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: Ginger McClung
Role: Teacher at Conner High School
Nominators: Sara Fay
Why Fay nominated McClung: I am proud to nominate Ginger McClung of Conner High School for NKY Educator of the Week. As an American Sign Language (ASL) teacher, Ginger goes beyond teaching a language. She teaches empathy, inclusion, and the importance of making everyone feel seen, heard, and valued.
Ginger’s dedication extends beyond the classroom through her leadership of an after-school club that provides students with connection, community, and belonging. When the club was recently targeted by a local politician, Ginger helped turn a difficult situation into an incredibly positive experience. As the community rallied behind her students, they witnessed firsthand the power of compassion, solidarity, and people standing up for what is right. Ginger helped transform adversity into a lasting lesson in resilience and acceptance.
Ginger also serves as a building representative for the Boone County Education Association, where she advocates for teachers and stands up for their voices, rights, and needs. She is committed not only to supporting her students but also to supporting the educators who dedicate their lives to helping others succeed.
Ginger exemplifies what it means to be an outstanding educator and leader. Whether she is teaching ASL, creating a safe and welcoming space for students, or advocating for her fellow teachers, she leads with courage, compassion, and conviction.
Her impact reaches far beyond her classroom walls. For her unwavering commitment to inclusion, her advocacy for students and teachers, and her ability to turn challenges into opportunities for positive change, Ginger McClung is truly deserving of recognition as NKY Educator of the Week.
Read more about why McClung was nominated
Educator: Sara Fay
Role: Teacher at Ballyshannon Middle School
Nominator: Zander Rogers
Why Rogers nominated Fay:
Mrs.Fay has really made a big impact on my life in and out of school. I feel like I can learn in my own special way.
At first, I was not really a math person, but now I have so much fun doing it. She has let me know what I’m capable of and how I can excel in things that I never thought I could. She has made me have a great school year so far. 🙂
Educator: Selena Ballou
Role: Teacher at Beechwood High School
Nominators: Emma Heidrich and Cody Barnes
Why Heidrich nominated Ballou: Mrs. Ballou is the perfect example of a kind, funny, and caring teacher. Each day in her classroom, I grow closer to her as a person but also to the lessons she teaches. Learning through her analogies and descriptions helps me better picture literature in her English class. She brings a light-headed and fun personality to class every day, and I look forward to seeing her daily. I can come to her with any questions, concern, or even just a tiny detail about my day. Please consider her for Educator of the Week because she is the most deserving teacher I know!
Why Barnes nominated Ballou: Ms. Ballou is genuinely the nicest teacher I have ever met. She is always kind to others and will work around everyone’s conflicts to make sure they can do the best education they can while they have her. She is very cooperative with everyone. She will always listen to your stories and talk with you whenever you need them. You can go to her for anything, and she will always be there to help whether it is school-related or life skills. She is overall a dedicated and sweet person to be around and is always willing to help students or staff whenever she can. That is why I am Nominating Ms. Ballou.
Now it’s time to vote
Voting closes at 3 p.m. on Nov. 2.
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.