20-02-2025
DCHS science teacher selected as KET Academic All Star
Leslie Hall's classroom at Daviess County Middle School is decorated to intrigue students about science.
Framed pictures of telescopes, test tubes and DNA strands adorn the wall, while multiple dinosaurs are stationed around the room.
'I'm a very visual learner,' Hall said in a recent interview.
Hall, who has been with Daviess County Middle for 10 years, is receiving a wealth of other materials to help reach students, by being named a KET All Star.
KET, the state's public television station, selects a new class of All Stars every year. The group includes teachers, librarians, early childhood educators and others who work in education. The program brings the All Stars together to share ideas, provides access to KET's library of educational materials, along with training and a small annual stipend.
The purpose is to provide educators with tools, training and resources to build upon their own skills and help students succeed.
Hall, who was inspired to work at DCMS when she attended a conference at the school as a student teacher, recently attended her first meeting as part of the All Star class.
'It was amazing,' Hall said. 'The KET educational leaders are truly outstanding. What we were able to do is look at some of the resources they have,' during the visit to the KET offices in Lexington. 'There are also resources from early childhood development to adult education.'
Seventeen educators from across the state were chosen, from public schools, private schools, a college and an early childhood education center.
'The educators there are amazing, so getting to know them was rewarding,' Hall said.
Hall said she is already planning to bring KET resources into her classroom, and that she also plans to use the materials for female students who might consider science as a career.
'There's a specific program calls 'SciGirls; it's all about empowering girls to pursue STEM,' Hall said.
'I'm going to start a group of girls that desire to pursue STEM occupations,' Hall said.
In addition to using KET materials, 'I'll have women in STEM positions come in and tell them what their (career) paths looked like. I want to show them what's out there.'
Beyond that, Hall said she plans to use other KET materials to introduce her students to careers they otherwise might have considered.
'It's a wide variety' of materials, Hall said. 'What I love is our students are diverse, and have diverse interests' in what they might pursue as adults.
'Most of the resources are free,' Hall said. 'We are going to utilize the resources and do some projects.'
Being an All Star is a two-year commitment.
'Next year ... (I will) be a mentor for the new All Stars for 2026,' Hall said.
