Marsh hopes it becomes a school-wide activity with lessons incorporated into the day. The program will start after Labor Day. To learn more, visit the FFVP webpage: https://www.fns.usda.gov/ffvp/fresh-fruit-and-vegetable-program
HCEF Teacher Mini-Grant Winners
Hopkins County Education Foundation has awarded 14 mini-grants to teachers in Hopkins County. Total funding approved is $10,002.24. The list of approved projects follows:
·        Melanie Hofmann – Clay/Paint for Sculpture, Jesse Stuart Elementary, $993
·        Emily Eden – Pop-it Phonics, Grapevine Elementary, $975
·        Kelcea Smith – Secret Stories, Grapevine Elementary, $855.99
·        Taylor Ruth – Leveled Readers, Jesse Stuart Elementary, $1,000
·        Kim Shaw; Maria Bailey – NatureFest, Madisonville North Hopkins High School, $1,000
·        Tiffany Howton – Using Science of Reading, Southside Elementary, $291.94
·        Sarah Yancey – Building Connections through Play, Southside Elementary, $810.50
·        Lisa Watkins – Building Fine Motor Skills, Grapevine Elementary, $693.84
·        Keaton Frazer – Project-based Math, West Broadway Elementary, $381.97         
·        Donna Potts – CLASS ACT, Jesse Stuart Elementary, $1,000       
·        Devan Dugger – Reading Refresh, James Madison Middle School, $500 
·        Randy Adams – Concert Band Literature, Madisonville North Hopkins High School, $500
·        Alan Emerson – Jazz! The Music of America, James Madison Middle School, $500        
·        Justin Hundley – STEMming Lifelong Science Learners, Grapevine Elementary, $500
State Wildlife Champions
The Hopkins County Central High School FFA wildlife team won the 2021 State Championship at the Kentucky State Fair! This is the first year for the state wildlife contest. Team members are Will Townsell, Hunter Lloyd, Grace Whitaker, and Landon Harralson. Congratulations! 
Governor Visits Hopkins Co Schools
Funds Presented for Construction of Turn Lanes at Pride, James Madison
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear visited Hopkins County Schools on July 9.

Gov. Beshear discussed school safety projects and presented a ceremonial check of $2.2 million in governor’s discretionary funds for design and construction of turn lanes on the highways in front of Pride Elementary School and James Madison Middle School. Work at JMMS is expected to start next spring, with the Pride Elementary project scheduled to start next summer. This is part of $23 million in projects aimed at improving highway safety near schools.

Hopkins County Board of Education members Steve Faulk, Dr. J.W. Durst, Bobby Fox, and Shannon Embry, board attorney Keith Cartwright, Madisonville Mayor Kevin Cotton, Hopkins County Judge-Executive Jack Whitfield and Deneatra Henderson, chief district engineer with Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District 2, were among those attending the event at James Madison.

These projects will improve safety at Pride and James Madison for our students, parents, and the community. We put a top priority on student safety and are very thankful for this assistance!