By Scarlett Birge, student news writer, and Joan C. McKinney, director, Office of University Communications
CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. – Campbellsville University’s 34th annual Excellence in Teaching Award Program Ceremony was canceled this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, 217 teachers received the Excellence in Teaching Award from 76 districts and/or private schools in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Twenty-two of the teachers have Campbellsville College or University degrees and nine teachers are National Certified Teachers.
Dr. Donna Hedgepath, provost and vice president for academic affairs, said, “The Excellence in Teaching program is one of our most meaningful tributes to Kentucky teachers.
“Teachers deserve recognition for pouring themselves into the lives of our P-12 students. Teachers not only serve students in the classroom, but they make profound impacts in their students’ personal lives and on their future.
“I am honored to have the opportunity to recognize the best of the best in education!”
Hedgepath, herself a teacher and university professor for several years, would have been present for the ceremony, along with Dr. Lisa Allen, dean of the School of Education.
Allen said, “During this time of pandemic, teachers have had to be creative and flexible problem solvers in delivering relevant, timely instruction to their students.
“The teachers who are EIT recipients this year have and will continue to find innovative ways to lead, to teach and to help students succeed regardless of the learning challenges presented by COVID 19.
“I am sorry that this year, we are unable to have our usual celebration to honor them. I am proud of these teachers who continue to shape the future for all of us regardless of circumstances.”
A total of 4,163 Kentucky teachers have been honored since the program began 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.
The Excellence in Teaching Awards program is in partnership with Lexington’s CBS-affiliate, WKYT-TV.
The teachers are selected by their school districts in each grade level (preschool/elementary, middle and high school).
The 2020 Excellence in Teaching Award recipients include the following with their superintendent listed first:
Barbourville Independent Schools –Andrea Hillard, Barbourville Independent School, Elementary; Angelia Smith, Barbourville Independent School, Middle; and Brandon Simpson, Barbourville Independent School, High.
Hillard, of Barbourville, Ky., teaches 4th and 5th grade math at Barbourville Independent Elementary School. She has taught there since 2017.
From Union College, she received her bachelor’s degree in 2008, her master’s degree in 2010 and her Rank I in 2012. She is a 2002 graduate of Jackson County High School.
She is married to Brandon Hillard, and they have three children, Tessa, Luke and Maggie Hillard.
Smith, of Barbourville, Ky., has taught at Barbourville Independent School since 2001. She teaches social studies, reading and English.
From Union College, she received her bachelor of science in 2003 and her Master of Arts in Educational Principalship and Leadership in 2006. She is a 1995 graduate of Knox Central High School.
She is the daughter of Bobbie Cox, of Barbourville, Ky., and Jerry Cox, of Flat Lick, Ky. She is married to Wendell Smith, and they have four children: Joseph, Wendi, Anna and Will Smith.
Simpson, of Barbourville, Ky., teaches 9-12th grade English and College English at Barbourville High School where he has taught since 2004. He also teaches English 111 and 112 dual credit through Union County. He formerly taught at Gallatin County Middle School from 1998 until 2004.
He received his Bachelor of Arts in English Education from Union College in 1996. He earned his Master of Arts in Education from Georgetown College in 2006. He is working toward his Master of Arts in English at Morehead State University.
He is the son of Danna Smith and James Simpson, both of Barbourville, Ky. He has three children, Brandi Carter and Bradley and Skylar Simpson.
Knox County Schools — Kelly Sprinkles, superintendent; Olivia Holstein, Central Elementary School; Kevin Merida, Knox County Middle School; and Jonathan Stephens, Lynn Camp High School.
Holstein, of Barbourville, Ky., teaches at Central Elementary School.
She received her Bachelor of Arts in Literacy P-5 from Eastern Kentucky University in 2011. She earned her master of arts degree from the University of the Cumberlands in 2016. She earned her Rank I, Teacher Leader from Union College in 2019 as well as her National Board Certification. She is a 1998 graduate of Barbourville Independent High School.
She is married to James Holstein, and they have two children, Allie and Sophie Holstein.
Merida, of Barbourville, Ky., teaches math for 7-8th grades at Knox County Middle School where he has taught since 2010.
From Union College, he received his Bachelor of Science in Middle School Education in 2010 and his master of arts degree in 2015. He is a 2005 graduate of Knox Central High School.
He is the son of Carol and Ken Merida. He is married to Kara Merida, and they have two children, Kenleigh and Kassidy Merida.
Stephens, of Corbin, Ky., teaches 9th-12th grade chemistry at Lynn Camp High School.
He received his Bachelor of Science in Plant Science with minors in plant pathology and agronomy from Penn State University in 2018. He is a 2014 graduate of Clearfield Area High School.
He is the son of Greg Stephens.
The 2020 Excellence in Teaching Committee included: Dr. Lisa Allen, dean of the Campbellsville University School of Education; Elizabeth Franklin, secretary to the dean, School of Education; Lisa Kirtley, data specialist; Natasha Nall, graduate secretary for the School of Education; Dominic Sanfilippo, early childhood program secretary, and Alice Steele, clinic support specialist.
Campbellsville University is a widely acclaimed Kentucky-based Christian university with more than 11,900 students offering over 100 programs of study including Ph.D., master, baccalaureate, associate, pre-professional and certification programs. The university has Kentucky based off-campus centers in Louisville, Harrodsburg, Somerset, Hodgenville and Liberty with instructional sites in Elizabethtown, Owensboro and Summersville. Out-of-state centers include two in California at Los Angeles and Lathrop, located in the San Francisco Bay region. The website for complete information is www.campbellsville.edu.
Campbellsville University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award certificates, associate, baccalaureate, masters and doctoral degrees. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the status of Campbellsville University.
