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: Charla Peak
Role: Teacher at Turkey Foot Middle School
Nominators: Rylee McHenry
Why McHenry nominated Peak: She’s one of my favorite teachers for being in 8th grade, and she helps out a lot if needed.
If I’m mad or do something dumb, she’s always there to help and comfort me. She knows everything about me because I’ve told her EVERYTHING. shes my favorite teacher and I wanted to nominate her for her being my favorite teacher here.
Educator: Misty Johnson
Role: Teacher at Ryle High School
Nominator: Sara Fay
Why Fay nominated Johnson:
I am honored to nominate my friend and fellow educator, Misty Johnson, for NKY Educator of the Week.
Misty is an incredible English teacher at Ryle High School, but the impact she has on those around her goes far beyond her classroom. She is the kind of teacher who genuinely cares about her students and wants to see them succeed—not just academically, but as people. She brings compassion, dedication, and heart to everything she does.
As a fellow educator, I have also had the privilege of seeing Misty advocate for teachers through her role as Parliamentarian on the Executive Council of the Boone County Education Association. She is not afraid to speak up when something matters. She stands beside her fellow educators, makes sure their voices are heard, and works to protect and support the people who dedicate their lives to educating our students.
Misty leads by example. She gives so much of herself to her students, her colleagues, and our profession. She is someone who can be counted on to show up, speak up, and stand up for what is right. Her commitment to education and to the people who make our schools successful is something I deeply admire.
Teachers like Misty are the reason our profession is so special. She reminds us that being an educator isn’t just about what happens inside the four walls of a classroom. It is about relationships, advocacy, compassion, and making a difference wherever you can.
I am incredibly proud to call Misty a colleague and friend, and I cannot think of someone more deserving of being recognized as NKY Educator of the Week.
Read more about why Johnson was nominated
Educator: Angela Noel
Role: Teacher at Kenton Elementary
Nominator: Miranda Eisenschmidt
Why Eisenschmidt nominated Noel:
I would love to nominate Mrs. Noel for Educator of the Week because she truly goes above and beyond for her students.
Mrs. Noel is such a kind, caring, and encouraging teacher. She has a way of making learning fun and exciting through interactive activities, special themed days, and creative experiences that keep her students engaged and excited to learn. You can tell that she puts genuine thought and effort into creating a classroom where her students feel happy, supported, and eager to participate.
One of the things I especially appreciate as a parent is how well Mrs. Noel communicates with families. She regularly shares fun pictures and updates through Family Dojo, which gives parents a special glimpse into their child’s day and allows us to feel connected to what they are learning and experiencing in the classroom.
Mrs. Noel is truly an inspiring educator. It is obvious that teaching is more than just a job to her. She genuinely loves what she does, and even more importantly, she genuinely loves and cares about her students. That passion shines through in the way she teaches, communicates, encourages, and connects with her class.
She creates an environment where children can learn, grow, have fun, and feel valued. I am so thankful that my child has the opportunity to learn from a teacher who brings so much kindness, creativity, and heart into the classroom every day.
Mrs. Noel is absolutely deserving of Educator of the Week!
Read more about why Noel was nominated
Now it’s time to vote
Voting closes at 3 p.m. on Oct. 19.
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.
