Outstanding Teacher Awards 2006

Laura Conn Warner: Outstanding Elementary School Teacher

Laura was born the youngest of three children to Bill and Jennie Conn. The Conns are originally from Lexington but moved to Paris, Ky., when Laura was in the third grade. The Conns still reside there today.

Laura graduated from Bourbon County High School in 1987. She was a talented student and musician playing the clarinet in the marching band and singing in the church choir.

Laura majored in elementary education at the University of Kentucky and received her bachelor’s in 1992. During her junior year, she met Kevin Warner and they were married following her graduation in 1992. They lived in Lexington where Kevin began his career at Bourbon Central Elementary and Laura was later hired in 1994 where she taught first, second and third grade.

Laura had her first daughter, Erin, in the spring of 1996 and returned to teaching in the fall. She continued teaching full-time while working part-time on her graduate degree. She completed her master’s in education from UK in 1998 and in 1999, Laura had her second daughter, Elissa. Both girls now attend Bourbon Central where Laura continues to teach first grade.

In addition to teaching, Laura continues to be extremely involved in church. The Warners are charter members of Cornerstone Baptist Church o f Lexington, built in 1995. Laura is the church clerk, director of Children’s Programs, director of the children’s choir, Junior Worship and Vacation Bible School teacher, and member of the adult choir.

Laura closed out another successful school year having just been named a state finalist at the Student Technology Leadership Program held at the Lexington Center in May.

Pam Fee: Outstanding Middle School Teacher

Pam discovered that one of her many gifts was teaching and thus began her career, 34 years ago, as a graduate of Murray State University armed with a degree in elementary education. Over the years she has taught students ranging from developmental reading to biology and finds it most rewarding when she helps them progress.

Pam graduated from Fulton County High School and went on to attend college at Murray State. Upon graduation, Pam was offered a teaching position at Ripley High School in Ripley, Tenn., and quickly found success in the community. She was named Outstanding Teacher of the Year by the Commercial Appeal, a Memphis daily newspaper in 1975; Outstanding Young Woman of the Year by the Jaycees in 1980; and Outstanding Woman of America in 1985.

She also spent two years collaborating with teachers across the state as a Career Ladder Evaluator for the Tennessee Department of Education. The first year that Tennessee began a merit pay program for outstanding teachers, Pam went through the rigorous process and earned the highest rank of Master Teacher Career Ladder III. She was one of only three in her county to achieve that rank and part of a select group across the state to pass the criteria.

She describes her current position at Lone Oak Middle School as her dream job. With her help, Lone Oak Middle School has greatly improved their academic index of children with disabilities. She currently directs an after-school program called Camp Flash designed to close the achievement gap for children with disabilities.

Pam has a master’s degree from Bethel University in McKenzie, Tenn., and a Rank I in supervision and administration from the University of Memphis.

Dan Bradley Bio: Outstanding High School Teacher

Dan has been involved in education for 16 years, 15 of which have been at Nelson County High School in Bardstown, Ky. This year marks the first year back in the classroom after serving four years as assistant principal. Though he enjoyed his time as an administrator, his heart always remained with the students in the classroom. He felt it was his calling to return to the classroom teaching English.

This year he also resumed his duties as head coach of the cross country and track and field teams. In addition, he is the school’s journalism advisor and Writing Portfolio Assessment Coordinator. His students produce the school yearbook and a bi-weekly newspaper.

Dan earned a bachelor’s in English from the University of Kentucky (1990), a mater’s in secondary education/English from the University of Louisville (1996), and a Rank I in Administration and Supervision from the University of Kentucky (2003). He is also a 2004 alumnus of the Kentucky Leadership Academy. He holds certification as a teacher in Louisiana and Kentucky, secondary administrator, and instructional supervisor.

His wife Lucretia is also a teacher, and they have four children: Jonah, 11; Julianna, 8; Jake, 6; and Jeb, 3. He is the proud son of Laurence Bradley, a retired pipe fitter, and Rose Marie Bradley, a recent Speech Language Pathologist retiree for the Jefferson County Schools in Louisville. He has an older brother, Joe, who lives in New York, and a Younger brother, Bill, who lives in Phoenix.

Dan is actively involved with his church and also enjoys reading, running, watching movies and refusing to grow up!

**Photos courtesy of the MSU News Bureau.