LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Penny Roberts was nominated by her colleague Carla Embry.

"Have you ever met someone and instantly felt better?  Someone who strives to look at the positive side of things, and whose presence lights up a room?  If so, perhaps you have met Mrs. Penny Roberts," said Embry. "I have had the honor of working with Penny for several years in our school district and can truly say she has helped me become a better person.  The wide range of job duties she has held makes her a legend within our district."

Ms. Roberts has held the following roles in her district:

• Elementary Instructional Supervisor (Primary-Grade 5)
• Family Resource Youth/Service Center District Contact/Supervisor
• Gifted/Talented Program Director (K-12)
• Response to Intervention Coordinator(K-5)
• District Writing Cluster Leader Coordinator
• Student Teacher Placements Coordinator
• College/University Field Experience Teacher Placements Coordinator
• Textbook Coordinator
• Elementary Academic Team Coordinator
• Work-Study College/University Student Placements Coordinator
• District Brigance Kindergarten Screen Coordinator
• District C.E.D.A.R. Grant Coordinator
• Duke University Talent Program Coordinator
• Madisonville Community College Spelling and Math Contest Coordinator
• J.P. Morgan Library Fund Coordinator
• Trio Talent Search Coordinator

Though this list is long, Mrs. Roberts has made time to create lasting friendships with both colleagues and students.  She finds time throughout each school year to visit all five of her district's elementary schools on a regular basis and makes every effort to speak to each teacher.

As part of the Leadership Team at the Central Office, Mrs. Roberts' ability to obtain detailed notes from each meeting has proven how efficient and important she considers her work to be.  Along with a long list of job duties is yet another long list of leadership honors she has obtained in her 34 years of being in public education:

• 2017 "The Leadership Challenge" Facilitator Certification
• 2004-2014 KEA Appointed Representative on the State Committee for Mathematics Achievement
• 2007-2013 National Assessment for Education Progress (NAEP) Mathematics
• Standing Committee Member (Washington, D.C., Mesa, Arizona)
• 2012 NAEP/TIMSS Framework Comparison Mathematics Expert Panel (Washington, D.C.)
• 2010 Dean's Citation for Academic Excellence (Western Kentucky University)
• 2010 Invited to be a featured speaker at the South Dakota Teachers of Mathematics State Conference
• 2005 Kentucky Elementary Teacher of the Year
• 2005 Kentucky Colonel
• 2004 Ashland Teacher Achievement Award
• 2004 Muhlenberg County Outstanding Citizen
• 2002 Mathematics Service and Achievement Award
• 1993 Warren County Teacher of the Year
• 1993 Outstanding Young Educator of the Bowling Green/Warren County School Systems
• 1993 Alvaton Elementary Teacher of the Year
• 1991 Alvaton Elementary Teacher of the Year

"These honors paint a beautiful portrait of an employee who has dedicated her life to her career," Embry said. "Mrs. Roberts has a passion for life and makes every effort to help others shine each and every day.  She deserves the distinguished title of LifeChanger simply for being true to who she is and what she stands for.  She will be greatly missed as a valuable leader in our school district."

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