A “special version" of the Stilwell “red suspenders" award, a meritorious medal in the form of a commemorative coin was presented by KY K-12 Education Commissioner Jason Glass and David Couch, Associate Commissioner for Office of Education Technology, to all the key KY K-12 Education Technology staff in OET and KY K-12 school districts. This “special coin" was given for their successful and meritorious tour of duty of providing crucial role and quality education technology services on the school campus and beyond the school campus for KY K-12 students, teachers, staff and leaders to each district during the core of the pandemic beginning on 10 March 2020 during the 1st day of the 2020 KY Society of Technology in Education (KySTE) conference and ending on 11 March 2022 the last day of the 2022 KySTE conference. District CIO, DTC, digital learning coach, library media specialist, technicians/network admin, virtual/remote learning leader, data systems staff, STLP coach/mentor and OET staff member that played a crucial role during that timeframe when education technology was counted on more than any other time in KY K-12 history received this award as a simple but heartfelt way to say, “Thanks for what was accomplished and sacrificed over those 24 months".
One of the US Army's most prestigious awards is the Meritorious Service Medal (MSM). This special Stilwell award is the equivalent version of the MSM. During those 24 months, KY K-12 Education Technology staff not only survived and but thrived in providing quality EdTech enabled products and services to KY K-12 students, teachers and staff, across this entire state, amongst all the sudden demands, uncertainty and intensity going on during that timeframe. Lots of folks do great things who are never publicly thanked or recognized. This is especially true in the technology field where the average person is not aware of the great skill, long hours and dedication that it takes to make the EdTech work and then help folks do wonderful magical/educational things with it. No money comes with the Stilwell award, but folks greatly appreciate a simple “thanks" and “high five" for a job well done.
Nearly every one of the past Stilwell award winners had never been publicly thanked or recognized for their role in helping KY K-12 be successful until they received the Stilwell.
Over those 24 months, peers in the other 49 states regularly said, “KY K-12 EdTech is what they strive to be". Our secret sauce in KY K-12 is our cooperative and helpful relationships within districts, between districts, with KDE Office of Education Technology (OET) staff and our true vendor partners in EdTech. No other state has “this" secret sauce. KY K-12 EdTech has been and continues to be “the" pioneer and “the" national leader in most aspects of K-12 EdTech over the past 30 years. Our KETS Timeline (at KETS 2018 - 2024 Master Plan - Appendix G - Kentucky Department of Education) and 2022 Digital Readiness Infographic ( at KETS 2018 - 2024 Master Plan - Appendix B - Kentucky Department of Education) easily supports that statement. This past planning and implementation of KY K-12 EdTech, greatly positioned KY K-12 during those 24 months, however “the" key ingredient to that success was the quality EdTech people, their dedication and skills during that 24-month timeframe.
Stilwell Award Recipients:
Jason Rector
Anthony Watkins
Dylan Claiborne
Connie Makranszky
Sarah Antle
Sarah Burton
Alice Curry
Jennifer Myers
Adam Cox
Jennifer Cross
Pam Montgomery
