Laura Murphy, a language arts teacher at Daviess County Middle School, has been selected as one of 24 Kentucky educators to receive the 2021 Valvoline Teacher Achievement Award.
These teachers qualify to compete for the 2021 Kentucky Teacher of the Year Award, which will be announced in October.
“Now more than ever before, we are honored to celebrate some of Kentucky’s most outstanding educators,” said Sam Mitchell, Valvoline chief executive officer. “Being a teacher is incredibly challenging during normal times. In today’s anything-but-normal environment, many of us have become all-to-familiar with the incredible role our teachers play. Valvoline is pleased to celebrate educators across the state and to recognize these outstanding award winners.”
Murphy, who has taught at DCMS since 2009, said she very thankful to receive this honor.
“During a time of moving through unchartered territories when it comes to education, I have learned so much about lesson planning through adaptation and flexibility,” she said. “Teachers are facing challenges they have never had to face before and I am proud to be a part of a team of teachers who remain positive and forward-thinking even amidst these obstacles.”
Murphy is a 2009 graduate of Kentucky Wesleyan College, where she studied middle grades education/language arts and history. She also attended the University of the Cumberlands, where she was in the Teacher Leader program and graduated in 2014. She received her Rank I (Literacy Design Specialty) in 2016 from the University of the Cumberlands, where she is working toward obtaining her doctorate degree in education.
All 24 teachers will be honored at a yet-to-be finalized event in the fall. At that time the Kentucky Elementary, Middle and High School Teachers of the Year will be announced. From this group of three finalists, the Kentucky Teacher of the Year will be named and will represent the state in the National Teacher of the Year competition.
Valvoline will provide the 24 recipients with cash awards.
This year’s program set a record with more than 2,800 nominations and 208 applications submitted.
Judging was conducted in May by a panel of veteran educators, many of whom have more than 25 years of teaching experience. Applications included information on the nominees’ teaching philosophies, teaching experiences and involvement in their respective communities, as well as letters of recommendation from peers, students, parents, administrators and others.
“Now perhaps more than ever before have we seen how essential teachers are to the lives of our children,” said Interim Education Commissioner Kevin C. Brown. “Teachers are heroes. On behalf of the Kentucky Department of Education, I congratulate these award-winning educators.”
