Marshall County Technical Center agriculture teacher and FFA advisor Jourdan Palmeri was named a top 10 finalist for a new statewide award recognizing exceptional high school educators whose work transforms the lives of students and strengthens Kentucky’s future. The Edward F. Prichard, Jr.; Dr. Lee Kirkpatrick; Miss Zerelda Noland Outstanding High School Teacher Prize is presented by the Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence.
The prize honors the legacy of Edward F. Prichard, Jr., founding chair of the Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence; Dr. Lee Kirkpatrick, who served as superintendent of Paris Independent Schools from 1918 to 1953; and Miss Zerelda Noland, the beloved Paris High School teacher whom Mr. Prichard and generations of her students regarded as one of the most influential educators in their lives.
The Edward F. Prichard, Jr.; Dr. Lee Kirkpatrick; Miss Zerelda Noland Outstanding High School Teacher Prize was established to celebrate exceptional educators whose excellence in teaching, leadership and commitment to students reflects the enduring values exemplified by the award’s namesakes. By recognizing outstanding high school teachers and investing in their schools, the prize seeks to elevate the teaching profession and inspire excellence across the Commonwealth.
“Finding out that I was nominated for this award was both flattering and humbling,” Palmeri said. “The award was inspired by an educator who students thought of as an extremely influential educator in their lives, and I was ecstatic to be considered an educator that has had that kind of impact on students in our community. I consider it a privilege and an honor to work with Marshall County students every day, alongside many other wonderful educators in our own community who work diligently to elevate and enrich the lives of our students.”
The top prize ultimately went to Dr. Amber Sergent, a history teacher at Woodford County High School.
Joining Palmeri as a top 10 finalist were:
○ Luke Glaser, Hazard High School
○ Denise Henson, Holmes High School
○ Susannah Kilbourne, Fern Creek High School
○ Christopher Manker, Campbell County High School
○ Allison Slone, Rowan Academy
○ Garris Stroud, Muhlenberg County High School
○ Bryan Wilson, Fayette County STEAM Academy
○ Chelsie Wolfe, Clay County High School