KENTUCKY — A Fayette County elementary school teacher has been named the 2021 Kentucky Teacher of the Year, as well as Elementary Teacher of the Year.

Fifth-grade teacher Donnie Piercey of Stonewall Elementary School officially earned the titles Oct. 22 when the Kentucky Department of Education, in partnership with Valvoline Inc., presented the awards live.

“This is definitely an honor, and this means a lot. I’m very thankful,” said Piercey. “I’m humbled to be selected and was inspired by all my peers throughout this process."

He added, “The students challenge me every day and push me to be a better teacher.”

In addition to serving as Stonewall's technology coordinator and STLP coach, Piercey teaches English, social studies, math, and science. He's been at the school for three years.

Though he hails from Massachusetts, Piercey previously taught for seven years at Simmons Elementary in Woodford County and four years at Eminence Elementary School in Henry County.

Piercey earned a B.A. in theology from Asbury College before attaining a master's in Elementary Education from Auburn University in Montgomery. Among his accomplishments is being a Google for Education certified innovator and trainer, a National Geographic Grosvenor Teacher Fellow and Educator, and a lead for the Google Earth Education Experts in North America.

Christopher McCurry of Lafayette High School was named High School Teacher of the Year. Photo courtesy of Fayette County Public Schools.

Laura Peavley earned the title of Middle School Teacher of the Year. Photo courtesy of Kentucky Department of Education

Another Fayette County educator, Christopher McCurry, was named the High School Teacher of the Year. McCurry has been at Lafayette High School for 10 years, teaching Dual Credit 101 and 102, Sophomore English, and Advanced African American Literature.

"My approach to my students is that they are people first, students second. I believe that they all want to learn,” he said.

McCurry is a University of Kentucky alumnus. He also studied in Vermont's Bread Loaf School of English at Middlebury College.

To round out the awards, a Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) teacher earned the title of Middle School Teacher of the Year. 

A Chicago native, Laura Peavley has been with JCPS since 2008, beginning at Conway Middle School before moving to Westport Middle School in 2012, where she still teaches math today.

Peavley is a graduate of Miami University in Ohio, where she earned her bachelor's degree in middle childhood education.

"Students really thrive on collaboration in the classroom and learning to learn rather than learning to get a grade," Peavley told KDE. 

KDE and Valvoline determined nine educators as semifinalists earlier this fall. After judges considered a classroom lesson review and interviews with the contenders the elementary, middle, and high school divisions, Piercey received the highest cumulative score. Next, he will represent Kentucky in the national Teacher of the Year competition.

Editor's Note: A previous version of this story referred to Christopher McCurry as Christopher McMurry. The error has been fixed. We regret the error.