(SPRINGFIELD, Ky.) – Washington County Commander Academy teacher Tiffani Ballard has been selected as the district-wide nominee for the Kentucky Rural Education Teacher of the Year, an honor that recognizes her selection to represent Washington County Schools in the statewide selection process. Sponsored by the Kentucky Rural Education Association and Eastern Kentucky University, the award recognizes an educator who demonstrates exceptional dedication, innovation and impact in a rural school and community. Ballard is 2000 graduate of Pike County Central High School. She received a Bachelor of Arts in history and sociology from Morehead State University in 2005. She later earned a Master of Arts in Teacher Leader from the University of the Cumberlands in 2025 and is currently working toward obtaining an Education Specialist degree in Educational Leadership also from UC. Ballard has been employed in Washington County Schools for the past five and a half years, first as a secretary for the special education department before taking on the role of head teacher at Commander Academy, the district’s alternative school, three years ago.

“I pursued the role as teacher at Commander Academy to work with students who need higher supports,” said Ballard. “I saw an opportunity to teach with compassion, foster relationships and meet students where they are emotionally and academically. The best parts of my job are the kids and the relationships I have built with them. Seeing our students re-engaged, confident and happy to be at school is extremely rewarding.” Ballard said she was humbled to learn that she had been nominated for the award. “It makes me feel appreciated when some days I feel like I’m not making a difference. It reaffirms my desire to continue the work with our students, and I am deeply grateful to work in a district that believes in its students and supports educators. I am so thankful to work alongside a dedicated principal and instructional assistants that are committed to the growth of our students.”

“Mrs. Ballard leads Commander Academy with heart, consistency and an unwavering belief in our students,” said Commander Academy Principal Chad Willis. “She creates a safe, structured environment where students feel valued and understood, often for the first time in their educational journey. Her ability to build trust, set clear expectations and celebrate growth, no matter how small, has transformed our program and the lives of the students we serve. I am thrilled that she is on our team, and she is more than deserving to represent Washington County for this award nomination.”

“Mrs. Ballard brings a thoughtful, student-first approach to her work every day,” said Director of Special Education and Director of Student and Staff Supports Amanda Mattingly. “She understands that success looks different for every learner and designs supports that help students re-engage, build confidence, and see a path forward. Her leadership at Commander Academy reflects a deep commitment to helping students overcome challenges and achieve meaningful, lasting growth.”

“Mrs. Ballard has worked tirelessly to ensure that every student, regardless of past challenges and current situation, has the opportunity to succeed,” says WCS Superintendent Dr. Robin Cochran. “Mrs. Ballard never gives up on a student. She individualizes instruction, motivates learners, and consistently teaches them to see life with a ‘glass half full’ mindset. She has secured co-ops, internships, and employment opportunities, while also providing meaningful life experiences through tours of local businesses and industries to build career pipelines. She loves her students like her own and sets high expectations for herself and those she serves, making a lasting difference in her school and community.”

The Kentucky Rural Education Teacher of the Year will be selected from nominees representing school districts across the state.

Washington County Virtual School is now accepting applications for the SPRING SEMESTER of the 2025-2026 school year. Any student in grades 6-12, including current homeschool students living in Washington County, may apply. The application deadline is Friday, December 5, 2025. For questions, parents may email Chad Willis at chad.willis@washington.kyschools.us .

APPLICATION

 

ATTENTION WCS STUDENTS, PARENTS & FAMILIES: We wanted to make you aware of the following change beginning in the 2025-2026 school year!

When students return to school on Monday, August 25, 2025, Washington County Schools will be in compliance with KRS 158.175, mandated by Senate Bill 19, which requires a moment of silence or reflection in all schools. This time will take place at the beginning of the first class of each school day.

According to the statute:

1. The moment of silence or reflection shall be at least one minute, but not more than two minutes.
2. Students are to remain seated and silent and make no distractions, so that each student may meditate, pray or engage in other silent activity which does not interfere with or distract from, or impede other students' exercise of individual choice. Students who are disruptive during this time are subject to being removed from the class and may face other consequences for disruption of the educational process or for being habitually disruptive.
3. School personnel shall not provide instruction to any student regarding the nature of their silent reflection.

PARENTS – Before the start of school, please speak with your child about this change so that they understand the expectations and will be better prepared to use this time in a way that is a beneficial start to their school day.

ParentSquare, the new communication platform, allows parents and guardians in WCS to receive all of their communications from the district, schools, classrooms and school activity groups in one unified app and service.

(SPRINGFIELD, Ky.) – Washington County Schools has launched ParentSquare – a simple and unified school-to-home communication platform – to reach and engage every parent, helping ensure all parents have the opportunity to actively participate in their children’s education. ParentSquare is now available for staff and parents to use on their computers or mobile devices.

By unifying multiple tools into one communications app and service, ParentSquare provides a seamless experience for parents and staff. Parents will be able to keep track of news, activities and events from all their children’s schools in one place.

Washington County Schools’ hopes that ParentSquare’s intuitive, two-way platform will foster greater communication and family involvement. With ParentSquare, parents can enjoy photos posted by teachers, fill out forms and permission slips, sign up for parent-teacher conferences, check grades and attendance, and much more. School staff and parents can engage in both one-to-one and group messaging with real-time language translation.

“In Washington County Schools, we know that strong school-home partnerships are foundational to student success,” says Superintendent Dr. Robin Cochran. “That’s why we’re excited to launch ParentSquare as our new districtwide communication platform. ParentSquare will allow us to deliver timely, consistent, and unified messages while also making it easier for families to engage in meaningful two-way communication with their child’s school. This launch also ensures we are in full compliance with the requirements of Kentucky Senate Bill 181, which calls for districts to adopt a comprehensive platform for school-to-home communication. This is more than just checking a box – using this tool reflects our larger commitment to cultivate, commit and collaborate by creating stronger, more responsive systems that support every learner and family in our district. When communication improves, so does connection – and when families are connected, students succeed.”

Washington County Schools’ partnership with ParentSquare will enable stronger engagement between school and home and help empower everyone within the school community to stay connected and informed. For more information on ParentSquare, please visit www.parentsquare.com.

About ParentSquare™

ParentSquare is relied upon by millions of educators and families in 48 states for unified, effective school communications. ParentSquare provides parent engagement tools that work from the district office to the individual classroom, supported by powerful metrics and reporting. ParentSquare's technology platform features extensive integrations with student information and other critical administrative systems, translation to more than 100 languages, and app, email, text, voice, and web portal access for equitable communication. ParentSquare (http://www.parentsquare.com), founded in 2011, is based in Santa Barbara, CA.

 

 

 

Our Back to School Hub is LIVE!

We're counting down to the first day of school on Monday, August 25, 2025, and you'll find basics like school calendars and supply lists on our Back to School webpage!

Some info and details are still being finalized, so check back often - we're updating regularly!

For school-specific questions, please contact your child's school.

View the Back to School webpage.