Gov. Andy Beshear announced the 2023 Kentucky Teacher of the Year Tuesday in a live broadcast from Frankfort. Mandy Perez, a middle school teacher at Crittenden County Middle School, tearfully accepted the award.
“I love what I do, I love kids and I love teaching,” Perez said. “Teaching is the best profession in the world, and if you’re a teacher, you know that.”
Two Northern Kentucky educators were finalists for the award:
Newport Middle School teacher Nathaniel Green is among four semifinalists in the middle school Teacher of the Year category.
Highlands High School teacher Robin Kemp is one of four semifinalists in the high school teacher of the Year category.
The elementary teacher of the year winner was Kelly Gates, who teaches in Hopkins County; the middle school teacher of the year winner is Mandy Perez, who teaches in Crittenden County; and the high school teacher of the year winner is Amber Sergent, who teaches in Woodford County.
Semifinalists the for elementary Teacher of the Year were:
- Rebecca Brewer, Norton Commons Elementary School (Jefferson County)
- Kelly Gates, Pride Elementary School (Hopkins County)
- Amber Hays, Thelma B. Johnson Early Learning Center (Henderson County)
The middle school semifinalists were:
- Caitlin Buckley, Kentucky School for the Deaf
- Nathaniel Green, Newport High School (Newport Independent Schools)
- Danielle Hicks, Clinton County Middle School
- Mandy Perez, Crittenden County Middle School
The high school semifinalists were:
- Cathy Conley, Knott County Central High School
- Robin Kemp, Highlands High School (Fort Thomas Independent)
- Lauren Niemann, Fern Creek High School (Jefferson County)
- Amber L. Sergent, Woodford County High School
