Officers
President, Advocacy & Networking Committee
Jana Bryant, NBCT is the district math instructional coach for Daviess County Public Schools in Owensboro, Kentucky and is a National Board-Certified Teacher in mathematics. Jana has been a member of the KEA NBCT Professional Learning Facilitation Group, an NBCT mentor, and previously a board member at large for the KY NBCT Network. She serves as an EdReports Klawe Lead Fellow, a reviewer for EdReports and Rivet, and was a Standards Advocate with Student Achievement Partners in the role of Kentucky State Captain. She is passionate about advancing high quality instructional practices and finding ways to develop state and national leadership teams that have a pulse on the needs and concerns of teachers, students, and their families. @JanaBryant14.
Jana Bryant, NBCT is the district math instructional coach for Daviess County Public Schools in Owensboro, Kentucky and is a National Board-Certified Teacher in mathematics. Jana has been a member of the KEA NBCT Professional Learning Facilitation Group, an NBCT mentor, and previously a board member at large for the KY NBCT Network. She serves as an EdReports Klawe Lead Fellow, a reviewer for EdReports and Rivet, and was a Standards Advocate with Student Achievement Partners in the role of Kentucky State Captain. She is passionate about advancing high quality instructional practices and finding ways to develop state and national leadership teams that have a pulse on the needs and concerns of teachers, students, and their families. @JanaBryant14.
President-Elect, Nominating & Membership Committee Chair
Lisa Hanson, NBCT is an Early Childhood Generalist National Board Certified Teacher and has been an educator since 1999. She is currently a fourth-grade teacher at Northern Elementary in Scott County, where she actively coaches the Academic Team and serves on various committees. She served as the Public Relations and Communications Committee Chairperson for the KY NBCT Network and also served on its Board of Directors. Lisa was recently honored as the 2022 Kentucky Education Association Teacher of the Year. She was a 2021 GoTeachKY Ambassador and was inducted last year into Alpha Delta Kappa, an international honorary organization for women educators. Lisa is excited to continue working with this network of amazing teachers and boost the engagement of National Board teachers and candidates. @lhansonz
Lisa Hanson, NBCT is an Early Childhood Generalist National Board Certified Teacher and has been an educator since 1999. She is currently a fourth-grade teacher at Northern Elementary in Scott County, where she actively coaches the Academic Team and serves on various committees. She served as the Public Relations and Communications Committee Chairperson for the KY NBCT Network and also served on its Board of Directors. Lisa was recently honored as the 2022 Kentucky Education Association Teacher of the Year. She was a 2021 GoTeachKY Ambassador and was inducted last year into Alpha Delta Kappa, an international honorary organization for women educators. Lisa is excited to continue working with this network of amazing teachers and boost the engagement of National Board teachers and candidates. @lhansonz
Secretary
Ashley Moody Smith, NBCT is a Jefferson County Public School English as a Second Language teacher with a passion for language learners, equity over equality, and viewing every day as a new day to learn something new. Serving in a CSI school, she works with some of the state’s highest need learners and families while mentoring teachers across the country through the National Board Learning Core program. She is certified in the area of Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages for National Boards and has served as a Standards Expert for the WIDA consortium and on the Bias, Sensitivity, and Content Review panel for the WIDA ACCESS for ELLs assessments through the Center for Applied Linguistics. Within her school she has earned the Lighthouse Award and Productive Collaborator for her success in synergizing with others. She has experience serving on School- Based Decision-Making Councils, Leadership Environment committee, KDE standards alignment, teacher candidate supporting teacher, and participating in the Bellarmine University Literacy Project. Outside of teaching, she loves gardening projects, going for walks with her two sons, and making digital scrapbooks.
Ashley Moody Smith, NBCT is a Jefferson County Public School English as a Second Language teacher with a passion for language learners, equity over equality, and viewing every day as a new day to learn something new. Serving in a CSI school, she works with some of the state’s highest need learners and families while mentoring teachers across the country through the National Board Learning Core program. She is certified in the area of Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages for National Boards and has served as a Standards Expert for the WIDA consortium and on the Bias, Sensitivity, and Content Review panel for the WIDA ACCESS for ELLs assessments through the Center for Applied Linguistics. Within her school she has earned the Lighthouse Award and Productive Collaborator for her success in synergizing with others. She has experience serving on School- Based Decision-Making Councils, Leadership Environment committee, KDE standards alignment, teacher candidate supporting teacher, and participating in the Bellarmine University Literacy Project. Outside of teaching, she loves gardening projects, going for walks with her two sons, and making digital scrapbooks.
Treasurer
Holly Bloodworth, NBCT was the 2014 Kentucky Teacher of the Year and currently serves on the Kentucky Board of Education. She taught primary students for 30 years in the Murray Independent Schools and was a literacy consultant with the West Kentucky Educational Cooperative, and is currently a full time faculty member at Murray State University teaching in the College of Education and Human Services. Holly also co-directs the Kentucky Reading Project through Murray State University and supports teachers pursuing National Board Certification. Holly also serves the community of Murray in many ways such as serving as a board member for the Ethics Commission and in community theater. She also distributes books in the summer in the park. @hbloodworthH
Holly Bloodworth, NBCT was the 2014 Kentucky Teacher of the Year and currently serves on the Kentucky Board of Education. She taught primary students for 30 years in the Murray Independent Schools and was a literacy consultant with the West Kentucky Educational Cooperative, and is currently a full time faculty member at Murray State University teaching in the College of Education and Human Services. Holly also co-directs the Kentucky Reading Project through Murray State University and supports teachers pursuing National Board Certification. Holly also serves the community of Murray in many ways such as serving as a board member for the Ethics Commission and in community theater. She also distributes books in the summer in the park. @hbloodworthH
Board of Directors - 2nd Year of Service
Tonya Cabral, NBCT in Adolescent/Young Adult Literacy (AYA) and has been an ELA/English Teacher for 11 years in both high school and middle school. She recently earned her ESL certification and is beginning the maintenance of NBCT certification this fall. She teaches at Meyzeek Middle School in Jefferson County Public Schools where she runs Beta Club and Debate Team. She is excited to serve you on the Board of Directors to help grow our strong KY NBCT Network.
Kate Grindon, PhD, NBCT is the Director of Instruction at Southern High School in Louisville, KY (JCPS). Now finishing her 18th year in education, she earned her National Board Certification in Early Adolescent English/Language Arts in 2007 and renewed her certification in 2016. She served as an NBCT candidate Professional Learning Facilitator for 10 years, and has led the professional learning workshop series for Jefferson County NBCT candidates since 2015. In her current role, Grindon leads Southern High School’s work as a National Board Professional Learning Pilot School. Grindon earned her PhD in curriculum and instruction from the University of Louisville, where she is a member of the adjunct faculty teaching courses in English/Language Arts methods, disciplinary literacy, teacher leadership, and coaching. She is also certified as both a Literacy Design Collaborative Expert Coach and Cognitive Coach. @KateGrindon
Erin Kenney, NBCT in the area of Exceptional Needs Specialist-Early Childhood through Young Adulthood-Mild/Moderate Disabilities. This is her 21st year of teaching high school math in JCPS. She is currently teaching at Fern Creek High School, where she also serves as a member of the SBDM council. She achieved certification in 2017 and is working on her Maintenance of Certification this spring. She is excited to join the Network Board of Directors to further support current NBCT’s and future candidates.
Jennifer Miescke, NBCT has been an ESL teacher in JCPS for 11 years. She is currently an ESL Resource Teacher at Olmsted Academy South, where she serves in a hybrid role teaching and instructional coaching. Jennifer received her National Board Certification in English as a New Language in 2017. She has served on the KYNBCT Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee since the summer of 2021, and as a Professional Learning Facilitator supporting JCPS National Boards candidates since 2018.
Daphne Woolridge is a Jefferson County Public School English teacher, certified for 5-12 and currently working with 6th graders. While this is her 2nd year teaching she is eager to learn more about professional organizations like the Kentucky NBCT Network to develop her practice. Upon graduation from the University of Louisville with a B.S. is English Education, 5-12 Certification she began working at the Lyman T. Johnson Traditional Middle School. While working at Johnson Traditional Middle School she has served as the detention coordinator, building union representative, team lead, racial equity envoy and educational mentor. She is currently in the last year of her Masters degree through Spalding University in the College of Education pursuing a M.Ed in Teacher Leadership and CBL Specialization. She has recently been awarded the 2023 Middle School Teacher of the Year at the Educators of Color Celebration and Certification of Completion & Implementation of the Modern Classroom Project Model. Currently she is working on completing her National Board Certification Process.
Board of Directors - 1st Year of Service
Laura Ferguson, NBCT is a middle school math and language arts teacher at Lyon County Middle School in Eddyville, KY. She is a National Board Certified Teacher in Reading Literacy. Laura is a proud Murray State University alumni where she received both her B.S. and M.A. degrees. She serves in numerous roles around her district including serving as a Gifted and Talented teacher, Student Technology Leadership Program (STLP) coach, and mentor to other teachers seeking National Board Certification. During the 2021-2022 school year, Laura was selected to serve as a GoTeach KY Ambassador to encourage others to pursue teaching as a career. Laura always looks for opportunities to represent her small school district on state and national levels.
Ashli Gore, NBCT is the Library Media Specialist for Marshall County in Murray, Kentucky. Ashli has over 20 years classroom teaching experience in Business and Marketing ED and Library Media, serving as STC for 15 years. Ashli served on the Grades 3-5 Kentucky Bluegrass Award Reader and Selection committees for several years to increase her knowledge of current and diverse literature to better serve students across the Commonwealth. Since achieving certification, Ashli has given back to the teaching profession by participating in NBPTS Item Analysis, Review Content Advisory Committee, serving as a National Board Assessor in Library Media, and helping countless local and nationwide candidates pursuing Initial Certification and Maintenance of Certification across a variety of certification areas. She currently works with the NBPTS Accelerate Accomplished Teaching: Kentucky (pilot program) to guide early career teachers Years 1-3 to certification.
Dr. Angela Gunter, NBCT is the District Literacy Instructional Coach and Gifted & Talented Coordinator for Daviess County Public Schools. She also serves as a Cohort Facilitator and Literacy Cadre Leader for GRREC ED and is an adjunct in the Education department at Western Kentucky University. A past President of the Kentucky Council of Teachers of English and state ELA Lead for Student Achievement Partners, Angie has worked in several roles connected to professional learning across the state including CTEPS, the National Math and Science Initiative, Hope Street Teacher Fellows, and the Literacy Design Collaborative. Angie is a longtime supporter of National Board certification and worked with the KY NBCT Network board to help shape its bylaws. She has been an NBCT candidate support provider/professional learning coach since 2015 and has worked with teachers in 14 of the 16 certification areas at various developmental levels.
Pamela Hambrick, NBCT is the Principal of Mary G. Hogsett Primary School, serving students preschool through first grade in the Danville Independent School District. Pamela has spent a large portion of her career supporting early educators through student teaching and various mentoring programs. She has and continues to support National Board candidates in Initial Certification and Maintenance of Certification in various certification areas.
Noraa Ransey, NBCT is a first grade teacher at Calloway County Schools. She is completing her 19th year which includes work in first, second, third, and a combo class of 2nd/3rd grade. She received initial certification in Literacy (ages 3-12) through the new NBCT process and recently received her MOC. She enjoys mentoring candidates in the early educators project with NBCT and KDE. She also mentors candidates through NAME: promoting the certification of teachers of color. She just completed a project with National Boards in DC which reviewed and revised the diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging NB standards. She does many activities she calls leading from the classroom. More than anything professionally she loves being an educator creating lifelong memories and learning experiences for her students and families.
Public Relations & Communications Committee (Chairpersons: Ashley Moody Smith and Ashli Gore)
Purpose: Amplify the Network & National Board messaging via social media and email; promote and celebrate our work through storytelling about the accomplishments of Kentucky NBCTs
Advocacy & Networking Committee (Chairperson: Jana Bryant)
Purpose: Engage with legislators, policymakers, and allies to promote National Board Network interests; mobilize NBCTs to engage with legislators and policymakers; build relationship with other organizations
Candidate Recruitment & Support Committee (Chairperson: Dr. Lynn Hines, WKU)
Purpose: Engage teachers in the National Board process, develop and share systems of support for candidates.
Dr. Hines was the first National Board Certified Teacher in the state of Kentucky, earning her certificate in the area of Early Adolescence English Language Arts in 1995; she was also the first to renew and also the first to renew a second time. She is currently a Professional-in-Residence in the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences at Western Kentucky University, where now Hines will be dedicating 100% of her time to the work of NBPTS district liaison, recruitment, support, and NBPTS graduate course development. Hines has lobbied for state teacher incentives and initiatives, was a member of the committee to develop a manual for candidate support, served as a NBPTS trainer for Candidate Support Providers nationwide, has provided support services to over 3,000 NBPTS candidates, and acts as a consultant and liaison with state and national school districts. Of note, Dr. Hines wrote a workbook for candidates “A Toolkit for Success” that went to a third edition and has been used in many states.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee (Chairperson: Noraa Ransey)
Purpose: Increase outreach, engagement, and support with National Board resources, candidacy, and leadership among teachers in targeted demographic groups.
Nominating & Membership Committee (Chairperson: Lisa Hanson)
Purpose: Manage the process for nominating leadership within the Network; manage the process for new members to join the Network
Past Presidents and others noteworthy contributions to our networks history:
Sarah Yost, NBCT earned her initial National Board certification in the area of Early Adolescent ELA in 2013 and maintained her certification in 2022. During the NT3 grant, Yost provided guidance on school-level innovations for how to use National Board resources and then worked to replicate this on a national scale. As our third Network President, Sarah made connections with other states, advocated for the law allowing teachers to earn a Rank II for their successful National Board certification in Kentucky, and took our network to new levels by creating a DEI committee. Sarah served on the Kentucky Early Career NBCT Pilot design team, again innovating to test ideas that will be spread across the nation. Sarah currently serves as a PLF and instructional coach in Jefferson County.
Crystal Culp, NBCT One of the founding members and a past KY NBCT Network president , Crystal Culp is a U.S. Air Force veteran, and has 26 years of teaching experience, all in alternative education. In 2004, she was the first teacher nationwide to earn National Board certification while teaching in a juvenile detention facility, and renewed that certification in 2014. She created a National Board Academy within the McCracken County School District, which supports up to 10 candidates each year. Through that academy and other organizations, she works to ensure that National Board candidates receive the support they need for successful certification, including support to NBCTs with Maintenance of Certification training both virtually and in-person. In 2012, Crystal was names the Kentucky Educational Collaborative for State Agency Children's Teacher of the Year. In 2016, she was named KEA Teacher of the Year. She has served on the Kentucky Department of Education Commissioner's Teacher Advisory Committee. Most recently she was chosen as a Classroom Management Trainer for the Center for Teacher Effectiveness, and to participate in the University of Kentucky's 2022-2023 Holocaust Education Initiative sponsored by the Jewish Heritage Foundation.
Holly Bloodworth, NBCT is one of the founding members and served as the first president of the Kentucky NBCT Network. She worked with the Kentucky Network to Transform Teaching (NT3) and as a Teacher Leader on Special Assignment with the Kentucky Department of Education and currently serves as treasurer.
Suzanne Farmer, NBCT served as the Kentucky Director of the Network to Transform Teaching (NT3), a project with the National Board and 10 states, for the duration of the four year grant. During that time, she created resources with teachers, schools, and districts to improve professional learning through National Board resources. As the Director of NT3, Suzanne helped facilitate the creation of the KY NBCT Network. She is currently applying her expertise to her passion for equity and early childhood as the Principal of Hogsett Primary in the Danville Independent Schools.
Sarah Yost, NBCT earned her initial National Board certification in the area of Early Adolescent ELA in 2013 and maintained her certification in 2022. During the NT3 grant, Yost provided guidance on school-level innovations for how to use National Board resources and then worked to replicate this on a national scale. As our third Network President, Sarah made connections with other states, advocated for the law allowing teachers to earn a Rank II for their successful National Board certification in Kentucky, and took our network to new levels by creating a DEI committee. Sarah served on the Kentucky Early Career NBCT Pilot design team, again innovating to test ideas that will be spread across the nation. Sarah currently serves as a PLF and instructional coach in Jefferson County.
Crystal Culp, NBCT One of the founding members and a past KY NBCT Network president , Crystal Culp is a U.S. Air Force veteran, and has 26 years of teaching experience, all in alternative education. In 2004, she was the first teacher nationwide to earn National Board certification while teaching in a juvenile detention facility, and renewed that certification in 2014. She created a National Board Academy within the McCracken County School District, which supports up to 10 candidates each year. Through that academy and other organizations, she works to ensure that National Board candidates receive the support they need for successful certification, including support to NBCTs with Maintenance of Certification training both virtually and in-person. In 2012, Crystal was names the Kentucky Educational Collaborative for State Agency Children's Teacher of the Year. In 2016, she was named KEA Teacher of the Year. She has served on the Kentucky Department of Education Commissioner's Teacher Advisory Committee. Most recently she was chosen as a Classroom Management Trainer for the Center for Teacher Effectiveness, and to participate in the University of Kentucky's 2022-2023 Holocaust Education Initiative sponsored by the Jewish Heritage Foundation.
Holly Bloodworth, NBCT is one of the founding members and served as the first president of the Kentucky NBCT Network. She worked with the Kentucky Network to Transform Teaching (NT3) and as a Teacher Leader on Special Assignment with the Kentucky Department of Education and currently serves as treasurer.
Suzanne Farmer, NBCT served as the Kentucky Director of the Network to Transform Teaching (NT3), a project with the National Board and 10 states, for the duration of the four year grant. During that time, she created resources with teachers, schools, and districts to improve professional learning through National Board resources. As the Director of NT3, Suzanne helped facilitate the creation of the KY NBCT Network. She is currently applying her expertise to her passion for equity and early childhood as the Principal of Hogsett Primary in the Danville Independent Schools.