About Teach Kentucky
Our Program
For 25 years, Teach Kentucky has recruited, supported, and retained passionate educators for Kentucky public schools — and built careers and community that last.
Our Mission
Recruit. Support. Retain.
Teach Kentucky seeks to recruit highly motivated, talented, and qualified college graduates to teach in Kentucky public schools, enhancing the quality of students’ education and contributing to our growing community.
Why We Exist
Kentucky Needs Great Teachers
Participation in traditional teacher programs has declined for several years. TKY was built to address this gap. We’re connecting talented graduates with Kentucky’s Option 6 Alternative Route Certification pathway.
of alumni are still teaching in Kentucky
How It Works
From Recruitment to Classroom and Beyond
01
National Recruitment
Student are recruited from 1,200+ campuses nationwide. We find candidates with strong academic credentials and a genuine desire to teach.
02
Summer Institute
Six-week pre-service training led by veteran TKY educators. Lessons include classroom management, cultural awareness, and evidence-based instruction.
03
Teacher Certification
Earn your MAT through our university partners while teaching full-time in JCPS. Our alumni have earned over 400 MAT degrees earned to date.
04
Ongoing Support
Individualized coaching, classroom feedback, and a Retired Teacher Advocate (RTA) mentor matched with every participant for ongoing support and development.
National Service
Teach Kentucky is an AmeriCorps Program
Through our partnership with Serve Kentucky, TKY participants can access the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award, up to $14,000 toward their MAT degree.
Segal Education Award
$14,000
toward your MAT degree
The Team
The People Behind Teach Kentucky
Mia Cooper
Executive Director
Mia's Bio ➞
Mia Cooper joins Teach Kentucky as Executive Director with more than 20 years of leadership experience in education, nonprofit management, community engagement, and organizational development. Most recently, she served as Vice President of Mission and Community at Sacred Heart Schools in Louisville, where she oversaw leadership development, community engagement, and mission integration across four schools and administrative services.
Throughout her career, Mia has led initiatives focused on educational excellence, equitable access, and community impact. Her previous leadership roles include directing Head Start programming in Jefferson County and managing early childhood education initiatives at Metro United Way — work that reflects a lifelong commitment to expanding opportunity through education.
Known for her collaborative leadership style and people-centered approach, Mia brings extensive experience in strategic planning, board engagement, community partnerships, and organizational stewardship. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Education from Indiana University Southeast and is currently pursuing an MBA in Nonprofit Leadership Management at Murray State University.
As she steps into her role at Teach Kentucky, Mia is eager to build on the remarkable foundation Rowan Claypool established over 25 years — deepening the organization’s impact in Louisville and supporting its expansion across the Commonwealth through the new TKY @ Georgetown College partnership. She is committed to honoring what makes Teach Kentucky special: its culture of mentorship, connection, and unwavering support for educators inside and outside the classroom.
Kristen Garner
Dir. Communications & Operations
Kristen's Bio ➞
Kristen serves as the Director of Operations and Communications for Teach Kentucky. She graduated from Southern Illinois University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, but has spent most of her career working in nonprofit organizations — work that reflects her passion for mission-driven community impact.
After relocating to Louisville in 2022, Kristen joined the Teach Kentucky team in 2023 and quickly developed a deep appreciation for the city she now proudly calls home. She enjoys helping recruit and welcome new teachers to Louisville while connecting them to the community and opportunities the city has to offer.
Kristen plays a pivotal role in Teach Kentucky’s recruitment efforts and the day-to-day operations that keep the organization running smoothly. From communications and events to program logistics and behind-the-scenes coordination, she helps support both participants and staff throughout the year.
Bonnie Baragary
Program Director
Bonnie's Bio ➞
Bonnie has been part of the Teach Kentucky staff since 2023 and plays a key role in supporting teachers throughout their certification journey. She leads Teach Kentucky’s Summer Institute and works closely with participants during their two years in the program through mentoring, classroom visits, observations, and ongoing support.
Bonnie first joined the Teach Kentucky community in 2016 as a Teach Kentucky social studies teacher. She taught and served as an instructional coach at Robert Frost 6th Grade Academy (now Stuart Academy) before later teaching at Southern High School. Her firsthand experience as both a classroom teacher and instructional coach helps her provide practical guidance and encouragement to new educators as they begin their careers.
Teach Kentucky has also been an important part of Bonnie’s personal life. Her husband, Jason, was a member of Teach Kentucky’s 2011 cohort and now serves as a principal in Bullitt County. In 2024, Bonnie and Jason welcomed their first child, Eloise.
After relocating to Louisville in 2022, Kristen joined the Teach Kentucky team in 2023 and quickly developed a deep appreciation for the city she now proudly calls home. She enjoys helping recruit and welcome new teachers to Louisville while connecting them to the community and opportunities the city has to offer.
Kristen plays a pivotal role in Teach Kentucky’s recruitment efforts and the day-to-day operations that keep the organization running smoothly. From communications and events to program logistics and behind-the-scenes coordination, she helps support both participants and staff throughout the year.
Leadership
Board of Directors
Bryan Warren Chair
Executive Director, Educational Justice
Barry Methner Vice Chair
New York Life · Retired Teacher, Noe Middle School
Emily Uckotter Treasurer
Supervisor, Jones Nale & Mattingly PLC
Kate Grindon, PhD Secretary
Principal, Noe Middle School (JCPS)
John Fendig
Senior Counsel, PPL Services / LG&E and KU
Carl L. Williams Sr.
President & CEO, 20/Twenty Strategic Consultants
Emily Wilson
VP Partnerships & Engagement, Collaborative for Teaching & Learning
Ryan Keith
Local Markets Counsel, Aetna: a CVS Health Company
John Weber
Commercial Real Estate Attorney, Holland & Knight
Kush Doshi
Head of M&A / Sr. Director Corporate Development, Brown-Forman
“The support from Teach Kentucky has been instrumental in my decision to join the program and in my success as a new teacher.”
— Joseph Llamas
TKY Teacher, Jefferson County Public Schools
Our History
25 Years of Building Classrooms, Careers & Community
Founded in 2001 by Rowan Claypool, Teach Kentucky is an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to recruiting, supporting, and retaining passionate educators for Kentucky public schools.
Teach Kentucky serves as the connecting force that brings together the many pieces of Kentucky’s Option 6 Alternative Route Teacher Certification process. We work alongside school districts, universities, and community partners to help aspiring teachers successfully transition into the classroom while earning their certification and graduate degree.
For more than 25 years, Teach Kentucky has partnered with Jefferson County Public Schools, the University of Louisville, Spalding University, and Asbury University to place teachers in Louisville-area schools. Beginning in 2026, Teach Kentucky will expand through a partnership with Georgetown College, allowing us to support teachers and school districts across the Commonwealth of Kentucky outside of Jefferson County.
What started with just two teacher candidates in 2001 has grown into a program that has recruited and supported nearly 600 teachers. Today, Teach Kentucky welcomes a new cohort of educators each year from across Kentucky and the nation.
Teach Kentucky is also an AmeriCorps program through our partnership with Serve Kentucky. Participants serve as part of a professional corps committed to strengthening schools and communities through education. In addition to teaching full-time in public schools, participants engage in professional development, service, and community involvement while building long-term careers in education. Eligible participants also have access to the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award to help support future educational expenses.
Beyond recruitment and certification, Teach Kentucky focuses on helping teachers build community and connection in the places where they live and teach. Our participants become part of a strong support network designed to help new teachers succeed both professionally and personally.
Teach Kentucky’s work is made possible through partnerships with local philanthropic foundations, private donors, community supporters, and Class Act Federal Credit Union.
Rowan Claypool
Founder & President
Rowan's Bio ➞
Rowan Claypool founded Teach Kentucky in 2001 with a vision of attracting talented, passionate individuals to Louisville and helping them build meaningful lives and careers through education. Over the past 25 years, he has helped grow Teach Kentucky from a small pilot program into an organization that has recruited and supported nearly 600 teachers serving students across Kentucky.
A lifelong entrepreneur and community builder, Rowan has dedicated much of his career to finding creative ways to strengthen Louisville and invest in the people who choose to call it home. He believes that talented, committed people have the power to transform schools, communities, and entire cities.
Under Rowan’s leadership, Teach Kentucky became more than a teacher recruitment organization. It developed into a strong community focused on mentorship, connection, and long-term support for educators both inside and outside the classroom.
As Teach Kentucky celebrates its 25th anniversary, Rowan is preparing to retire from his role as President in Fall 2026. He looks forward to spending more time with his wife, Melanie, traveling, and visiting their sons and three grandchildren. While stepping away from day-to-day leadership, Rowan plans to remain actively involved in the Teach Kentucky community that he helped build.
