OCS News

Glen and Monique McFarland provide outstanding service to South Oldham Middle School through their volunteer work with SOMS Athletics. They are dedicated, hard-working individuals who continually look for ways to support and enhance the experience of SOMS’ student-athletes.

Glen and Monique are deeply involved in every aspect of SOMS athletics. They’ve made significant improvements to programs and facilities, including upgrading the gym sound system, purchasing new uniforms for several teams, and adding new backdrops and signage to create a more professional and welcoming gym environment.

The McFarlands go above and beyond to create a true game-day experience for SOMS students, families, and community—organizing food vendors for football games and running top-notch concessions at volleyball and basketball events. Their organization, initiative, and positive relationships with parents help ensure that every event runs smoothly and reflects immense pride SOMS Athletics.

South Oldham Middle is incredibly grateful for their commitment, leadership, and the many ways they continue to serve the school.

Since joining Goshen Elementary last school year, Ms. Morris has been a spark for positive change throughout the school. Her meticulous approach to instructional support includes weekly meetings with every PLC team, where she guides teachers through comprehensive analysis of student assessment data, curriculum alignment, high-quality instructional resources (HQIR), unit internalization, and iReady universal screener data to establish flexible instructional groups and identify prerequisite skills.

Ms. Morris stands out for her remarkable ability to anticipate needs before anyone even mentions them—and her wholehearted dedication to fulfilling them. She designs thoughtful, goal-oriented coaching cycles differentiated to each teacher's individual needs, providing intentional instructional strategies that empower educators across all grade levels. This personalized approach has made a profound impact—our spring STODUR data revealed overwhelmingly positive feedback from staff, with teachers expressing gratitude for her exceptional level of support, extensive knowledge, and invaluable guidance.

Ms. Morris has been a pivotal member of Goshen’s leadership team, and eager to help transitions for the new principal, Ms. Byrka. She has been instrumental in bridging where Goshen has been with where they aspire to be, helping align goals, vision, and mission. Her expertise and collaborative spirit have guided Goshen school in the right direction, ensuring that every student experiences a learning environment where they feel safe, valued, and loved.

Ms. Morris doesn't simply achieve—she ignites passion in others, transforms the educational atmosphere, and elevates the entire school community.

When the co-founder of RIVET Education—a nationally recognized organization that supports schools across the country—visited Oldham County last spring with 26 leaders from Kentucky Educational Cooperatives, they left with something to say: Oldham County is doing something special.

The group toured elementary classrooms and saw firsthand the systems and supports the district has built for High-Quality Instructional Resource (HQIR) implementation and Curriculum-Based Professional Learning. From collaboration between coaches and principals, to teacher-driven feedback loops, to the district’s own ELEVATE Conference, the visitors were impressed with how Oldham County is helping teachers and students succeed.

Some of the highlights included:

• A comprehensive pilot program and clear HQIR implementation plan

• Strong partnerships between coaches, principals, and curriculum vendors

• Coach-led protocols for unit and lesson planning

• District-wide PLC collaboration and regular classroom visits

• Teacher feedback at the center of every decision

The Kentucky Department of Education’s Office of Teaching and Learning was so impressed, they decided to spotlight Oldham County Schools in an issue of KY Teacher. 

One of the standout pieces of the district’s work is the ELEVATE Conference, a daylong professional learning event created by Oldham County for Oldham County teachers. Educators came together to explore new strategies, dive into shifts in literacy instruction, and make sense of high-quality resources in ways that serve all students.

But beyond the strategies and resources, the heart of the event was about celebrating and empowering teachers. The conference gave them space to learn from one another, grow their expertise, and leave with new energy for the classroom.

As one theme echoed throughout the day: Teachers are the heart of education—and when they rise, so do their students. 

Link to article: https://www.kentuckyteacher.org/subjects/literacy/2025/09/spotlight-on-oldham-county-aligning-professional-learning-with-high-quality-instructional-resources/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery