LEAD Nelson

05/23/2026

🎓🎉 CONGRATULATIONS, ELISA PERRY! 🎉🎓

Tonight, we are celebrating a massive milestone as Elisa graduates from Nelson County High School! Along with throwing her cap in the air, Elisa is taking a huge step forward by officially transitioning from a youth apprentice to an adult apprentice.

Her Lead Nelson mentor, Mrs. Holt, shared these beautiful words about Elisa's incredible journey:

“Elisa has always been someone who pushes herself to grow, both as a student and as a leader in the classroom. Throughout her apprenticeship journey, she consistently challenged herself to step outside of her comfort zone, take initiative, and lead alongside her journeyman with confidence and compassion. Watching her balance learning, leadership, and genuine care for students has been such a rewarding experience. Her work ethic and passion for education are going to take her so far, and we have no doubt she will make an incredible impact in the lives of future students.”

Elisa, your courage to step out of your comfort zone and your natural leadership are going to make you an absolute force in the world of education.

We are so incredibly proud of you and honored to keep working with you as an adult apprentice!

Leave some love and congratulations for Elisa in the comments below! 👇👇👇🩵✨

05/22/2026

🎓🎉 HUGE CONGRATULATIONS TO HUNTER HENDERSON! 🎉🎓

Tonight, we are bursting with pride as Hunter graduates from Thomas Nelson High School! But the celebrations don’t stop there—Hunter is officially transitioning from a youth apprentice to an adult apprentice, continuing his incredible journey.

To celebrate this milestone, his Lead Nelson mentor, Mrs. Holt, shared some incredibly powerful words about his time with us:

“Hunter’s journey is one that truly reflects perseverance, passion, and heart. Despite personal challenges this year, he never allowed his enthusiasm for teaching and working with students to fade. His consistency, positive attitude, and dedication to growing as an educator have been inspiring to watch. It has been an honor to witness the growth he has made both personally and professionally. We couldn’t be prouder of the person and future educator he is becoming. Congratulations, Hunter!”

Hunter, your resilience and dedication to your students inspire all of us every single day. We are so lucky to have you on our team, and we can't wait to watch you thrive in your adult apprenticeship!

Join us in showering Hunter with love and congrats in the comments below! 👇👇👇🩵✨✨

05/22/2026

The future is truly local—and incredibly bright—for Nelson County Schools!

A few weeks ago, we gathered for our Lead Nelson Celebration of Excellence, and what an unforgettable night it was! We are still bursting with pride for our amazing students and community members.

We got to honor the incredible dedication of everyone in our program, including:
- Our hardworking microcredential earners
- Our inspiring Leadership Institute completers
- Our skilled journeymen 🤝 And a warm welcome to the fresh faces joining our apprenticeship program!

Every single one of these individuals represents the growth, talent, and leadership that drives Nelson County forward.

Thank you to everyone who came out to celebrate with us. Check out some of our favorite moments from the night! 👇📸

05/21/2026

Congratulations to all! Lots of current and former Lead Nelson students in this picture! What an accomplishment! 🩵✨

Imagine earning a college degree before you walk across the stage for your high school graduation..... What more is there to say? 😎🎓

YES. 💪

05/07/2026

Welcome to the team, Kelsey Taylor! 🌟

We are beyond thrilled to announce the newest member to the Lead Nelson Team! Please join us in giving a massive, energetic welcome to Kelsey, an educator who truly embodies passion, innovation, and heart.

Kelsey isn’t just joining us with a wealth of knowledge; she’s bringing over 10 years of classroom expertise and a proven track record of leadership. She actually made history right here in our Commonwealth, serving as the Journeyman Teacher for the first-ever Adult Apprentice in the state of Kentucky! 🏆

Why we’re so excited to have her:
• A Seasoned Pro: With a decade of teaching under her belt, she knows exactly how to spark curiosity and drive student success.

• A Trailblazer: Her work with state-level apprenticeships shows she isn't afraid to lead the way in modern education.

• A Community Champion: Kelsey is a deeply passionate member of our community who cares about the future of every student and family she meets.

Kelsey’s energy is contagious, and her strengths are the perfect fit for the Lead Nelson mission. We can’t wait to see the incredible impact she’ll have on our students and the vibrant spirit she’ll bring to our halls!

05/05/2026

🚨 MISSION: ACCOMPLISHED 🚨

Our future educators took on a top-secret mission at CKEC—and they delivered! 🎯

During this hands-on, high-energy PD experience, students explored powerful strategies for student engagement and discovered practical tools they can bring straight into their classrooms. From collaboration techniques to active learning strategies, they’re walking away ready to make learning more meaningful and engaging for every student they serve.

We are incredibly grateful for our continued partnership with the Central Kentucky Educational Cooperative (CKEC) for providing such an impactful experience for our students. 💙

The future is local—and it’s looking bright! ✨

04/29/2026

👏👏👏👏👏👏

04/28/2026

Wrapping up our final Lead Nelson Advisory of the year with full hearts!

It truly takes a village to prepare the next generation of educators, and we are beyond grateful for the partners and district professionals who dedicated their time to our students this school year.

Check out what our future teachers were up to:

• Years 1 & 2: Dove into a real-life Design Lab (PLC) process. They analyzed student data and collaborated on the vital "next steps" for student learning.

• Years 3 & 4: Stepped into the spotlight! After leading live lessons in actual classrooms, they received invaluable 1:1 coaching from our district experts.

To our advisory team this year: thank you for pouring into our students. We are so proud of the work happening here! 🩵✨

04/21/2026

Mentoring is the heart of Lead Nelson, and this year we’ve seen that impact in such a powerful way. 🩵

Makayla Burress has spent the past school year at Coxs Creek Elementary under the mentorship of Mrs. Janean Minter. When we recently celebrated Mrs. Minter, it was filled with both smiles and tears—a true reflection of the difference she has made.

Here’s what Makayla shared:

“I am so grateful for the time I have spent learning from you. You have shown me what true leadership looks like in the classroom through your patience, kindness, and dedication to your students. Because of you, I have grown so much as a student and can’t wait to become a future teacher. Being around you makes me feel more confident each and every day in my ability to teach. You create a positive and welcoming environment where every student feels valued, and that is something I will always carry with me. Thank you for your guidance, support, and for being such an inspiring teacher.”

We are so thankful for mentors like Mrs. Janean Minter who pour into our students and help shape the future of education. 🩵✨☺️

04/16/2026

We are thrilled to announce that Shaylyn Bowman has officially signed on as our newest Adult Apprentice!

There is something incredibly inspiring about a professional choosing to level up their skills and dive into a new challenge. Shaylyn is a powerhouse of dedication, and we couldn’t be more excited to support her as she takes this next step in her career.

Shaylyn, your work ethic and passion make you such an asset to the Lead Nelson team. We can’t wait to see all the great things you’ll achieve.

Join us in the comments to give Shaylyn a massive congratulations! 🩵✨

04/15/2026

We are absolutely thrilled to officially welcome Annie Mousty into the Lead Nelson Youth Apprenticeship Program! 🌟

Annie has shown incredible potential, and we can’t wait to see her grow, learn, and lead as she embarks on this new journey.

Please join us in the comments by giving her a warm welcome and some "congrats" as she takes this big step toward her future! 🩵✨