Podcasts about fayette county public schools

This week Robert and Jazmin discuss the first criminal trial involving the Crystal Rogers killing and talk about the wild path Fayette County Public Schools is taking to try and fill its deficit hole.

Dr. Barber is currently the Deputy Superintendent of Fayette County Public Schools. Barber has more than 20 years of experience as an educator, having previously served as superintendent of Frankfort Independent Schools and more. In that position, Dr. Barber established highly qualified, cross-functional teams in order to streamline district operations and foster greater communication and connection between stakeholders.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 14, 2025) – It seems like foreshadowing that they met while playing the board game Life. Marietta Barton was 19 years old; Jeff Baxter was 21. Despite both growing up in London, Ky., they never crossed paths until they moved to Lexington for college. But within a few weeks of their chance meeting, they were in love—and engaged.   Now, 35 years into their marriage, Jeff has published a book chronicling their whirlwind romance, the life-altering health struggles they faced soon after, and their enduring commitment to one another.   He originally wrote the book, “Ten Dates Later: The Story of an MS Caregiver,” as a surprise gift for Marietta (now Barton-Baxter) in 2023. But after sharing the text with a few friends, they were encouraged to publish it to help others facing the challenges of chronic illness and caregiving. They also decided to donate the proceeds from the book to multiple sclerosis research at the University of Kentucky, where they both earned their degrees, and where Marietta has worked in health research for 37 years. She currently serves as the regulatory program director and biobank project director in the Center for Clinical and Translational Science. Jeff recently retired after serving for 28 years as a physical education teacher in the Fayette County Public Schools.  On this episode of Behind the Blue, Jeff and Marietta tell their story, which is inextricably intertwined with the University of Kentucky; from the beginnings of their romance, to their college educations, to the diagnoses and care for both of them, and to Marietta's impactful 37-year career in health research at UK.

Who loses their jobs if Amendment 2 passes? Fayette County Public Schools spend $6,200 per HR employee on furniture and then struggles to defend it. A viewer asks about a state level electoral college system. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/andrew-cooperrider/support

Update on Fayette County Public Schools chaos over gender neutral bathrooms; Another great reason for Yes on Amendment 2 - Educational Choice and Freedom; Family Foundation's KY Family Forum on October 12 - for more info go to kentuckyfamily.org. Share to inform others. 

Take learning to the next level by encouraging students to work together! Join us in conversation with Stephanie Sisk of Fayette County Public Schools to learn more about collaborative learning.

Retha Hicks joins us with a tale of how she successfully protested the dress code for teachers in  Fayette County Public Schools in the early 1970's. Retha Perkins Hicks is a writer, a tour guide at Waveland State Historic Site, and a retired public school teacher. She was born in an Eastern Kentucky coal camp and lived in several different coal camps until she was eight years old. Those coal camps are the background of many of her childhood stories. She is a proud mother of four sons and grandmother of four grandchildren. She lives in Lexington with her Miniature Schnauzer, Edgar. Theme song "Appalachian Lofi" composed and performed by Bryan Klausing and Christine Cole.

This one gets a little heavy. We get pretty deep into performance anxiety, drug abuse, and other sensitive topics. I dive into a little of my musical background and my journey with sometimes paralyzing performance anxiety and how that led me to what I do today. Jason Staats (CEO of SUN Behavioral Health Kentucky) and Dr. Marlene Belew-Huff (Outpatient Director, SUN Behavioral Health Lexington) give incredible insight into what makes us unique, why we think the way we do, and most of all, they give us permission to be ourselves. BREAKING NEWS since we recorded the episode: SUN Behavioral Health Lexington has created a partnership with Fayette County Public Schools to offer a partial hospitalization program to middle-school-aged students throughout the district. A SUN-operated center is expected to open inside Lexington Traditional Middle School in October. Schools, parents, and other community referral sources can make referrals to the program, which includes free assessments.  

Shad Lacefield is currently a STEM Learning Coach with Fayette County Public Schools. In this role, he teaches STEM concepts across district schools using the STEM Bus and he is also a part-time professor at Asbury University, teaching online education classes. Shad earned a bachelor's degree from Campbellsville University and a master's degree from Southwest Baptist University and has over 15 years of experience in educational settings. In 2017, Shad and fellow teachers, Garrett Tyson and Antwon Lewis, started the Do Something Extraordinary (DSE) Golf Club. This club was started to introduce students who attend Title 1 schools to the game of golf for free. DSE Golf programs started by reaching 10 kids in 2016-17 and in 2022 reached more than 150 kids. In 2020 Shad received the Distinguished Service Award for the impact the DSE Golf club had in the Lexington community, and in 2021 received the Outstanding Elementary Teacher Award from the Kentucky Science Teachers Association.  If you enjoy this podcast, please click "subscribe" wherever you listen to episodes and we hope you'll consider leaving us a review.  Follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/UKAWHI, Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ukawhi, or Twitter https://twitter.com/ukawhi  If you want to help us sustain the Champions of Active Women podcast, please consider making a donation to the University of Kentucky Active Women's Health Initiative at https://uky.networkforgood.com/causes/13092-active-women-s-health-initiative-fund.        

Katarina Hoskins is the Spanish/Arts & Humanities Teacher at the Rise STEM Academy for Girls and the Outreach Coordinator for the Kentucky Inclusive Health Collaborative at the University of Kentucky. She is also a Sexual Health Researcher with a specific interest in comprehensive sexual health education. Katarina is currently working on developing a Comprehensive Sexual Health Education Program for Elementary School Students with hopes of launching it in Fayette County Public Schools. She is the founder and host of the Warrior Woman's Circle podcast where she engages in open conversations normalizing important but underrepresented topics. Katarina loves to swim, bike, and rock climb and she volunteers monthly with Catalyst Sports, an adaptive climbing clinic in Louisville. She has a cat, a dog, and loves to garden.  If you enjoy this podcast, please click "subscribe" wherever you listen to episodes and we hope you'll consider leaving us a review. Follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/UKAWHI, Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ukawhi, or Twitter https://twitter.com/ukawhi If you want to help us sustain the Champions of Active Women podcast, please consider making a donation to the University of Kentucky Active Women's Health Initiative at https://uky.networkforgood.com/causes/13092-active-women-s-health-initiative-fund.

Angela Stark currently works for the Kentucky Department of Education as a School Health Coordinator in a 2-year position. She also is the health. moves. minds. Coordinator for KY Society of Health and Physical Educators (KYSHAPE). Prior to and after the position with the Kentucky Department of Education, Angela was the 4th-8th grade physical education/Health teacher at the School for the Performing Arts (SCAPA) in Fayette County Public Schools. She has built the wellness program at SCAPA through grants, fundraisers, strengthening the wellness policy, and weaving wellness and movement throughout the entire school. In 2020, SCAPA was awarded the Healthy Schools Program Silver Level National award. In 2016, she earned the Kentucky Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance/KYSHAPE Secondary Physical Education Teacher of the Year and Distinguished Service Award and went on to win Southern District Middle School PE Teacher of the year 2017-2018. She is a passionate advocate for movement, especially in schools.   If you enjoy this podcast, please click "subscribe" wherever you listen to episodes and we hope you'll consider leaving us a review. Follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/UKAWHI, Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ukawhi, or Twitter https://twitter.com/ukawhi If you want to help us sustain the Champions of Active Women podcast, please consider making a donation to the University of Kentucky Active Women's Health Initiative at https://uky.networkforgood.com/causes/13092-active-women-s-health-initiative-fund.   

Today, we are excited to have Dr. Melissa Groff with us as our guest. Melissa is a highly experienced educator with a passion for creating proactive school cultures through the implementation of restorative practices, leadership coaching and mentorship, and job-embedded coaching. Additionally, Melissa's efforts showcase her strong commitment to mental health support for both students and staff, emphasizing the crucial role of a safe and supportive environment in schools.With nearly two decades of experience in the field, she has honed her skills in conducting comprehensive needs assessments, crafting effective strategic plans, and delivering the necessary support to facilitate the development of a proactive culture within the school community. With a strong commitment to education and a passion for supporting school communities, Melissa now serves as the Director of Operations and a Lead Consultant for High Five, formerly The Restorative Group and Behavior Flip.We are thrilled to have her with us today to share her insights on overcoming challenges in education and creating positive, proactive school cultures.Discussion Topics:Identifying the ChallengesStrategies for Overcoming ChallengesLooking to the FutureWhat Are We Listening To?Chris - Throughline - The Whiteness Myth - This episode of Throughline explores the case of Bhagat Singh Thind, an Indian American man who argued before the U.S. Supreme Court in 1923 that he was a white man and therefore eligible for naturalized citizenship. Thind's claim was based on the Indo-European language theory, which proposes that nearly half of the world's population speaks a language originating in one place and inspired a racist ideology that defined whiteness. The podcast delves into the myths surrounding this idea and discusses the politics and potential of the mother tongue.AJ - Everybody Pulls the Tarp - Betsy Julien: The 5th & 6th Grade Teacher - This week Andrew talks with elementary school teacher Betsy Julien. Betsy's 5th & 6th-grade class has raised over $500,000 to build a wheelchair-accessible playground at their school. Betsy seamlessly integrated the fundraising project into her lesson plans and her 25 students rallied together to support their friends who use wheelchairs. This conversation is filled with timeless lessons about leadership, teamwork, and what's possible when people come together above all else to help others. It's also a powerful reminder that sometimes the best place to look for a solution to a big challenge is our youngest generation. This conversation is raw, emotional, and incredibly inspiring.Melissa - The Flywheel Effect - Districts & the Connection Between Behavior, Social Media, & SEL - In this episode, we are joined by Dedeeh Newbern who is the Chief Student Support Officer for Fayette County Public Schools in Lexington, Kentucky. She's here to explore the essential role of district behavior support, social media, and SEL in creating positive learning environments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we are joined by Dedeeh Newbern who is the Chief Student Support Officer for Fayette County Public Schools in Lexington, Kentucky. She's here to explore the essential role of district behavior support, social media, and SEL in creating positive learning environments. We will also dig a little deeper into restorative practices, community support, and educational partnerships that can promote positive school climates. Join us as we dive into how these topics are related and how they can help us build better school communities. Links: If you want to collaborate with Dedeeh you can reach out via email: dedeeh.newbern@fayette.kyschools.us Or you can subscribe to our Newsletter: The LiveSchool Leader by clicking here! Want to see our smiling faces? Subscribe to our Youtube Channel Or Follow us on Instagram: @getliveschool Or TikTok: @whyliveschool And for incredible resources on School Culture check us out at www.whyliveschool.com

Tornadoes lead to damage in several Kentucky communities; leaders from Fayette County Public Schools met with local advocates to announce a new push to improve early childhood education; Renee Shaw talks with Attorney General Daniel Cameron about his relationship with former President Donald Trump and his handling of the Breonna Taylor case; Kelsey Starks sits down with the new interim police chief for LMPD after a violent start to the new year; and how researchers at the University of Kentucky are working with injured firefighters.

How can individual members of a community help children flourish in the classroom? One way is through mentoring. Scholastic's nationwide mentorship program helps students boost their literacy skills while creating meaningful bonds with caring individuals. Our read-aloud mentoring program, which comes with books and teaching guides, is called R.E.A.L. — READ, EXCEL, ACHIEVE, and LEAD. In this episode, in honor of National Mentoring Month, educator Christian Adair tells host Suzanne McCabe how the R.E.A.L. program has enhanced learning and community engagement in his Kentucky school district. “You want to be very thoughtful and purposeful when you engage the community,” he says. “You need to start creating a relationship before you ask [a potential mentor] to do something. You need to acknowledge their existence. You need to acknowledge that they're worthy, and they're wanted.” Christian is the founder and director of Alpha League, a mentoring and leadership organization focused on underserved and marginalized boys and young men. He currently leads mentoring initiatives in the Fayette County Public Schools. → Resources R.E.A.L.: Learn more about Scholastic's read-aloud mentoring program. Bridging the gap between the community and the classroom: Educator Christian Adair discusses the power of mentoring. → Highlights Christian Adair, educator and mentor, Fayette County Public Schools “We have over 185 languages in our city of Lexington, and over 94 languages in our school system. Spanish is the second most spoken language…. Because of that, we wanted to be more inclusive and diverse in our literature, bringing in readers and volunteers to interact with our students.” “We wanted our kids to have books with characters that looked like them. And we wanted students to have books with characters that didn't look like them.” “We wanted our African American students to see men of color reading. But we realized that it was just as important for our teachers to see men of color reading. It was just as important as for our White female students to see men of color reading.” “The students were benefiting, but I think the [mentors] benefited just as much if not more because they became educators, in a sense. They were connecting to our students, and they found themselves in that.” “The books were reflective of our students, and that's probably one of the most exciting things, when kids open up a book and say, ‘Wow, that's me in that book.'” “This program isn't just about reading. This program is about the connection and the fact that I was there. I showed that I cared…. That's when I realized I had to go get more men, especially men of color, to come in and read.” “We were thinking literacy, literacy, literacy. But social emotional learning also took place…. We know that when you build family and community engagement, you build relationships with your students, and you're able to reach them and educate them better.” “One of the first books I actually read from cover to cover was about Malcolm X, and that wasn't until high school. I am 50 years old, so I didn't have that connection [before]. And the reading wasn't that fun. When I did read, it was a Sports Illustrated, it was about sports . . . because that's what I was shown. That's what I thought I was supposed to be. And I didn't see the books about all the amazing accomplishments of African Americans to this country, not just to the African American community, but all the contributions that African Americans have made for everyone to do better in the United States.” “We got to say that 56,000 books went home. We had over 500 new volunteers. We had over 150 men of color volunteering. We had over 50 businesses and organizations volunteering and competing to be in our schools.” “Historically, men of color haven't felt very welcome in the schools. We haven't felt welcome because our interaction with school, according to the data, hasn't been that great. When you create a welcoming atmosphere and an understanding that they have value, they can bring value to the school because they're going to bring a lens that isn't there. They're going to bring a cultural connection…. But you have to do it on purpose. You have to let them be themselves and tell them to bring their authentic self. Tell them to bring their stories.” “You want to be very thoughtful and purposeful when you engage the community…. You need to start creating a relationship before you ask [a potential mentor] to do something. You need to acknowledge their existence. You need to acknowledge that they're worthy, and they're wanted. Sometimes, we only go after people when we want to ask them to do something for us, when there should be some type of relationship started before then.” “We had high school students volunteering, too…. I envision those students continuing after they graduate. [Many are going to want to become] teachers, and we need more teachers.” “Coaches were reading at football practice. I asked them to read for five minutes before practice starts. [I said], ‘They might not hear what you said, but they saw that you were reading.'” → Special Thanks Associate producer: Constance Gibbs Sound engineer: Daniel Jordan Music composer: Lucas Elliot Eberl → Coming Soon Remembering the Holocaust World Read Aloud Day Black History Month

Today's guests are two members of BeWell in School, a non-profit organization that teaches mindfulness and movement as a proactive behavior management system. I'm joined by the BeWell Founder and Executive Director, Riki Rattner and Lexington BeWell Program Director and Coach, Sarah Hanrahan. Riki holds a Masters of Education degree, a 200-Hour Registered Yoga Teacher Certification, and a Bachelor's Degree in Human and Organizational Development with a focus in Community Leadership Development. She began her professional career in teaching where she found herself using breath and movement strategies to help students cope with challenges they faced in and out of the classroom. In 2019-20, she served as the Founding BeWell Teacher at BeWell's Flagship School, Warner Arts Magnet Elementary School. Sarah Hanrahan also holds a Masters of Education degree, is a Trauma Informed Children's Yoga Instructor, and received her Bachelor's degree in Anthropology from Transylvania University. Sarah has spent many years serving students of Fayette County Public Schools as a classroom teacher and intervention instructor. During the COVID pandemic, Sarah was moved to address the overwhelming culture-shift that her students were experiencing and would continue to be affected by. In her search for a comprehensive, school-wide wellness program, she found BeWell in School and worked with administrators at the school and district level, to bring it to life at Mary Todd. Sarah now serves as the Program Director and Coach to BeWell teachers in 5 Fayette County elementary schools with plans to expand further in the 2023-2024 school year. In this episode, we'll talk about how this program got started, why it exists, and BeWell's future goals. Welcome Riki and Sarah!

Fayette County Public Schools remove their mask mandate and U.S. Sen. Rand Paul and Congressman Thomas Massie sue the CDC.

After a year of pandemic created challenges for the public school system in Lexington, Mariam gives an overview of the history of the public schools in Lexington City and in Fayette County. She discusses the initial funding of the schools, through the creation of segregated public schools in 1864, and finally desegregation and the merging of the city and county public schools in the 1960s. 

This week on our Advocate Virtual Forum, we discussed the behavioral health landscape for Kentucky kids and their families, including new Louisville-based qualitative research about barriers to kids receiving high quality care and potential solutions to those barriers. Thank you to our panelists from across the state who shared more about the effects of the past year and how they have navigated serving kids and their families during a pandemic, including state Senator Max Wise; Dewey Rains, Behavioral Health Director with the Cumberland Family Medical Centers; Maria Gurren, Public Protection Coordinator with the Louisville Metro Criminal Justice Commission; and Raine Minichan, Coordinator of Extended School Services, Guidance, and School Mental Health Services at Fayette County Public Schools. Join Kentucky Youth Advocates and Jewish Heritage Fund for Excellence for a virtual summit, Closing the Gaps in Behavioral Health Care for Youth in Louisville, on Tuesday, May 11th at 9:30AM - 12:00PM ET. Thank you to Aetna Better Health of Kentucky for supporting the Making Kids Count podcast. Visit AetnaMedicaidKY.com/choose to learn more about their health care benefits and programs designed with your family’s wellbeing in mind.

Tres and Steph cover the Chauvin verdict, some Fayette County Public Schools issues and Andy Beshear's latest lawsuit. The pair also rants about the Lexington Herald-Leader and Courier-Journal's horrible websites and apps.

WUKY's award winning history program Saving Stories highlights the accomplishments of prominent African Americans in Lexington. This week we feature an oral history interview with noted educator Edythe J. Hayes, the first African American to serve as Deputy Superintendent of Fayette County Public Schools, and the first African American female appointed to the University of Kentucky Board of Trustees. Special thanks to Doug Boyd from the Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History in the UK Libraries.

Our guest shares the strategies her school uses to encourage students to own their learning. Join us as we look at strategies for encouraging risk-taking, flexibility, and creativity to achieve higher levels of student engagement. Follow on Twitter: @janicewyattross @larryferlazzo @jonHarper70bd @bamradionetwork Dr. Wyatt-Ross has a Bachelor's in Special Education from the University of Central Arkansas, a Master's in Special Education from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and a Doctorate in Urban Educational Leadership from the University of Cincinnati. Presently she is employed as the Program Director for Success Academy of Fayette County Public Schools.

Women of Responsibility welcomes Evangelist Stacey McDonald. Stacey is a native of Lexington, Kentucky. She is honored to be married to her best friend and partner in ministry, Brian McDonald. Her love for mental health and wholeness led her to a calling and career as a School Psychologist for Fayette County Public Schools. Upon serving the Georgetown community for ten years as the lead pastor of Kingdom Fellowship Living Word Ministries, she answered yes to the call of evangelism. Her mission is to break through denominational walls by preaching the unadulterated Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is her mission to share Jesus Christ, the visible image of the invisible God, and the baptism of water and Spirit to every nation, creed and culture.  Today Stacey will be reading and sharing on the effectiveness of our prayers from James Chapter 5  out of the King James Version (KJV).

This week on our Advocate Virtual Forum, we discuss kinship care in Kentucky amidst COVID-19, the important role of support groups, and what advocates can do to stand up for kinship families. We also presented a new handbook for relative caregivers to use as a resource as they navigate caring for vulnerable children and understanding the complex child welfare system. View it at kinshipky.org. Panelists include Mary Jo Dendy, Family Resource Center Coordinator with Fayette County Public Schools; Norma Hatfield, President of the Kinship Families Coalition of Kentucky; and Angela Stephens, a kinship caregiver. This is part of a series of conversations where we examine the immediate and long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Kentucky kids and the systems that influence their lives – health care, education, early childhood education and care, child welfare, youth justice, economic security, and more. View our COVID-19 page at kyyouth.org for more information.

This week on our Advocate Virtual Forum we discuss the trauma of the dual pandemics--COVID-19 and racial inequities--for kids and families and what schools and community organizations can do to create supportive environments that can help build resiliency. Panelists include Dr. Kish Cumi Price, Director of Education Policy and Programming at Louisville Urban League; Raine Minichan, Interim Coordinator of Mental Health Services & Guidance Counseling with Fayette County Public Schools; and Ebony O'Rea, Trainer with the Bounce Coalition and Interim Executive Director of Nativity Academy. This is part of a series of conversations where we examine the immediate and long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Kentucky kids and the systems that influence their lives – health care, education, early childhood education and care, child welfare, youth justice, economic security, and more. View our COVID-19 page at kyyouth.org for more information.

Stephenie Steitzer Hoelscher makes her return to the podcast to talk about Lexington’s COVID rate, rumors about schools reopening, problems for Louisville Metro PD and Title IX issues in Fayette County Public Schools.

Today's guest is Sarah Clark Newby, the first African-American teacher to desegregate Fayette County Public Schools. Soapbox Diaries on Facebook: @soapboxdiaries Host Email: tinabryson.soapboxdiaries@gmail.com

Renee Shaw speaks with Sharon Price and Melissa Tibbs from the Community Action Council in central Kentucky about early childhood development. They discuss the Community Action Council's role in helping low-income families and their plans to use a multi-million dollar grant to expand their Head Start programs as well as other offerings, such as family literacy. Next, Renee speaks with Alice Nelson with First 5 Lex - Read, Talk and Play from Cradle to Kindergarten, that was developed by Fayette County Public Schools in partnership with early childhood professionals in response to concerns about school readiness.

Renee Shaw speaks with Sharon Price and Melissa Tibbs from the Community Action Council in central Kentucky about early childhood development. They discuss the Community Action Council's role in helping low-income families and their plans to use a multi-million dollar grant to expand their Head Start programs as well as other offerings, such as family literacy. Next, Renee speaks with Alice Nelson with First 5 Lex - Read, Talk and Play from Cradle to Kindergarten, that was developed by Fayette County Public Schools in partnership with early childhood professionals in response to concerns about school readiness.

This week on Local Matters, Stephanie Spires of Fayette County Public Schools talks with Co-Hosts Alan Stein and Skip Eliot about what is in the Plans for Fayette County Schools in 2019

Our guest provides powerful examples of how she uses play as an engaging, effective teaching tool in science, literature. math and history. Follow: @coolcatteacher @bloomzapp #edtechchat #edchat #edtech Leanna Prater, M.A. Ed., is a District Technology Resource Teacher for Fayette County Public Schools in Lexington, KY where she conducts professional development and provides supports to educators in instructional technology. She is also a doctoral candidate in Instructional Systems Design in the Department of Curriculum & Instruction at the University of Kentucky, College of Education.

Great teachers are constantly innovating, but where can busy teachers find time to try new things? Follow: @coolcatteacher @msalang @bloomzapp #edtechchat #edchat #edtech Leanna Prater, M.A. Ed., is a District Technology Resource Teacher for Fayette County Public Schools in Lexington, KY where she conducts professional development and provides supports to educators in instructional technology. She is also a doctoral candidate in Instructional Systems Design in the Department of Curriculum & Instruction at the University of Kentucky, College of Education.

Can portfolios provide a viable measurement of student learning? How can they displace or support traditional grades? Follow: @tomwhitby @blairteach @Learn21Tech @bamradionetwork Ed Chat Archive: http://edchat.pbworks.com/ Leanna Prater, M.A. Ed., is a District Technology Resource teacher for Fayette County Public Schools, Lexington, KY. Nancy Blair is a middle school principal in Georgia and previously served as a school improvement consultant. Tom Whitby is a former contributing editor at SmartBrief, founder of #Edchat, Twitter-Using Educators and NYSCATE.

What are the important distinctions between face to face and online learning? What is required for success in blended and online learning? What is required to prepare teachers? Tune in as we discuss. Follow: @tomwhitby @blairteach @dbuckedu @TOTALTeacher @bamradionetwork EdChat Archive: http://edchat.pbworks.com/ David Buck is an Associate Professor of English at Howard Community College in Columbia, MD, teaching composition and literature. From 2010-2014, he served as Director of eLearning. Leanna Prater, M.A. Ed., ia a District Technology Resource Teacher for Fayette County Public Schools in Lexington, KY where she conducts professional development and provides supports to educators in the area of instructional technology. Nancy Blair has returned to public education as a middle school principal in Georgia. She previously served as a school improvement consultant. Tom Whitby is contributing Editor at SmartBrief, founder of #Edchat, Twitter-Using Educators, and NYSCATE Network.