News & Information

Juneteenth: Taking Time to Unravel Unconscious Biases, A Case Study from Washington State

Thursday, June 17, 2021
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM EST
Register at
https://nea-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Aiwbg_NhRWOrVQVucXTzBA

Click here for more info 

Election Information:

KEA has switched to a new voting platform.  All eligible voters will receive an email the day that the election starts.  The email will contain a link to the voting website along with the credentials to login.  If you are having any trouble accessing the website, or have not received your email, please contact Kathy Whitlock at Kathryn.whitlock@kea.org or John Lynch at john.lynch@kea.org.  You can also call  (502) 875-2889.

Here is the link to the voting website:  https://kea.simplyvoting.com/

Kenton County Educator Leann Lewis Named 2021 Kentucky Education Association’s Teacher of the Year

FRANKFORT, KY (May 25, 2021) – Leann Lewis, a ninth-grade English teacher at Simon Kenton High School in Kenton County, has been awarded one of the commonwealth’s most prestigious education honors—the 2021 Kentucky Education Association (KEA) Teacher of the Year Award.

“Leann is one of the most pivotal, crucial professionals—a freshman English teacher who guides students through a meaningful transition between middle/high school. She has the talent, skill and capacity to work with all students regardless of ability or diversity…and her innovative, creative work in Read 180 is a model for schools in our district and state,” said Laura Schneider, a fellow teacher at Simon Kenton and president emeritus of the Kenton County Education Association. “Her curriculum continually changes as she envisions the needs of students evolving and changing. This is the hallmark of a great teacher and Leann is one of the best.”

Lewis was inspired by her experiences with her teachers as well as at home. Her Mom Sally was a long-time pre-school teacher at church and a Kindergarten instructional assistant. “Teaching has always been my first career choice. I love being a teacher because I love learning and sharing what I have learned,” she said.

“I had teachers that gave up their time before, during, and after school and did all they could to engage students in learning,” said Lewis. “Since becoming an educator, I use that same philosophy to help students.”

Lewis works with a diverse population of students with a variety of values and needs. Some students read grades below their reading level and struggle with food insecurity and emotional issues that make learning more difficult. Through her teaching, Lewis has helped foster a community of learners, developed a reading curriculum that presents her students an opportunity to explore social justice issues, improved a program to enhance freshman success and college readiness, and provided students with the social and emotional skills to succeed.

The award is presented to a KEA educator who exhibits excellence in five critical areas of teaching—professional practice, advocacy for the profession, attention to diversity, community engagement and leadership in professional development.

“Leann Lewis embodies what a KEA educator in Kentucky strives to be, said Eddie Campbell, President of the 40,000-plus education association. “She is dedicated and involved with her students, school, community and profession. She works to make each of them better. She is so deserving of this teacher of the year award.”

In addition to receiving this year’s KEA award as teacher of the year, Lewis was awarded the 2021 Kenton county school’s “Be Like Mr. Rogers” Award, named a top twenty educator in Cincinnati Magazine in 2019, and received the Northern Kentucky Education Association’s 2016 Teacher of the Year award.

Lewis graduated from Indiana Wesleyan University in 2008 with a master’s degree in education and graduated from Morehead State University in 2001 with a bachelor of arts degree in the area of concentration in English Education with a Teacher Certificate.

Lewis describes herself as an enthusiastic leader at her school. “Throughout my career, I have taken on many leadership roles in the classroom, including team leader and manager of freshman events like orientation and end of year rewards. If it is for my students, there is nothing I will not do,” she said.

As for the teaching profession, Lewis serves on her school’s site-based decision-making council, leads multiple professional development sessions, and serves as the current local education association president.  

During the pandemic year especially, Lewis believes her role as an educator is to be part of the community as well as her school, and to never stop learning.

“As an educator, it is not only my job to participate in the community but to model that for my students; it helps them to see educators as real people and provide a chance to give back to the community,” said Lewis.

“This year has proven that as an education community we can work together to learn skills and strategies to support new learning formats, creative ways to engage students in person or virtually. Just because we fill the role of the teacher and manager of the classroom does not mean that we are finished learning. I think that has influenced our students in a positive way as well; to see that learning is not just for school hours but for a lifetime.

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KEA is the largest labor association in Kentucky and represents more than 40,000 active,
aspiring and retired educators across the Commonwealth.

REGISTRATION IS OPEN!  

Click here to learn more!

2021 KEA Summer Leadership Summits

It is about time we get back to something normal, don’t you think? Then let’s get together for an in-person gathering!

KEA Summer Leadership Summits are being held across the commonwealth this summer, bringing local and district presidents together for a day filled with camaraderie, learning, networking, and fun!

KEA has put together a set of valuable tools for all local presidents. From membership to finance and everything in between, leaders will obtain beneficial information to lead their local associations to a more powerful position.

We ask that ALL local presidents attend this important event with your other district presidents at the designated location. If the local president cannot attend, the president may send another officer from the local executive committee (vice president, treasurer, secretary) to attend in their place. Space is limited and social distancing will be followed. If you can not attend the summit designated for your KEA governance district and wish to attend in another location, you may do that if space is available. Local presidents within the KEA governance districts designated for each location will have first priority to register. 

Dates of Summits and KEA governance districts that should attend each are as follows:

Districts to attend – 1^st District, 2^nd District, KESPA

Deadline to Register: COB, MAY 14, 2021

Districts to attend – 5^th District, NKEA, Central District, KESPA

Deadline to Register: COB, May 21, 2021

Districts to attend – 3^rd District, 4^th District, MCEA, KESPA

Deadline to Register: COB, June 21, 2021

Districts to attend – EKEA, UCEA, UKREA, KESPA

Deadline to Register: COB, June 23, 2021

There will be a stipend of $150.00 given at the end of the day to each participant who completes the Summit. Breakfast and lunch will be served at each location.  KEA will not provide hotel rooms, pay mileage, or pay any other expenses associated with attendance, but local or district associations may be willing to do so. Phone numbers for each location are included above if you need to make a room reservation.

You are encouraged to dress casually and bring a sweater as usually these rooms are quite cool.

How to Register:

-You must sign in to KEA Learning portal.  If you do not have an account, you will need to create one.
-Once page is loaded (after signing in or creating new account), scroll down to find the Registration:  2021 Summer Leadership Summit – Live Event
-Click “Add” to add this event to your cart
-Click “Proceed to Cart” (you may have to click the shopping cart in the upper righthand corner)
-Click “Next Step: Checkout”
-Click “Go to Dashboard” – congratulations you have added the event
-Click “Start” to choose your regional training location and complete the registration process
Click here to register

If you have any questions or need any assistance, please contact Sherry Castle at sherry.castle@kea.org