Teacher, student recognized at annual MLK Day luncheon
Lloyd principal Mike Key earns doctoral degree
Arnett students visit CAC, thanks to grant program
Lloyd sports are going strong
COVID-19 resources
Food pantry available for district families
Erlanger offers winter fun
Teacher, student recognized at annual MLK Day luncheon
Congratulations to Tabetha Taylor, a junior at Lloyd Memorial High School, and Mr. Michael Walker, a teacher at Tichenor Middle School and Lloyd’s head boys’ basketball coach, who were recognized during the 19th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Outreach Luncheon at the Newport Syndicate on January 17. The luncheon is sponsored by the Northern Kentucky branch of the NAACP.
Mr. Walker was a recipient of a Vision and Unity Award. The award is presented to an individual who has historically worked to continue Dr. King’s dream of a Beloved Community Alive. The award recipient works daily to volunteer their time to improve the Northern Kentucky Community; their service impacts many areas across our region such as education and athletics and youth educational attainment and success. Mr. Walker was recognized for his leadership and service to our community.
Mr. Walker is a special education teacher at Tichenor Middle School. In the classroom, he works with at-risk and behaviorally challenged youth. Building relationships with the kids is his favorite part of his job. Mr. Walker is also in his second year as head basketball coach at Lloyd Memorial High School. Participating in basketball since he was a young child, Mr. Walker developed a love for the game and has a passion for sharing that love with his players. Over the years basketball has provided much more than just skills on the court, basketball provided life lessons and important character traits. He put his passion to work coaching college right after graduating college himself. Mr. Walker looks forward to building a successful basketball culture and continuing to involve the community along the way.
Miss Tabetha Taylor was selected by the Northern Kentucky Branch NAACP to represent the youth during the Dr. King Luncheon. Tabetha presented a speech on Dr. King’s legacy, leadership, and service and how his dream and vision impacted her life along with youth across America. Tabetha talked about Dr. King as an inspirational leader who worked to improve our nation for everyone.
Tabetha is continuing Dr. King’s dream through her leadership at Lloyd Memorial High School on the Student Council and she is studying hard to be educationally successful and a role model for all students at Lloyd and in the community.
A group of students from Lloyd Memorial High and Tichenor Middle School, pictured above with Mr. Molley, also received award recognition for leadership and Service during the luncheon.
The theme for this year’s luncheon was Make It A Day On, Not A Day Off, and it featured Dr. David Childs, a tenured professor of education at Northern Kentucky University who also serves as social studies education coordinator.
The celebration included scholarship presentations to students graduating from Northern Kentucky high schools, along with additional awards for community leaders and businesses. Lloyd graduate and Kentucky Supreme Court Justice Michele Keller and Rep. Rachel Roberts addressed the luncheon crowd.
“We are so proud of Tabetha for her wonderful presentation, and we’re happy Mr. Walker has been recognized for his dedication to our students and our community,” said Mr. Chad Molley, superintendent. “These recognitions are well-deserved, and I know I speak on behalf of everyone who knows them when I say thank you for representing our school district so well.”
Lloyd principal Mike Key earns doctoral degree
Mr. Mike Key, principal at Lloyd Memorial High School, can now be addressed by a new title: doctor.
Dr. Key has achieved his Educational Doctorate from Northern Kentucky University after completing two years of coursework and spending an additional year writing a dissertation.
He began the program in the spring of 2019 and was just wrapping up his first year when the world shut down, so the experience put Dr. Key on even footing with his students as he moved through his program virtually.
“It’s something I was looking at for a long time,” Dr. Key said. “I would possibly like to work in higher education when I’m finished with my career at Lloyd, and this is an avenue to get into that.”
Dr. Key’s program is built around action research in his field, including a dissertation directly related to his daily work. He was part of a cohort of about 15 other educators, and they built good relationships along the way. During the early stages of the pandemic, they were talking about the unique situation they were in, and someone suggested it would make a good topic for a dissertation.
So that’s exactly what they did. Dr. Key, along with Shannon Reeves, a preschool administrator, Jennifer Patrick, principal at Goodridge Elementary, and Erica Bowles, principal at Ballyshannon Middle School came together to conduct a qualitative study on leading during the pandemic.
Together the team studied qualitative data surrounding the initial shutdown. They then investigated crisis leadership in schools – looking at how administrators had led during hurricanes, floods, fires, school shootings, and more. There was much to glean about leadership in a crisis, so the team looked at what people consistently did and compared it to the pandemic circumstances. After gathering data, they spent a year writing individual stories and collaborating to share overarching themes and takeaways.
In October, Dr. Key and his colleagues successfully defended their dissertation to a committee comprised of two NKU professors and Dr. Kathy Burkhardt, former superintendent of Erlanger-Elsmere Schools. The defense was upheld, and they passed without any corrections. Dr. Key officially graduated in December.
“It’s a great process,” Dr. Key said. “I enjoyed getting back in the classroom and I can’t say enough good things about NKU’s cohort model. It was a great experience; one I’d like to bring that to Lloyd so that groups of students would move through their high school experience together. NKU has things figured out.”
Arnett students visit CAC, thanks to grant program
Last month, third graders from Arnett Elementary enjoyed an in-person field trip to the Contemporary Arts Center in Cincinnati. At the CAC, students not only experienced contemporary art, they also got to use their critical thinking skills to interpret and make sense of the pieces on display.
The visit was part of the CAC’s School Outreach Program, an intensive multi-layered experience with contemporary art for students in second through twelfth grade. Arnett’s third grade is one of only 12 schools in the tri-state to be selected as recipients of a CAC-sponsored grant to benefit from the program this school year free of charge. Mr. Dakota Pannebecker, one of Arnett’s third-grade teachers, applied for the grant over the summer and was delighted when she was notified her school had received the award.
Beginning in September and ending in May, the year-long program comprises an in-school orientation, two guided visits to CAC exhibitions, an exhibition-related classroom project taught by a local artist, and a visit to an artist’s studio in the spring.
Docents for the CAC School Outreach Program work with the same class throughout the year, ensuring continuity and promoting student rapport. Some docents have worked with the same schools and teachers for many years running. The docent works directly with the teacher to schedule the year’s visits.
“Our students truly enjoyed getting to experience the city and the CAC,” Mr. Pannebecker said. “Smiles and laughter could be heard all day.”
Lloyd sports are going strong
Lloyd High School’s boys basketball is off to a phenomenal start. The team improved to 15-3 after a hard-fought win against Holy Cross last Friday. This was the Juggernauts' fourth straight win, following back-to-back losses by margins of one and two points. The team now has its eyes on a 20-win season, a remarkable goal for a team that finished 7-11 last season.
Coach Mike Walker predicted the Juggernauts would be “the surprise” in the 9th Region this year, and they’re living up to his claim!
Huge shout-out to Lloyd junior Aidan Vickers, who has been sweeping up his opponents as captain of Lloyd’s boys bowling team.
Most recently he was named Region 6 Individual Bowling Champion and will head to the KHSAA State Bowling Championship on February 8.
Before that, Aidan was in the final four of Dayton High School’s Singles Tournament before winning the whole thing. This follows achieving the top individual score in the Cov Cath tournament, where he was recognized as the champ on the All-Tournament Team! In his two games, he scored a 263 and a 186, putting his total at 449 pins.
Perhaps that’s why he was recently up for NKY Bowler of the Week. Aidan has been a member of the team for five years, and for two of those years has served as the team’s captain.
Congratulations to Lloyd track and field senior, Jake Davidson, on signing to continue his academic and athletic careers at the University of Louisville.
Finally, the Lady Juggernauts closed out 2020 in impressive fashion, winning the Stephanie Wilson Holiday Tournament with a 65-33 defeat over Beechwood.
Lloyd was led by Morgan Jenkins with 18, Brooklyn Auclerc with 14, and Jalyn Ballman with 10. Jalyn Ballman and Sierra McCoin were named All-Tournament. Morgan Jenkins was named Tournament MVP.
Congratulations to all of our student-athletes and go Juggernauts!!
COVID-19 resources
The district remains committed to prioritizing the health and safety of our staff, our students, and their families.
Test to Stay
Our district has partnered with Ethos Laboratories in Newport, Ky., to create a “Test to Stay” program. This free, optional program will provide an opportunity for some staff and students to remain in classrooms instead of quarantining.
Get all the details
Other helpful resources...
Healthy at School
COVID-19 Vaccine Information and NKY Locations
Request 4 free COVID tests for your household
Food pantry available for district families
The Erlanger-Elsmere School District continues to operate a food pantry, open to all families of students in the district.
Now located at the Family Resource Center at 459 Buckner Street in Elsmere, the food pantry is typically open twice a month and has very limited conditions for use.
To keep things simple, the only requirement is that a student living in the household is enrolled in our district school. Visitors to the food pantry complete a simple form consisting of just names and the number of people living in the household. That's it! Plus, families can visit any time the pantry is open; there is no maximum number of visits.
As an added bonus, the pantries are "choice" food pantries, meaning families can choose the food items they prefer, decreasing food waste and increasing the benefit!
Food is available through a partnership with the Freestore Foodbank.
In February, the pantry will be open on February 3 and 17.
This will be an open shop and you do not need an appointment. Please bring bags if you have them. All guests will be required to wear a mask.
Questions? Please contact:
Amber Evans
859-342-2426 or
Tracy Molley
859-342-2351
Should schools be closed for inclement weather the Food Pantry will be closed as well.
Erlanger offers winter fun
The City of Erlanger is determined to help its residents beat the winter blues, with a variety of awesome activities planned for the cold weather months. Check it out and join in the fun!
Enjoy an afternoon of bowling at Strike & Spare on January 30!
Erlanger residents will receive two free games and shoe rental (must show proof of residency). Waivers must be signed and children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
Space is limited. Please pre-register at kim.wolking@cityoferlanger.com or 859.727.2525.
The City will be collecting non-perishable items for BeCon if you would like to donate.
Bring your sweetie to the City of Erlanger's Be My Valentine
Roller Skating Party at Jimmie's Rollerdome!
This event is for Erlanger residents (proof of residency required). Waivers must be signed to skate. Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Bring a few non-perishable items for Be Concerned.
Help us celebrate winter with an Ice Skating Party on Sunday, February 20.
The event runs from 5:15 – 7:30 p.m. at the Northern Kentucky Ice Center, located at 2638 Anderson Road in Erlanger! This event is free for Erlanger residents (proof of residency required). Waivers are required, 18 and under must be accompanied by an adult.
Please bring non-perishable items to benefit BeCon.