In December, we announced our Educator of the Week feature, highlighting a new educator each week who has made a difference in the lives of Northern Kentucky students.
At LINK nky, we believe that educators – whether they are teachers or principals, tutors or superintendents – are at the heart of our community’s success. The Educator of the Week contest is our way of recognizing and celebrating the incredible educators who go above and beyond for Northern Kentucky students every day.
By highlighting their dedication, creativity, and impact, we hope to shine a light on the important role educators play in shaping the future—and to give our community a chance to show its appreciation for the people who make a lasting difference in our classrooms.
We’ve had lots nominations come in, and now it’s time to start voting!
Each week, we will chose 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.
Click here for a full list of official rules and to nominate an educator.
The Educators
Educator: Pam Ollier
Role: Assistant principal at St. Timothy in Union, retired from teaching math at Gray Middle School
Nominator: Dana Ollier
Reason Dana Ollier nominated Pam Ollier:
After 30 years teaching Math at Gray Middle School, Pam is now retired from teaching, but she certainly hasn’t retired from education: She is now the assistant principal at St. Timothy Catholic School in Union.
Educator: Emily Klopp
Role: Fifth-grade teacher at Crossroads Elementary in Cold Spring
Nominator: Kim Visse
Why Visse Nominated Klopp:
I am nominating Emily Klopp for Northern Kentucky Teacher of the Week because she consistently exemplifies excellence in teaching, leadership and dedication to students. Emily is a fifth-grade teacher and team leader at Crossroads Elementary with 21 years of experience and a proven ability to motivate students academically, socially, and emotionally. Her impact is evident not only in student achievement, but also in the confidence and perseverance her students develop under her guidance.
Emily teaches math and social studies with purpose, hands on activies and passion, making learning relevant and engaging for students. She continues to set high expectations while providing the encouragement and support students need to be successful. Emily motivates learners by helping them believe in themselves, celebrating growth, and reinforcing the value of effort and persistence. Her strong instructional practices, combined with thoughtful use of data and differentiation, ensure that all students are challenged and supported. Students in her classroom feel safe to take risks, ask questions, and grow as learners.
As a team leader, Emily is a trusted and respected colleague who models collaboration and professionalism. She supports her grade-level team through instructional planning, data analysis, and shared problem-solving, always keeping student success at the center of decisions. Her leadership is calm, steady, and student-focused, making her an invaluable asset to Crossroads Elementary.
Emily’s influence extends beyond her classroom through mentorship and service. She has mentored four student teachers and more than ten practicum students, providing meaningful guidance and modeling best practices for future educators. Her service on the School-Based Decision Making (SBDM) council reflects her commitment to school improvement and shared leadership. Additionally, Emily’s involvement as a coach for Girls on the Run and sponsor of the Drama Club allows her to motivate students outside the classroom by building confidence, teamwork, creativity, and leadership skills.
I believe that what truly sets Emily apart is her genuine care for students and willingness to do whatever is needed to support her students and team. She builds strong relationships, ensures every child feels valued, and creates a classroom culture rooted in respect and belonging. Emily goes above and beyond each day because she believes deeply in her students and inthe ability for education to change their lives. Her dedication, experience, and positive influence on students and colleagues make her highly deserving of recognition. I proudly nominate Emily Klopp for Northern Kentucky Educator of the Week.
Educator: Shawna Harney
Role: Chief Academic Officer at Kenton County Schools
Nominator: Henry Webb
Why Webb nominated Harney:
On any given day, Dr. Shawna Harney can be found celebrating student milestones, leading professional growth for staff, or navigating complex crisis communications. As the Chief Academic Officer for the Kenton County School District—the sixth-largest in Kentucky—Dr. Shawna Harney oversees a vast academic structure with a level of dedication that reflects her 27 years of service.
A proud product of the district herself, she leads with integrity, academic urgency, and a “student-first” philosophy that has transformed the lives of over 14,000 students.
Dr. Shawna Harney has been instrumental in helping schools “name and claim” every student. This mission is most evident in her design and implementation of the Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS). By drilling down into academic and behavior data, Dr. Shawna Harney has moved the district toward a “World Class” standard, ensuring that no child falls through the cracks. Her ability to ask tough questions and engage in critical conversations has fostered a positive culture where staff feel empowered and students feel safe.
Her leadership extends across a diverse portfolio, supervising assistant superintendents, special education, instructional technology, health services, and the crisis team. She is a builder of capacity; she doesn’t just review data—she teaches her teams how to apply that data to improve classroom outcomes.
Beyond the classroom, Dr. Shawna Harney has been an instrumental leader for the KCSD Community Based Accountability System. She brings together parents, students, and community stakeholders to ensure transparency and collaboration. Her communication skills are inspirational within the district; she personally crafts the weekly memo that keeps leaders—from Support Operations to Academics—aligned on policy, safety, and leadership.
Having served as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, director, executive director, assistant superintendent and Chief Academic Officer, Dr. Shawna Harney possesses an authentic perspective that earns her the deep respect of her colleagues. She is a leader who makes no excuses and is driven solely by excellence.
Dr. Shawna Harney is a standout educator whose unwavering commitment to the students, staff and community of the Kenton County School District make her the ideal candidate for the Link nky Educator of the Week Award.
Now it’s time to vote
Normally, voting won’t open until 3 p.m. on Mondays, but we were so excited about launching this feature we decided to let y’all begin voting first thing in the morning.
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.
We’ll keep an eye out for spam or automated votes to make sure everyone has a fair chance, but enthusiastic community support is absolutely encouraged.