The LINK nky Educator of the Week contest recognizes and celebrates the incredible educators who go above and beyond for Northern Kentucky students every day.
Each week, we will choose three nominees who have made an impact on their community and who represent a diverse mix of roles, grade levels, subject areas, school types and geographic locations.
LINK nky’s Educator of the Week is sponsored by Gateway Community & Technical College. Each weekly winner will advance to the Educator of the Semester contest, where readers will vote to select one outstanding educator to receive a $100 gift card from Gateway to help purchase classroom supplies, decorations and other school essentials.
Click here for a full list of official rules and to nominate an educator.
The Educators
Educator: Kirsten Gross
Role: Teacher at Turkey Foot Middle School
Nominators: Mylah Daniels
Why Daniels nominated Gross:
Mrs. Gross is one of Turkey Foot’s amazing guidance counselors. She always makes kids feel loved, and she brings the energy every day!
Even though she has kids of her own, she treats everyone like her own. Having her at the school is a major help, and that is why I nominated Kirsten Gross for Educator of the Week.
Educator: Hannah Brett
Role: Teacher at White’s Tower Elementary School
Nominator: Kimberly Crittendon
Why Crittendon nominated Brett:
Ms. Brett is an amazing educator in her 13th year of teaching. She takes the time to get to know her students not only as their teacher but as someone they feel safe with and lets them know they can come to her for anything.
She is an excellent resource for newer teachers as well and is very well respected by her peers. When she’s not teaching, she loves spending time with her daughter and boyfriend on their farm, taking care of the cows & chickens!!
Educator: Carina Roark
Role: Teacher at Longbranch Elementary School
Nominator: Ellen Silvers
Why Silvers nominated Roark:
Mrs. Roark is probably the best teacher I’ve ever had.
She wanted to know our capabilities, but she also wanted to know us. She’s kind and supportive, funny and compassionate. She creates fun projects and gives out candy! In fifth grade, the year after I was in her class, she let me come help out with her class. I would tell her fourth graders about fifth grade math, and she encouraged her kids to learn more.
She also encourages creativity! I remember we were doing this writing project where we were supposed to write a story about people in the… Middle East? I think? It was historical fiction. Anyways, I had a lot to say, and I SAID. She really liked it and told me I should do more! I don’t think she knew how much that meant to me.
I sometimes wish I could go back to elementary school just to be in her class again. She really helped me with my learning, and I think being in her class made me what I am today. So, thank you, Mrs. Roark! I am so glad you were my teacher!
Now it’s time to vote
Voting closes at 3 p.m. on Oct. 12.
Vote as often as you like! There’s no limit to how many times you can show support for your favorite educator during the week.
Share the voting link with friends, family, students and coworkers — the more people who know about your nominee, the more votes they can earn!
LINK nky encourages friendly competition and community spirit. We want to see entire classrooms, schools and neighborhoods rally behind their favorite educators.
