Mason County Middle School English teacher Kerri Stanfield has been chosen as a semi-finalist for the 2019 Kentucky Teacher of the Year.
According to Stanfield, she was shocked when she found out she had made the cut.
“I was stunned when I found out,” she said. “I never imagined I would be named an Achievement Award winner when I was first nominated, so to be named a semi-finalist was completely unexpected. I don’t think it has really sunk in that there are only three people left in the Middle School Teacher of the Year competition, and only nine left in the Kentucky Teacher of the Year competition, and I am actually one of those people. No matter the outcome on May 15, I’m grateful to be honored by the Kentucky Department of Education and to represent Mason County Schools.”
Stanfield is among three middle school teachers chosen to advance to semi-finalist. The semi-finalists were chosen from 24 teachers who received the Valvoline award.
Stanfield said in order to receive the Valvoline award, a teacher must be nominated by a colleague.
“I work with so many amazing people,” she said. “To think they believe I’m worthy of this award is such an honor. I was shocked and humbled. It was very special to me.”
Stanfield has worked as a teacher in the Mason County School District for nine years. She graduated from Mason County High School in 1996. From there, she attended Maysville Community and Technical College, where she received her general education requirements, before receiving her bachelor’s degree from Midway College and her master’s degree from the University of the Cumberlands.
According to Stanfield, when she graduated high school, she didn’t plan to become to become a teacher.
“I had no idea what I wanted to do,” she said. “I volunteered at Straub Elementary for awhile and I realized how much I loved it. When I became a teacher, I started at Mason County Intermediate School, so I’ve taught third, fourth, fifth, sixth and eighth grades.”
Stanfield said there is nothing else she would want to do with her life now.
“I can’t imagine leaving the classroom anytime soon,” she said. “I love what I do. Eventually, I might want to do something in reading and writing curriculum and working with teachers on their curriculum, but for now, I don’t want to be outside the classroom.”
