Updates/News
2017 teacher recruitment class largest in TKY’s program history
This fall, 38 new teachers hailing from 20 states and 36 universities will launch their education careers in 24 different Louisville region high-needs middle and high schools.
These individuals were recruited by Teach Kentucky (TKY), a Louisville-based nonprofit organization that for 15 years has brought to the local community talented college graduates who demonstrate strong academic records and content knowledge in the subjects that they want to teach.
Representing the largest recruitment class in TKY’s history, these new teachers make up approximately 20% of Jefferson County Public Schools’ (JCPS) new middle and high school hires. They meet the district’s critical staffing needs – 62% are STEM content eligible and 34% are minority.
Upon their June 2017 arrival in Louisville, TKY’s new recruits immediately started a rigorous schedule of teacher training. They began classes at the University of Louisville’s College of Education and Human Development (U of L CEHD) in order to earn an alternative route Master in the Art of Teaching (MAT) degree. TKY’s new teachers make up approximately 75% of this program’s annual cohort.
Recruits receive additional instruction through TKY’s professional development program, the Summer Institute. Instruction covers a wide range of topics including classroom management techniques and lesson planning best practices. This year, TKY piloted mindfulness and compassion curriculum aimed at equipping new teachers with coping skills to combat the challenges faced by all first year educators. This initiative was made possible with support from the Humana Foundation and Gil and Augusta Holland.
Since its inception in 2001, Teach Kentucky has recruited 272 teachers from over 30 states to teach in Louisville’s high needs schools. Teachers frequently make long-term commitments to education careers and the Louisville area, which is demonstrated by TKY’s 80% retention rate. Thanks to the generous support of the region’s largest philanthropists such as the James Graham Brown and CE&S Foundations, TKY is increasing its impact on local schools through program expansion.
If you want to learn more about Teach Kentucky or are considering a donation to the organization, please contact Blake Johnson at or call the office at 502-458-0830.
