Teacher Retention Spotlight: Dr. Lynn Petrey
 New Teacher Retention Tracking Tool Available for Principals
The Kentucky Department of Education is excited to share a new electronic tool designed to help principals easily calculate and track teacher retention data. This tool allows you to monitor how many teachers leave your school each year and the reasons behind their departure.
Research continues to show that the school principal plays one of the most significant roles in teacher retention. Strong, supportive leadership can make the difference between keeping great teachers and facing the constant challenge of replacing them.
With the growing need to retain skilled educators, this tool offers principals a practical way to understand local trends and take informed steps toward building a more stable, thriving school team.
Included are articles of interest that highlight the connection between effective school leadership and teacher retention:
We encourage all principals to try out the new retention tool and share your feedback with any member of the P3 team. Your input will help KDE refine the tool and ensure it meets the real-world needs of school leaders.
Impact Kentucky Working Conditions Survey
The Impact Kentucky Working Conditions survey window closes on Dec. 19. We want to hear from all certified educators! Please contact Elly Gilbert with questions or issues accessing the survey.
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Kentucky Assistant Principal Cohort
December Focus: Handling Discipline Referrals
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Attend the session on Dec. 9 to engage in professional reading and scenario-based breakout discussions centered around handling discipline referrals. Don't miss out on this opportunity to network with other assistant principals across the Commonwealth, build your professional capacity with respect to Professional Standards for Educational Leaders, and share ideas that have proven to work. |
Mark Your Calendar for all Kentucky Assistant Principal Cohort Meetings
- Dec. 9
- Jan. 8
- Feb. 18
- March 10
Monthly virtual meetings will be from 9:30-10:30 a.m. ET and 1:30-2:30 p.m. ET on the Zoom platform. Choose the time that works best for your schedule.
NEW Cognitive Coaching Cohort
Shannon Gullett, from the Kentucky Department of Education's (KDE's) Office of Continuous Improvement and Support, and Keith Griesser, from KDE's Office of Educator Licensure and Effectiveness, will be offering the sixth cohort this spring for Cognitive Coaching certification for classroom, school and district leaders.
This eight-day intensive training supports leaders in learning how to produce self-directed people with the cognitive capacity for excellence. Participants will use intentional structures and tools for planning, reflecting and problem resolving, developing higher levels of efficacy, consciousness, craftsmanship, flexibility and interdependence.
The main focus will be the coaching tools of pausing, paraphrasing and posing questions; the use of effective feedback and mediating thinking through conversational structure and data. Cognitive Coaching is the premier coaching structure for all leaders to use and it is free of charge! This training fills quickly, so please register soon.
The eight required sessions will take place at KDE, located at 300 Sower Blvd., Frankfort, on Feb. 5, 6, 17 and 18; March 25 and 26; and April 23 and 24.
To register, please complete the Cognitive Coaching registration form. Several spots are reserved for schools that are designated MRI, CSI or TSI. Space also is reserved for school leaders who work with the Principal Partnership Project (P3) Team. However, all Kentucky leaders are invited and encouraged to attend.
If you have any questions, please contact Shannon Gullett, Educational Recovery director, or Keith Griesser, Principal Partnership Project leadership specialist.
Kentucky Evaluation Calibration Cadre
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Join with other school leaders on Jan. 27 to engage in professional development through the observation and analysis of classroom lesson videos. Together, we will observe a lesson, align evidence to the performance levels of the Kentucky Framework for Teaching and gauge accuracy with a review of master scores. |
This structured, collaborative process allows you to deepen your understanding of effective teaching practices, enhance your evaluation skills and directly support your school’s growth.
There will be multiple sessions. You can attend them all or any individual session that works for your schedule. EILA credit will be provided for each individual session attended. All sessions will be virtual, so no travel or leaving your building is necessary.
Mark your Calendar for Calibration Cadre Meeting Dates:
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Tuesday, Jan. 27: 8th-Grade Math
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Wednesday, Feb. 25: 3rd-Grade ELA
All meeting times will be 9-10:30 a.m. ET. EILA credit will be available for each session you attend. All sessions are completely free of charge. Meeting links and information will be emailed prior to each session.
Initial Certified Evaluation Training
All NEW EVALUATORS must attend this 2-day, 12-hour EILA credit training, per 704 KAR 3:370 and KRS 156.557 and pass the corresponding assessment. Time is running out to register to complete this training for the 2025-2026 school year. No additional training opportunities will be added, so claim your spot before it is too late.
Virtual Initial Certified Evaluation Training Dates:
- Jan. 21-22, 2026
- Feb. 10-11, 2026
P3 is the ONLY approved provider of the Initial Certified Evaluation Training.
Certified Evaluation UPDATE Training
Per 704 KAR 3:370 and KRS 156.557, all evaluators of certified personnel must earn six hours of evaluation training annually. We only have a few spots available for this last opportunity to attend a P3 Certified Evaluation Update training. Register now to fulfill your annual obligation to complete a 6-hour EILA-approved evaluation training.
Virtual Update Training Dates (Calibration Focus):
Virtual training times are 9 a.m.-4 p.m. ET.
Kentucky Reads to Succeed Summer Conference
The Kentucky Department of Education's (KDE's) Division of Early Literacy invites you to the third annual Kentucky Reads to Succeed Summer Conference on the afternoon of June 8 and all day June 9, 2026.
The conference, which will require registration but will be free to Kentucky's K-12 public school educators, will offer focused learning paths to meet the needs of teachers and administrators. Attendees will learn from KDE's Office of Teaching and Learning consultants and partners about:
- Evidence-based instructional shifts for literacy;
- The benefits of structured literacy;
- Why high-quality instructional resources matter; and
- Available resources for implementing the Read to Succeed Act.
Mark your calendar for this June 8-9 event, and stay tuned for registration information coming in the new year
Check out the Principal Calendar for more professional development opportunities.
The P3 Team would like to wish each of you a Happy Holiday Season. May you finish 2025 strong and may you find peace and rest during your Winter Break. Thank you for allowing us to be a part of your professional journey. If there is anything the P3 Team can do to help as you prepare for the second semester, please do not hesitate to reach out to us.
– Stacy, Keith and Emily
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