Teacher Jessica Duenas named Kentucky’s 2019 Teacher of the Year.

Kentucky’s 2019 Teacher of the Year is sixth grade teacher Jessica Duenas of Jefferson County Public Schools in Louisville, Kentucky.

In all, Jessica’s career has spanned ten years. The honored educator, a native of New York, initiated her career in a Brooklyn middle school. After moving to Louisville in 2012, she joined the staff at Shawnee Academy in Jefferson County Public Schools. She later moved to the district’s Highland Middle School. In 2015, she transitioned to Oldham County Middle School. This year, Jessica joined the inaugural staff of WEB DuBois Academy. The school is one of five schools in the nation that supports young boys with an Afro-centric curriculum. The school targets the lowest performing demographic.

In the classroom, Jessica enjoys a reputation for building relationships with struggling students who are often overwhelmed and forgotten. She also serves as an adviser to Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin and Commissioner of Education Wayne Lewis and is a statewide equity trainer. In addition, she is part of the Kentucky Council for Exceptional Children. And if all that wasn’t enough, Jessica mentors Latino students at Adelante Hispanic Achievers. Jessica is a published author as well. She has published articles in The Courier-Journal and Education Week TEACHER.

Jessica earned her Bachelor’s degree in History from Hunter College at the City University of New York. She earned her Master’s degree in Teaching Students with Disabilities from the Brooklyn College at the City University of New York. She has also completed courses in instructional leadership from Bellarmine University located in Louisville.

To learn more about this amazing educator, check out this link: CCSSO.