By MICHAEL CRIMMINS
Glasgow News 1
This article is a more in-depth follow up on a Barren County Schools press release that Glasgow News 1 published July 25.
Bobbie Nyekan (far left) and Kathi Norrod (front row, far right). Photo courtesy of Heather Gardner, Barren County Schools
Two special education teachers from Barren County Schools participated in the first-ever program, put on by the Kentucky Department of Education, that focused on technical education for students with unique circumstances.
“They were offered the chance to receive additional training and help with the transition of Exceptional Education students,” Cynthia York, director of special programs at Barren County, said. “We focus on transition beginning at age 14, which basically means we start preparing them for what they are going to do after high school. That may be a post high school career in the fields they’re interested in or it may be going on to college. We really try to support them and plan for those things.”
Bobbie Nyekan, a teacher at Barren County High School, and Kathi Norrod, from the middle school, are two exceptional education, formerly called special education, teachers who received the opportunity to participate in the “Special Education Teacher Cohort.”
“This is the first time KDE has offered this initiative for teachers across the state to participate in that focuses on transition for students,” York said.
The summer program was a three day event, Nyekan said, hosted at the Gault House in Louisville, Kentucky, on July 18-20. During that time he got to network with like-minded teachers from across Kentucky. He also said he attended programs that focused on vocational training, such as construction, HVAC, electrical and plumbing.
Nyekan said the programs were about informing children of the educational opportunities available for them.
“We want to make sure they can take advantage of the education available to them throughout Kentucky,” Nyekan said. “Not everyone is trying to go to a four year college.”
Though the summer program featured a fair bit of vocational training, there was also some more advanced technology like engineering and Computer Aided Drafting.
York said the purpose of the program was to make transition easier for those exceptional education students throughout the district. York said she hopes the program will continue in the future. Nyekan said he would “absolutely, hands down” attend another such event if it were offered.
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