Mike James/The Independent
Ashland — The first-graders in Kari Kennedy’s class were vigorously singing they like, like, like, apples and bananas.
They didn’t realize the gray-haired man talking to their teacher was the state’s highest education official and that Kennedy was telling him what she likes — and doesn’t like —about the state of education in Kentucky.
State Commissioner of Education Terry Holliday spent the afternoon at Hager Elementary School on Monday in a belated visit to observe Hager’s designation as a 2009 Blue Ribbon School. He visited classrooms, talked to student groups and conferred with faculty while he was there.
“It’s nice to be able to talk to someone from Frankfort. We don’t get the opportunity that often,” said Kennedy, who discussed with Holliday the challenges of preparing her students to transition from the free-wheeling fun atmosphere of first grade to the more circumscribed arena that is second grade.
Visiting classrooms around the state brings Holliday a real-world perspective on Kentucky’s education system. “I like to ask teachers what we’re doing in Frankfort that’s getting in the way of teaching kids,” he said.
“I like to hear that,” said kindergarten teacher Dee Plummer, who talked to Holliday about parental involvement in getting students ready for school and about what Hager teachers would like from the state that they don’t have (more space, according to Plummer).
“We feel like we’re always at the mercy of higher forces, when we’re the ones in the trenches. Some of the decisions are made with the best of intentions but the philosophy doesn’t pan out in the process.”
Hager’s Blue Ribbon status makes its input particularly valuable, according to Holliday. “These are our role models,” he said. In visiting Blue Ribbon schools, he is interested in hearing how they address achievement gaps, the rising poverty rate and the challenges of students for whom English is a second language.
Hager’s Blue Ribbon status makes it one of 324 in the nation and just six in Kentucky to achieve the distinction in 2009.
Eligibility for the award was based on schools whose students are in the top 10 percent of the state on state tests and schools with at least 40 percent of their students from disadvantaged backgrounds that demonstrate dramatic improvements on state tests. Schools also have to make adequate yearly progress on federal accountability tests.
MIKE JAMES can be reached at mjames@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2652.
