Local teachers named Valvoline Achievement winners

Two local teachers are vying for the honors of 2022 Kentucky Teacher of the Year.

Morgan Preston, a teacher at Corbin Middle School, and Jodie Carnes, a teacher at Lynn Camp High School, were named semifinalists in the respective middle school and high school divisions. 

Winners of the middle and high school Teacher of the Year awards, in addition to the overall 2022 Kentucky Teacher of the Year, will be announced in a virtual ceremony in September.

“Now more than ever, we are seeing how essential teachers are to not only the educational needs of our children, but also their social and emotional well-being,” said Kentucky Commissioner of Education Jason E. Glass. “These award-winning educators represent more than 42,000 of their colleagues who have done anything and everything to serve their students and ensure learning during these unpredictable times. I congratulate them and thank all Kentucky teachers for their outstanding efforts.”

Teachers were chosen based on their scores from the first round of judging, which was conducted by a blue-ribbon panel of veteran educators. 

Applications included nominees’ teaching philosophies, teaching experiences, involvement in their respective communities and letters of recommendation.

The 10 state semifinalists – four elementary, three middle and three high school – are among 24 educators in Kentucky who were named 2022 Valvoline™ Teacher Achievement Award winners. 

“We are honored to celebrate some of Kentucky’s most outstanding educators who have exhibited extraordinary resilience during this past year,” said Sam Mitchell, Valvoline’s chief executive officer. “Despite the difficulties they faced during a global pandemic, Kentucky’s teachers have continued to place their focus on educational excellence—and this year’s award winners exemplified this priority. Valvoline is pleased to celebrate and recognize these outstanding teachers.”   

Valvoline will provide the 24 recipients with cash awards. In addition, the three Kentucky Teachers of the Year will receive custom-designed glassware commemorating their accomplishments.

Judging was conducted in May by a blue-ribbon panel of veteran educators, many of whom have more than 25 years of teaching experience. 

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.