KEDC Grants

Rowan County Middle School ELEVATE GEAR UP students kicked off the summer with enrichment activities at Morehead State University Craft Academy and Space Science Center!

Herald Whitaker Middle School ELEVATE GEAR UP students visited UPike to experience college life firsthand during day 1 of their Summer Enrichment activities! Students explored campus, learned about future educational opportunities and were encouraged to dream big!

Harrison County Middle School ELEVATE GEAR UP students explored the Cincinnati Children’s Museum, engaging with interactive exhibits and making learning come alive. Experiences like these inspire curiosity and help students imagine their future possibilities!

Rockcastle County Middle School ELEVATE GEAR UP students spent the day at Newton’s Attic, exploring STEM through hands on learning, creativity, and teamwork. A great day of discovery and fun! 🚀

✨ Teacher Leader Spotlight ✨

EPIC Teacher Leader Dylan Richards of East Jessamine High School is embracing what it means to be a lifelong learner while helping students grow through meaningful civic and history instruction. 🇺🇸📚

Through his experience with EPIC, Dylan has strengthened his content knowledge, explored new instructional practices, and continued growing as an educator and leader. By implementing new strategies in his classroom and sharing valuable resources with colleagues, he is helping create engaging and impactful learning experiences for students.

We are proud to celebrate educators like Dylan who lead with curiosity, collaboration, and a commitment to continuous growth! 👏✨

Join us on June 4th from 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. for a full day of learning, collaboration, and practical strategies focused on:

✅ School Safety
✅ Climate & Culture
✅ School Mental Health

We’re excited to welcome keynote speakers Christian Moore and Dr. John Hodge!

There’s something for everyone — administrators, counselors, educators, mental health professionals, and school support staff.

🕗 Registration opens at 8:00 a.m.
📍 Sessions begin at 8:30 a.m.

Registration Link: https://MHGrants-May26.rsvpify.com

Do you have a strategy, lesson, classroom idea, tech tool, project, or experience that could inspire other educators? We’re looking for passionate presenters to join us for ⭐ Stars, Stripes & Strategy ⭐ this summer at Tates Creek High School in Lexington, KY!

We are currently seeking sessions in:

🏛️ America 250 & Civic Learning
📚 Language Arts
🌎 Social Studies
🎭 The Arts
💻 EdTech
➕ And more!

Whether you’re sharing a classroom success story, student engagement strategy, creative project, or innovative instructional approach — we’d love to hear from you.

📍 June 8–12, 2026
📍 Tates Creek High School | Lexington, KY

🔗 Apply here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf-KLUn-B-ctfR3PV9VDKkY4JSbYJrK3zhWy9RSaIKHIqUASQ/viewform?usp=header

Help us create a conference full of meaningful ideas, practical strategies, and educator-to-educator inspiration. 🎤⭐

👉🏼 Please note: Participants of Achieve, America’s Promise, EPIC, Passport to Learning, and Renaissance are not eligible to apply to present this year.

✨ Teacher Leader Spotlight ✨

America’s Promise Teacher Leader Sherrie Creech of Madison Southern High School continues to bring energy, curiosity, and innovation into her classroom through meaningful professional learning experiences. 🇺🇸📚

From using tools like Diffit to better differentiate instruction for students to helping colleagues discover new resources and strategies, Sherrie is turning learning into action. Her reflection on the importance of credible sources and combating misinformation highlights the powerful impact civic learning can have both inside and outside the classroom.

We are proud to celebrate educators like Sherrie who are committed to continuous growth, collaboration, and empowering students through engaging instruction. 👏✨