3 JCPS Teachers Win Valvoline Achievement Awards

Recipients will go on to compete for 2021 Kentucky Teacher of the Year

July 17, 2020 – Three teachers from Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) have been selected for 2021 Valvoline Teacher Achievement Awards (TAA), the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) announced this week.  The three are among 24 teachers throughout the state who were awarded the distinction; they will go on to compete for the 2021 Kentucky Teacher of the Year Award, which will be announced in October.

Award recipients are:

  • Johanna Parr, from Klondike Lane Elementary;
  • Laura Peavley, from Westport Middle; and
  • Scott Wade, from Newcomer Academy

“It’s always rewarding to be recognized for excellence in your field, but when that field is teaching our young people, the award takes on a special significance,” JCPS Superintendent Dr. Marty Pollio said.  “I want to congratulate all the award recipients – I know you do the jobs that you do not for the accolades, but for the love of teaching, and that makes the real winners our students whose lives you touch.”

A record number of nominations were received this year for the awards, according to KDE, with more than 2,800 nominations followed by 208 applications.

All 24 teachers will be honored at a yet-to-be finalized event in the fall. At that time the Kentucky Elementary, Middle and High School Teachers of the Year will be announced. From this group of three finalists, the Kentucky Teacher of the Year will be named and will represent the state in the National Teacher of the Year competition.

Valvoline, an independent, publicly traded company with its world headquarters in Lexington, is a proud sponsor of the Teacher Achievement Awards and the Kentucky Teacher of the Year programs.