Celebrating 50 Years – Bowling Green – Warren County Community Education

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To celebrate our 50th anniversary, we are going to feature important people and events from our history. And there is only one person to start with; Dr. Don Butler, Bowling Green – Warren County Community Education’s first director!

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Originally from Mason County, KY Dr. Butler was hired in July of 1973 after completing his Ph.D. in Community Education and Educational Administration at Michigan State University. Dr. Butler was the first full-time Community Education director in Kentucky and was the Founding Charter President of the Kentucky Community Education Association in 1974. Dr. Butler went on the become the “Father of Community Education” throughout the Commonwealth.

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Looking back on our 50th anniversary, Dr. Butler reflected, “Did we achieve all our goals back then? No, but we did create a vision for the future of Community Education here and across Kentucky. So many people worked tirelessly to achieve where Community Education Bowling Green and Warren County is in 2023 – still evolving to changes, and making a difference in the lives of children, families, adults, and seniors.”

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Dr. Butler still drops by our offices to share stories and encourage our staff. Thank you, Dr. Butler, for all you have done for our community!

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Our next Community Education alumni profile is Ryan Dearbone. After leaving Community Education, Ryan worked in Philanthropy at WKU for several years and is now an Assistant Professor of Broadcasting. Originally from Hopkinsville, Ryan has his Broadcasting degree and Master’s degree in Communications from WKU. Ryan, his wife Bonita, and daughters Echo and Legacy live in Bowling Green.

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Ryan’s roots with Community Education go back over 16 years. “While I was on staff I ran Camp Extreme, the before-school program, and helped with media, marketing and fundraising.” Prior to working at Community Ed, Ryan worked as a Multimedia Journalist in Bowling Green, Hopkinsville, KY/Clarksville, TN, and Lexington, KY. When he left to work at WKU Ryan found a new way to be involved with our mission. “I have been an Advisory Council member and currently serve on the Board where I was the Chair for the past two years.”

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Ryan’s outside interests include his family, watching and playing sports (Go Raiders!), running, music, TV, and relaxing. Ryan also currently serves as President of the Bowling Green-Warren County Chapter of the NAACP.

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The subject of this week’s 50th Anniversary profile doesn’t fit neatly into the alumni category or the Staff category. Bill Oldham, Community Education’s seventh and current Executive Director could be considered both. “I feel I have been involved with Community Education one way or another for most of my adult life.”

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Bill’s daughters, Abbey and Alex, went to the After-School program at McNeill Elementary starting in the late 1990s. Sparked by that connection, Oldham went on to serve on the Advisory Council and eventually the Board of Directors while continuing to work in hospital marketing. His “third career” plan was to work in non-profit management. (Oldham worked in broadcast television production upon graduating from WKU). “Deep in my heart, I have wanted to work at Community Ed for a long time. I’m very fortunate that things worked out the way I hoped they would.” Founding Executive Director Dr. Don Butler chaired the search committee that hired him.

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Three months after Oldham began in his current position, the COVID-19 pandemic shut down all programs operated by Community Education. “It completely blindsided me. I had several very dark months.” Oldham had two major challenges. “I wanted us back up and running so we could serve the families that count on us, and I wanted to care for the staff. It was a very difficult time for them.”

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Bill’s outside interests include his family, making craft lamps upcycling interesting bourbon bottles, and volunteering. Bill serves on the executive committee of the Bowling Green-Warren County Chapter of the NAACP and is the Board chair for Saturday Meals. A native of Indiana, Bill is very proud to be a Kentucky Colonel, having been nominated by his daughter Abbey.
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Debi Wade Jordan’s relationship with Community Education began when she was a single mother working at Western Kentucky University in the mid 1990s.

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“I had no extended family in Bowling Green,” Jordan said. “The school age program allowed me to work while my son was in a safe environment that was both active and educational.”

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In 2000, Jordan, who holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees from WKU, accepted the position of executive director of Community Education.

Under her leadership, Community Education grew to add programs such as Teen Angel, Summer Activities Fair, and Spellabration.

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“Serving the residents of our community is my passion,” Jordan said. “I was most fortunate to be able to do that through Community Education and collaborations with other agencies and organizations, including both local school districts.”

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In addition, Community Education built the first permanent home for the agency on Westen Street during Jordan’s time as executive director.

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She was extremely active in the Kentucky Community Education Association, in which she served in several offices, including president.

Both of her children worked in entry level jobs for Community Education during their college years.

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Jordan retired in 2019 to assist with her aging parents. Her daughter, Bailey Jordan Warner, also was bitten by the Community Education bug and became the agency’s adult enrichment coordinator in November of 2021.

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Nancy (Firkins) Hinten was the fourth Community Education director in Bowling Green/Warren County, serving in that capacity from 1993 to 2000. Before coming to Community Education, Hinten worked in Children’s Ministry at Fountain Square Church, was an aerobics instructor, a bank teller, and a research assistant on a youth substance usage survey. Hinten has a Bachelor of Arts in psychology and a Master of Arts in counseling.

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“The things I am proudest about during my time at Community Education were increasing community involvement with the schools by expanding student involvement in service learning activities (we planted 2,000 trees in the year 2000 on public lands,) the expansion of the school-age care and summer care programs, and the creation of the Youth Activities Program for middle schoolers.”

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The biggest challenges Hinten faced, identification as a quasi-governmental agency and the limitations and advantages for our programs and personnel, are not that different from several of the ones Community Education faces today.

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After leaving Community Education, Hinten worked as development director for a community/school program (Communities In Schools of Wichita/Sedgwick County, Kan.,) planned giving director for Friends University (Wichita, Kan.,) and executive director for Communities In Schools/Pando Initiative.

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“Working for Community Education exposed me to grant writing and community development opportunities. It gave me the opportunity to work with a variety of organizations and groups who were interested in creating programs that would help youth and their families thrive in our community.”

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Now retired, Hinten is married to Marvin D. Hinten and has two children, a stepson, three grandchildren, and a great-grandchild.

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Anne Blane Grubbs came to Community Education to lead the then wrap-around kindergarten program at McNeill Elementary.

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At that time, kindergarten was only a half day. The Community Education program took care of students during the part of the day that students were not in class, allowing parents to work a full day.

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After kindergarten became all day, Grubbs moved into the enrichment and volunteer coordinator position.

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She developed a network of instructors who taught a wide range of classes.

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Grubbs was ahead of her time in offering classes online, way before other entities did.

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The Martinsville, Va., native also was an incredible fundraiser.

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One of the most successful programs that she started at Community Education, Stand For Children Day, remains a tradition providing children and their families with community resources. This year marks the 25th annual Stand For Children event.

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Grubbs was passionate about education at every level.

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When she retired, Community Education established a scholarship named in her honor at Western Kentucky University to be awarded each semester to a Community Education staff member.

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Grubbs died in 2014 and is missed by the entire community.

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Natalie Taylor (Herrington) Gentry came to Bowling Green seeking a bachelor’s degree in early childhood development at Western Kentucky University. She quickly began what would progress into a long-lasting relationship with Community Education.

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Her first position at Community Education was as a student group leader at the Cumberland Trace Elementary after-school program. After spending a few semesters as a group leader, she was promoted to site supervisor and continued in that role throughout college.

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After graduating in 1992, she managed a private daycare center provided for employees of a local business.

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Several years later, she returned to Community Education as director of School-age programs from 1998 through 2008. Part of what brought her back to the agency was the chance to work closely with families and their children on a larger scope than she could in the private sector. Gentry left after purchasing Creative Learning Child Development Center in Bowling Green.

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She credits her combined experiences at our agency and then Executive Director Debi Wade Jordan’s support as helping her take on that and other challenges.

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“The Community Education staff, we were all a big family,” Gentry said. “That family helped me through my father’s passing, my becoming a single parent, and ultimately my decision to explore actually owning a childcare center.”

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After six years, Gentry sold her business to embark on a different journey, allowing her to continue her passion of working with young people, including those outside her new community of Tell City, Ind.

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She and her spouse Bryan Gentry acquired Taylor Tours, a company founded by her late father. Natalie serves as co-owner, vice-president, and hands-on tour escort for young adult school trips to destinations such as New York, Chicago, and Washington, D.C.

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When Gentry is not traveling around the country with her Taylor Tours groups, she spends time with family, including her daughter, Taylor, who grew up in the midst of Community Education programs and also worked here while in college. Gentry enjoys her horses and dogs and is an avid golfer.

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Vivian Foe was born in 1936 and grew up in Smiths Grove, Ky. She attended North Warren school, and had perfect attendance for 11 of her 12 years. After working in the private sector for a year, she returned to her first love of teaching and enrolled at Western Kentucky State College, now known as WKU.

Foe left home to teach in San Diego, California after earning her degree in 1959. “I wanted to go somewhere I had never been,” she said. This would be a recurring theme throughout her life.

She moved back to Kentucky to marry fellow teacher John Foe in August 1960. They have three daughters: Brookie Henry of Bowling Green, Marcia Wozniak of Victoria, Texas, and Lori Hughes of Frankfort, and three grandchildren: Ashton Henry, John Cole Wozniak, and Anne-Grayson Wozniak. One daughter and two grandchildren have carried on the family tradition and become teachers. A substitute teacher for several years, Foe returned to teaching full-time when their daughters were in junior high. She was at L.C. Curry when she was invited to join the Community Education Advisory Council.

Foe has served as chair of the Advisory Council and the Board of Directors, and has worked at nearly all of the 24 Stand for Children Days. She is particularly proud of the current facility on Westen Street that houses the organization. “We were able to purchase the property and remodel the existing building,” which was quite an accomplishment for a non-profit.

“The before and after-school programs provide safe places for children. That is very important,” she says, also mentioning the value of the Enrichment program. “I have enjoyed working with the staff at Community Education.”

A map in the Foe house has pins placed in all 50 states, and in the many countries the couple visited while teaching Vacation Bible School. There are 139 nativity scenes and 300 dolls from around the world. Each year the house is decorated with 18 Christmas trees, and it has been the location for the Community Education holiday potluck for many years. The couple once hosted an exchange teacher from Austria, where Foe returned later to teach.

In retirement, the Foes were active in AARP, Warren County Retired Teachers Association, and Woodmen Life. Foe has also been involved with the Bowling Green Women’s Club, Alpha Delta Kappa sorority, the Ombudsman program, Emmanuel Day Care board, and First Baptist Church. The Foes were married 57 years when John Foe died in 2017.

“I have seen many changes over the years to the schools and to Community Education,” Foe says with pride, knowing that she played an important role in the lives of many school-age children and their families.

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Jason Kupchella’s career has been one focused on education. Kupchella is the Assistant Superintendent/Chief Operations Officer for the Warren County Public Schools and the current chair of the Community Education Board of Directors.

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Born in Louisville, Kupchella has lived in Warren County since he was 16. He is a graduate of WCHS and WKU with a Bachelor’s Degree and Master’s Degree in education and a Rank I in administration.

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Kupchella was a science teacher and Girls’ basketball coach at Warren East Middle School, then the assistant at Warren East High School. After a year as a math teacher and head girls’ basketball coach in Asheboro, NC, Kupchella returned to the area in 1999 as a math and science teacher and head girls’ basketball coach at BGHS. After a year of teaching math at Greenwood High School in 2007, Kupchella moved to Briarwood Elementary, where he was the Assistant Principal and then the Principal. In 2015 Kupchella moved into his current role as the Warren County Public Schools’ Assistant Superintendent.

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Kupchella and his wife have two children – Griffin is a freshman at WKU, and Julia is a junior at Greenwood High School, where she plays basketball and tennis.

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“Community Education is basically an extension of the school system by providing our students before and after school care. I’ve worked with Community Ed a great deal in my years at Briarwood, and now I help as the two systems work together.”

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“I am proud of Community Education for our ability to provide care for families who need the help before and after school, but also that the care is an extension of their school day, not just a ‘babysitting’ service. Also, I love all of the things Community Education provides for the young members of your community, such as Teen Angel and Stand for Children day.”

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Karen Schmalzbauer served as the third Community Education director for 14 years starting in 1978. Dr. Don Butler, Community Education’s first director, was her mentor. “The way Dr. Butler set up Community Education was such an asset,” Schmalzbauer said. “We had access to resources others would have loved to have had.”

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Under her direction, Community Ed grew exponentially. “It was a prime time for Community Education to expand,” she recalled.
Milestones achieved during Schmalzbauer’s tenure include the first after-school program housed in Kentucky schools at McNeill Elementary in 1983, with a second program at Potter Gray Elementary in 1984. By 1991, after-school care expanded to seven sites.

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Super Summer Club was first offered at two elementary schools in 1991.

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Schmalzbauer is most proud of the Bowling Green-Warren County Rape Crisis and Prevention Center (now known as Hope Harbor,) which Community Education helped establish in 1985.

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“A friend who had been raped years earlier was appalled by the lack of resources available to survivors of traumatic events such as hers,” Schmalzbauer said. “We secured funding, advertised for a volunteer director, and opened an office next to ours in the former High Street School facility.” The center started with $500 in funds from the local board of realtors. Schmalzbauer and her friend covered every shift on the crisis line until they could recruit volunteers. The 24/7 crisis line is a critical service Hope Harbor provides today.

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Originally from St. Paul, Minn., Schmalzbauer earned a bachelor’s degree in education in Wisconsin and a master’s degree in adult learning from Western Kentucky University.

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Schmalzbauer left Bowling Green to become the state community education consultant, overseeing all the community education programs in Kentucky for the Department of Education.

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Now retired, Schmalzbauer and Gippy Graham, who held the first community education position at the state level and is credited with facilitating the growth of community education throughout the commonwealth, live in Florida, where she teaches yoga, stretching, and water aerobics. Schmalzbauer has two children and two grandchildren.

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Derick Marr, the principal at Rich Pond Elementary School with Warren County Public Schools, started his career in education when he worked at Community Education in the early 2000s. Marr has a Bachelor of Science degree in Middle Grades, a Master’s degree in Education, and a Rank 1 Instructional Leadership. He and his wife, Christie, have two sons, Tanner and Kye.

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Over Marr’s four years with Community Education, he was a group leader and site supervisor at after-school programs. One of Marr’s proudest accomplishments with Community Education was being an integral part of launching one of the summer camps, Eagle Roc, during its first year in operation. Eagle Roc served students in grades third through fifth.

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“Community Education prepared me to be an educator by working with children, parents, and community members. Being a site supervisor for the afternoon school programs and summer camps helped me develop my leadership skills.”

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“Much of my college career was shaped by the friendships I developed while working with Community Education. It was such a great experience and helped prepare me in so many ways for my career in education.”

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Wes Watt is the Public Information Officer for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District 3 Office in Bowling Green. His experiences while working at Community Education helped prepare him for that career.

“Working for Community Education allowed me to develop a wide range of skills,” Watt said. “I got media experience by going on live television on multiple local stations as well as radio interviews and newspaper interviews.”

Watt began working at Community Education in 2002 as a group leader, now called direct services, at L.C. Curry Elementary School. By the time he left in 2013, Watt was the assistant director of school-age programs.

“Dealing with kids and parents from all types of backgrounds in numerous situations allowed me to develop some in-depth people skills,” Watt said.

“Since I worked at multiple levels at Community Education I was able to develop teamwork skills with my co-workers and supervisor skills in various roles.”

Watt said that the everyday challenges of working with large groups of students and staff at multiple sites developed problem-solving skills.

“All of my experiences while working at Community Education has transferred to all aspects of my life, personally and professionally,” Watt said.

Working at Community Education was rewarding, according to Watt.

“I loved helping the kids with their homework,” he said. “The teachers would sometimes share with me that students’ grades would go up because they were able to get their homework finished in the after-school program. I really felt like I had a positive impact.”

Watt said he runs into several people who, as kids, were in Community Education programs and now as adults work for Community Education or for similar programs.

“It’s really cool to see kids whom I had in our programs now working in them as adults,” Watt concluded.

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Joshua Smith knew from an early age that he wanted to spend his life helping people, wherever that journey might take him. As a young adult, he thought he would accomplish that by entering health care administration, with finance as a double major. However, he had an epiphany three years into working toward an accounting degree at WKU. “I had a conversation with my campus minister, Sami Wilson, who felt God leading her to share with me that I should consider some other options for my life, and that discussion literally changed my life,” Smith said.

Smith completed his accounting degree as planned but switched gears completely by graduating from Asbury Theological Seminary with a Master’s in Arts Pastoral Counseling. Bowling Green had become Smith’s second home while at WKU, so in August 2007, he returned and joined the Community Education staff as the Client Services Representative. In 2012 Smith was offered the position of Enrichment & Volunteer Coordinator, following in the footsteps of Anne Grubbs, which he held for two years before leaving the agency. However, the hiatus did not last long. Smith returned in June 2016 to serve as Volunteer and Outreach Coordinator, ultimately becoming Assistant Director at the end of 2021.

While with Community Education, Smith has served as a volunteer middle school youth director, eventually becoming student pastor, dedicating countless hours of his time and energy. When asked about that experience and the challenges it might have presented with him holding a full-time job, he stated, “I was so fortunate that my second job just naturally went hand-in-hand with my work here at the agency.”

Smith says he is proudest of having a hand in leading Community Education’s Stand for Children Day, the Teen Angel Christmas Assistance Program, and the Volunteers of the Year Awards. “It is truly an honor to serve this community and to be a part of an organization like Community Education with such a great history.”

When not at work, Smith volunteers at his current church and other faith-based organizations, including missions, which remain very important to him. He also enjoys spending quality time with family and friends.

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Originally from the Chicago area, Erin Lightfoot lived near Pittsburg for five years but calls Bowling Green home, living here for 28 years. Lightfoot is the Assistant Director of the School Age Programs at Community Education, a position she has been preparing for all her working career.

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Lightfoot worked part-time in the Before-school and After-school programs for two years while a student at WKU. After receiving her Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education, Lightfoot joined Community Education full-time, working 17 in an administrative position of some capacity.

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“I started working at Community Education as a young college student working towards becoming a teacher. Once I graduated college, I realized that while I still wanted to work with children, the classroom environment wasn’t meant for me. I joined the administration side of Community Education, and I love that I have different ways to be impactful to students and families.”

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Aside from being employed with Community Education, Lightfoot was also a parent of the programs. “My son, JD, grew up in the programs and now serves on our Advisory Board. Seeing how the after-school programs impacted him and many of his friends is amazing. They still talk about their experiences to this day.”

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Asked what she is proudest of accomplishing while at Community Education, Lightfoot responded, “I don’t think there’s just one thing. I’ve accomplished much over 19 years with my colleagues’ help. At the height of programming before COVID, I oversaw 27 before and after-school programs, a summer program serving close to 200 students, and many all-day programs to help working families. We are working hard to get back to our pre-pandemic levels in terms of the number of families we can serve.”

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Lightfoot lives with her husband Brent, their son JD, and three slightly spoiled dogs.

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Before coming to Community Education, Rhonda Bartley Roye worked as head caterer and prep manager at one of Bowling Green’s fine dining restaurants. When the restaurant was sold with little warning, she knew her life needed a new direction. As a nontraditional student, she enrolled at SKYCTC and graduated with a board-certified diploma in Business Technology. While enrolled, she worked evenings at the school as an office assistant.

In 2000, Roye was hired by Debi Wade Jordan, the Executive Director of Community Education, as a part-time administrative assistant. Roye says, “Even though I really needed more hours, something told me to accept the offer. I felt it was where I belonged, somehow.” Within a short period, she transitioned to full-time hours with benefits. In that position, she experienced many aspects of CE, from human resources, accounts payable, school-age programs, community outreach, and enrichment—including teaching classes.

Roye was offered the position of Accounts Receivable and Billing Specialist in 2007, where she continues to work today. During this time, she returned to SKYCTC to further her education and received her Associate of Applied Sciences degree with honors. She was honored to serve on and chair the school’s Business Studies Advisory Committee for many years. In August, she will celebrate her 23rd anniversary with Community Education.

When asked what she is most proud of accomplishing here, Roye says, “Being able to help the families we serve and making their lives easier in some way is paramount.” She also says that volunteering in the community, from mentoring students to the time she spends at a local food bank, “has been very special to me.”

Roye is a Bowling Green native and an alum of Warren Central High School and Southcentral Kentucky Community & Technical College. She is married to her husband of 15 years, Steve. She enjoys traveling, perusing estate sales, and is an old movie buff.

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When School Age Programs Coordinator Jarrod Shive was getting his bachelor’s degree from WKU, he planned on teaching social studies to middle-grade students. He didn’t know it then, but taking a part-time job at Community Education would change his plans.

“While taking classes, I worked part-time at Community Education in the before and after school programs. After I graduated in 2013, I was hired as an intern to help in the Community Education office. In March 2014, I received a full-time position. I was and still am so thankful this opportunity was presented to me. I love being able to interact with students and families in this capacity. The memories I’ve created over the years will last a lifetime.”

Shive explains that working at Community Education prepared him for the rest of his career. “I tell our part-time staff that working in a before or after-school program at Community Education can help prepare you for any field you may go into, not just education. The number of soft skills you learn working with students and families is invaluable. This was especially true for me. I am so grateful for the time I spent in the before and after-school programs while in college. I believe this time adequately equipped me with skills that I use daily.”

When asked what he is proudest of accomplishing at Community Education, Shive had to try hard to narrow it down to one thing. “The broad answer would be hiring and overseeing the part-time staff members to work in our programs. We have an awesome staff base that makes this possible! So many working families depend on our programs to keep their students in a safe and enriching environment during out-of-school time.”

Shive’s job is not without challenges, however. “During the pandemic, there were a lot of unknowns which was quite unsettling. We had some regulation and staffing hurdles, as did almost everyone. That period proved to be quite challenging. But we rallied together and weathered the storm. We are in a much better spot than we were this time last year, and we hope that trend continues!”

Originally from Tompkinsville, Shive and his family moved to Bowling Green when he was in middle school. Shive and his wife, Kristi, have a son, Paxton, who is 5. “Being a dad has been the most rewarding and fun part of my life! He keeps us very busy as we’re always looking for a new adventure.” In his spare time, Shive loves being outdoors, hunting, fishing, and spending time with his family and church family.

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Christy Vickery, originally from Tompkinsville, KY, graduated from WKU in December of 2005, earning her Bachelor of Arts in Advertising. She began her career working for a local attorney assisting them with their marketing plan. In 2009 she moved to Pensacola, Florida where she worked as the Guest Services Manager for the local mall. In 2014 she returned to Bowling Green to be able to raise her daughter closer to family. Christy joined the Community Education team in 2016 as our Client and Administrative Assistant.

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Over the years, Christy has worked with parents to get their students registered for our many school-age programs, clients with our Enrichment program, and with all our events. Most recently she was asked to be on and chair the 50th anniversary committee. “I am very proud of the work that I am doing to help our office and our community celebrate such a significant milestone.” She has faced some challenges along the way, “When planning the open house, we decided we wanted to use pictures from the last fifty years. It was a challenge getting the many years of pictures sorted, selected, and organized into categories for framing, but now that it’s done, I couldn’t be happier with how it turned out.”

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“As a working parent, I know the importance of what Community Education offers to our community and I am very proud to be a part of it.”

Christy lives with her husband, Josh, her daughters, Audrey and Lyla, and one spoiled dog named Douglas.

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“I started working in Community Education’s Super Summer Club seven years ago just as a bridge from one full-time preschool teaching position to what I thought would be a different job once summer was over. I soon realized I absolutely loved what Community Education does for families and knew I wanted to continue being able to work with them.” That’s how Katie Johnson describes her time starting at Community Education.

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Johnson has worked in and out of childcare and preschools since she was 18 and babysat kids of all ages as early as she can remember. As the School-Age Programs/Human Resources Assistant, Johnson is often the first person perspective staff talk to.

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“I’m proud to assist in creating ways to organize our multiple programs and working on staffing situations for our school-age programs.”

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Once summer camp was over in 2016, Johnson took over as supervisor at Alvaton and then began helping in the Community Education office. “It was a struggle at times because there wasn’t an office position in place. However, as our programs continued to grow, the need for more assistance in the hiring process opened up a job for me to become a regular part-time office staff member.”

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“I love getting to see firsthand the experiences the programs offer and how they affect our students.”

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Johnson isn’t just a staff member. She is also a Community Education client.

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“I love that my son has opportunities to play with friends and be active during afterschool instead of sitting at home bored or playing video games.”
Johnson and her husband of 13 years, Josh, have two children; Everlee, four, and Lucas, eight. The Johnsons enjoy living in Warren County.

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Kim Mills Papp has overseen Accounts Payable, Payroll, and Human Resources for the past two and a half years. With her outgoing personality and genuine interest in others, it seems like Papp has been a part of the Community Education team for much longer.

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“Other than entering the staff’s payroll information, I don’t work much with the before and after school programs. However, I do interact with as many of our part-time staff as possible. I enjoy making new relationships with them.” Staff members have come to expect Papp to greet them by name when they come into the office.

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Born in Louisiana, Papp grew up in Bowling Green, attending Warren Central High School and WKU, where she received her degree in Accounting and Business & Marketing Education.

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Before being hired by Community Education, Papp’s professional experience was in the healthcare Industry doing various human resources and accounting tasks. “My biggest challenge was going from a profit mindset to a non-profit mindset. I enjoy my time here and am very happy to have transitioned to Community Education.”

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Papp and her husband, Allen, have a son (Alex) and a daughter (Alizabeth). They also have two grandsons with whom they love to spend time together.

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Community Education is fortunate to have an enrichment coordinator who also is their resident artist.

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Meet Bailey Jordan Warner, whose Community Education roots run deep.

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Warner said Community Education has been part of her family as long as she can remember. Her mother was the executive director for nearly 20 years.

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Warner’s first personal experience with Community Education was attending the afterschool program as a kindergartner at McNeill Elementary. She continued participating in afterschool and all-day programs throughout her years at Bowling Green Junior High.

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“I think Community Education has been a big part of who I have grown up to be,” Warner said. “Many of my connections in the community have come from my time in Community Education programs, volunteering for Teen Angel, and now, being enrichment coordinator.”

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Degrees from Western Kentucky University in art and fine arts, with minors in business administration and marketing, made Warner an excellent fit for the position that coordinates and promotes enrichment classes.

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She enjoys working with instructors and clients, and especially likes using her artistic abilities to design countless advertisements, flyers, promotional items, shirts, and more for Community Education.

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“One of my proudest achievements with Community Education’s graphics is bringing the birds in our logo to life and giving them fun, quirky personalities,” Warner said.

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So the next time you see a bird in our logo wearing snorkeling gear, a Santa hat, or dressed like a turkey, you will know whose talents created that.
Warner came to Community Education from Warren County Public Library, where she was an assistant librarian and art teacher.

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The Bowling Green native lives here with her husband, Chase Warner, and their two cats.

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Community Education has been fortunate to hire some of the best community collaborators over the years. Christopher Lauth, who came to us with a background in higher education and nonprofits, was one of them.

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Lauth was Community Education’s associate director and enrichment coordinator.

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“As someone who values community and civility, I was most proud to meet members of our community and discover how much talent and expertise we had among ourselves,” Lauth said.

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“It was incredibly rewarding to leverage the strength of our community by providing a pathway for people to share their talents, skills, and passions with others,” he continued. “All people experience satisfaction in sharing and learning from others. In a way, we weren’t just providing education but connecting like-minded people and forming friendships. How could you not love doing that work!”

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Lauth said his biggest challenge while at Community Education was navigating the early period of the COVID-10 pandemic.

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“We really didn’t have all the information, but we had to do the best we could and communicate expectations to our families and clients,” Lauth said. “We quickly pivoted to enable remote work and move enrichment classes online.”

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Lauth, who holds a bachelor’s degree from Flagler College and a master’s degree from Canisius College, is now the director of operations for Ronald McDonald House Charities in Tampa Bay, Fla.

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He said he is blessed to find rewarding careers serving others. In this new role, he leads a team of caring individuals who support families while their children receive life-saving medical care in the local hospital and from medical partners.

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“When you work in the nonprofit field, you wear many hats,” Lauth said.

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Working at Community Education prepared Lauth for his current position in countless ways, but he said two stand out.

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First was the wide latitude he had at Community Education to continue learning and practicing in a variety of areas, including people management, family management systems, technology, and other fun projects.

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“The second was seeing how important making connections with others is to expand your mind, horizons, and your network of friends to help support you through all of life’s journeys,” Lauth said.

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“I was immensely proud to be a part of the team at Comm Ed and was especially proud of Bowling Green-Warren County for the resources they put into creating such a robust and adaptive Community Education in our county,” Lauth said. “We are incredibly lucky to have such an organization in our county.”

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Lauth said the people he came to call his work family at Community Education meant more to him than they will ever know. “They enriched my time in Bowling Green,” said the Great Meadows, N.J. native. “I’m excited to see what the future holds for this great organization and this great team!”

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Lauth lives in Tampa Bay with his dog and constant companion, Bernie.

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Originally from Owensboro, KY, Elliott Law ventured down to Western Kentucky University to earn a bachelor’s degree in biology. During his time at WKU, Law worked part-time in the after-school program for a year and a half. After receiving his bachelor’s degree, Law finished his education at the University of Louisville, gaining his master’s degree in business.
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Over the year and a half Law was with Community Education, he was an assistant supervisor and later site supervisor for after-school programs. Law states that his time spent in the programs helped prepare him in areas for the rest of his career.

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“[Community Education] helped me multitask school and work and ensured that I prioritized my time properly.” And while he would “face challenges during snack-time getting the kids’ attention,” when asked what he was proudest of accomplishing while in his positions, Law responded, “being a role model for many of the kids.”
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Though Law had to move on from the after-school programs to pursue his career, he is still involved with Community Education through the enrichment program. Since becoming a Medicare Sales Representative for Humana in 2018, Law offers Medicare classes to the community almost monthly through the program.
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Law continues to live in Bowling Green with his wife, Cassidy, and their two cats.

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It is a true pleasure to highlight Daniel McCoy this week. McCoy is starting his 18th year as a professional educator.
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“I never planned to be an educator,” he said. “The experience I gained through Community Education led me to the classroom.”

McCoy said he began working in the after-school programs during the fall semester of 1998. “Community Education was my first regular job,” he said.

He continued working as a group leader and site supervisor at various before and after-school sites and summer programs while he pursued his undergraduate and graduate degrees at Western Kentucky University.
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McCoy holds a special place in the agency’s history. He created Community Education’s first website in 2001.
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Since his time with Community Education, McCoy began teaching in Ohio County in 2006 and has held various positions, including special education teacher, technology resource teacher, and preschool coordinator.
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He also earned his education specialist degree from the University of the Cumberlands during that time.
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This fall McCoy begins a new chapter in his education career as he begins a position teaching special education at Bowling Green High School.

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Jennifer Shoemake has made caring for children in one capacity or another her life’s work, which began at an early age. She enjoyed babysitting and a co-op class at Bowling Green High School, which allowed her to work with Dishman McGinnis Elementary School preschool children.
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Shoemake started her career with Community Education during the summer of 1995. “I was fresh out of high school and applied to work at the summer camp program.” When the school year rolled around, she transitioned to working as a group leader for the McNeill Elementary after-school program and then as site supervisor at Potter Gray.
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Shoemake experienced several changes and challenges in her career with us, eventually becoming part of the office staff as an Area Coordinator. This required her to oversee multiple after-school sites and staff members. “I think my professional growth during my time at Comm Ed is something I am most proud of,” said Shoemake as she recounted some of her good works with the agency. “My years there were some of the best in my life! Not only did I get great work experience, I also developed life-long friendships that I still cherish.”
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Shoemake received her Associate’s Degree from WKU in 2005. She left Community Education to become the Family Resource Center Coordinator at T.C. Cherry Elementary after graduating. There she provides invaluable services to many students and their families. Her connection with our agency continues today through our staff members serving on the FRC Advisory Council and other collaborative efforts.
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Shoemake spends her leisure time shopping, attending concerts, and traveling.

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From the little town of Battletown, KY, Ashley Melloy grew her love for working with school-age children during college. While a student at WKU, Melloy majored in Psychology, graduated Summa Cum Laude, and became a Specialist in Education/School Psychology in 2012. Over the years, she has worked at Simpson County Schools, Hardin County Schools, and Meade County Schools as a Nationally Certified School Psychologist.

Before Community Education, Melloy babysat and worked at a golf course. In 2007 Community Education was fortunate to have her come aboard as a group leader and site supervisor at an after-school program and the previously known Super Summer Club program until 2009.

According to Melloy, “Working at Community Education prepared me for my career because I was able to discover my love for working with school-aged children. I also had the opportunity to become a supervisor, which prepared me with leadership skills and organizational skills. It also prepared me to be a team player with coworkers and build relationships with students and parents. I loved my time with Community Education, and it was the perfect job for me while attending college. I don’t recall facing any challenges during my time at Community Education.”

Melloy and her husband, Kyle, love to spend time with their three-year-old son, Grant, and dog, Fin. They enjoy spending time with family and friends, traveling, and boating on the lake.

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Beth Moore currently lives in Memphis, TN but grew up in Portland, TN. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in public health from WKU and her Associate of Applied Science in Radiology Technology degree from Vol State Community College in Gallatin, TN. She is the Lead Interventional Radiology Technologist at Vascular Interventional Physicians.

Moore started her Community Education journey in 2003 as a group leader at Natcher After School. She worked at the previously known summer program, YAP, with the middle schoolers. In her last year with Community Education, she took the full-time position of Area Coordinator.

When talking about her time with Community Education Moore says, “To be honest, I was not a fan of small children. Yet, I still applied for a job to work at Community Education. I had a friend who worked there, and she said that it was a decent job with the added bonus that they were not open on weekends. That meant having my weekends free! I thought to myself that three hours after school every day won’t hurt me. So, I took the job, and I am forever thankful that I did!”

According to Moore, her experiences while working at Community Education taught her many things.

1.) KIDS ARE BRUTALLY HONEST.

“There were several times when I asked the kids questions and they did not hold back with their opinions. For example, one day I was talking with a student, and I mentioned that I was going to get a haircut. The first thing out of their mouth was, “You’ll look ugly if you cut your hair.” I was so caught off guard that all I could do was laugh and thank them for their opinion.”

2.) YOU WILL HAVE SO MANY NEW BEST FRIENDS UNDER THE AGE OF 10.

“The most heartwarming moments were when the children would tell me I was their favorite “teacher.” I had many kids that only wanted to hang out with me. Everyone knew which kids favored which teacher. My favorite thing was when I would walk into work and there would be five or six of them waiting at the door asking me to play kickball or Phase 10.”

3.) YOU’LL GET TO EMBRACE YOUR INNER 5-YEAR-OLD EVERY DAY.

“Yes, I did have to be the mature one most of the time. But I really did get to embrace my inner child while I was at work. How many 20-year-olds answer that yes, they get paid to play kickball and go play tag outside… not many.”

4.) POSITIVITY IS KEY.

“The most important thing I learned from my days with the kids was that every situation has the potential to be a positive one. Having to be the role model and mediator for all the kids I oversaw, I quickly learned that positivity is key. I realized that if I was looking at things with a positive outlook, the kids would do the same. This made my job a lot easier and their days a lot better. This is something that has carried over into my daily life and improved it. Now when I am faced with a challenge, I try to face it with positivity.”

“All these things that I have learned through working with children have made both my job and my everyday life more enjoyable. I have learned that sometimes you just must be brutally honest with people, that you must take time to have fun, and that being positive will make a world of difference.”

While working at Community Education Moore made many lifelong friends, but most importantly she met her husband, Brad, of 12 years. They have a 4-year-old son, Maddux. Moore is grateful she was able to keep in touch with a few of the kids from her time at Community Education through social media. Seeing them thrive as adults and parents is a great feeling.

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Ashley Buchanon had this to say when asked for information to be used in this profile. “I am so thankful for this opportunity to reflect on my time at Community Education. It truly was a mighty building block for my success as a teacher, even at this point in my life. The confidence I gained in various roles and the experiences I had each school year are priceless. Without my time there, I may have never sought out opportunities such as becoming a Kentucky Math Teacher Leader, a Go Teach Kentucky Ambassador, or a recipient of a Valvoline Teacher Achievement Award Winner in Frankfort.”

Buchanon attended Warren East High School and continued her education at WKU, where she received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education with an endorsement in gifted education. “Following Community Ed, I completed my student teaching and was hired just after graduation as a teacher at Rockfield Elementary.” Buchanon has been employed in Warren County schools for 14 years and is currently an Elementary Education classroom teacher at Rockfield Elementary School in Warren County.

“Prior to working at Community Education, I volunteered as a Big Sister through Big Brothers and Big Sisters Club of Southern Kentucky. I discovered Community Ed because my Little attended one of the afterschool programs. I asked a site leader about his experience and whether he would recommend working there.” That site leader recommended Community Ed; Buchanon applied and served as a group leader and later a site leader.

“My proudest moments would be reflecting on the opportunities I was given and where I have been in my profession. Natalie (Harrington) Taylor was a driving force in challenging me to be a site leader and found ways to use my talents in education to make Comm Ed programs fun and engaging for the kids. She saw my leadership skills, and I am so grateful.”

Buchanon says that working at Community Education helped her with one of the most foundational pieces of a successful teaching career: relationships.

“From the group and site leaders becoming my friends and attending events with them like the annual Spelling Bee or Homecoming Parade to the custodians and school staff inviting me to their church or the school field day, I began to understand the importance of each role in our program and the school. Also, learning that to have relationships with our afterschool students, time chatting, making melting beads, pushing them on the swing, or even engaging with their parents during pick-up was preparing me to become an educator.”

Buchanon and her husband, Chris, a Bowling Green firefighter, have three children: Corbin (9), Amelia (6), and Charlotte (1).

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Originally from Mundfordville in Hart County, Adam Hatcher earned a B.A., M.A., and Rank 1 from Western Kentucky University. Hatcher is the principal at Greenwood High School in Warren County and has over 20 years of experience as an educator. In addition, Hatcher has coached and officiated multiple sports.

However, one of his fondest professional memories happened when he was on the staff of a summer program offered by Community Education.

“I would argue that Jr Hayes and I taught the most expensive and successful summer class ever, ‘Grilln and Chilln.’ Any middle school student attending that year’s YAP summer camp will fondly remember that class!” (Former Executive Director Debi Wade Jordan, who had a son in the program then, says the barbequed hot dogs that year were “legendary!” So much so that Jordan’s son, Ted, prepared them at their family beach gathering in May.)

Hatcher worked at Community Education for six years, eventually leaving to become a teacher and coach at Franklin Simpson High School.

“Community Education taught me that one of the most essential elements of any successful organization is creating a positive culture.” Asked what he is proudest of accomplishing while at Community Education, Hatcher replied, “Every before and after school program I worked with had an excellent rapport with the families and schools we served. I still have former students from 20 years ago who are now adults, reminiscing about how much fun the summer YAP program was for them.”

Hatcher is married to Pauletta Hatcher, a Warren County Public Schools social worker. They have two daughters attending Greenwood High School; Lindley, a senior, and Keeley, a freshman.

“I have so many positive experiences from Community Education, and it was due to the high-quality people (former director) Debi Wade Jordan hired. I am extremely grateful and appreciative of my time at Community Education.”

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Not everyone who works in the school-age programs at Community Education gets a degree in a child-related subject or goes on to pursue a career working with students. Emily (Ulber) Lintner is one such person.

Linter has a Bachelor’s degree in News/Editorial Journalism and a master’s degree in Organizational Communication, both from WKU. “I’d completed a couple of newspaper internships during undergrad but felt myself being pulled more toward a career in communications and marketing. After graduation, I applied for a part-time position at Community Education, managing McNeill’s after-school program, and that turned into a full-time job as Communications Coordinator.”

Linter worked for Community Education from 2011 to 2014 and is currently the Member Experience Program Delivery Lead at Humana in Louisville. “I started working in pharmacy communications at Humana in 2014 and just celebrated my ninth anniversary at the company in May 2023. I now focus on member experience and marketing strategy.”

Linter says she developed several skills working at Community Education that helped prepare her for the rest of her career.

“I was able to hone so many different skills there; problem-solving, project management, communication, leadership, public speaking, etc. What started as a part-time position at McNeill turned into so much more. I’m eternally grateful to (former Executive Director) Debi Wade Jordan and the rest of the Community Ed team for the opportunity!”

“Working for a nonprofit often means wearing many different hats,” according to Linter. “In addition to my work in communications and fundraising, I spent time as an after-school program supervisor at McNeill and was in charge of the Eagle ROC summer camp. I also created the monthly parent newsletter template for each after-school program, helped oversee our yearly Spellabration fundraiser, and managed our social media accounts and TV/radio appearances. Those were very long but rewarding days. The school-aged program staff is truly the backbone of Community Ed!”

Originally from Owensboro, Linter and her husband and fellow WKU graduate Jonathan are the proud parents of their six-month-old son Henry.

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A family friend of Erica Dowdy worked with Community Education and encouraged her to apply because they loved their job there.

“I worked at Community Education for four years. I became very passionate about the job and loved the support that Community Ed gave me along the way.” Dowdy started at Potter Gray Elementary as a group leader. Upon learning about the Summer program at McNeill and TC Cherry, she decided to work there as well.

Dowdy, a dedicated advocate for child development and family empowerment, hails from Bowling Green. Her educational foundation, a Bachelor’s degree in Family and Consumer Science and a Certificate in Home Visits from WKU, is evident by her commitment to nurturing growth as a mother to two sons aged 10 and 8 and in her professional pursuits. “My sons keep me going, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. They are very active in sports and school.”

Dowdy says her proudest accomplishment was when she became site supervisor for the program at Bristow Elementary, where she worked for three years. “My biggest challenge was when 20 extra students were bussed from Oakland Elementary to our site!” She says handling this situation was her most significant accomplishment at Community Education, underscoring her leadership and unyielding commitment to progress.

Post-Community Education, Dowdy embarked on a new chapter with the Bowling Green Independent School District, solidifying her commitment to catalyzing positive change in young lives. Dowdy started working as a Special Education assistant at McNeill Elementary in August 2008. Later that same year, she transferred to Parker-Bennett-Curry Elementary, where she worked with Special Education students until 2012. In 2017, Dowdy was named the Family Resource Coordinator for Dishman-McGinnis Elementary.

In her current role, Dowdy spearheads initiatives that uplift families and champion student well-being. Her career’s inception, however, traces back to her formative years as a babysitter, igniting a passion for supporting young minds.

“I am passionate about helping others, the outdoors, spending time with family and friends, and my faith. I love working with children and their families.” Dowdy says she takes pride in knowing that so many families she works with feel comfortable coming to her for help or advice.

“Community Education helped to prepare me for this journey. I am very thankful that I was able to work with such a great organization that supports their staff and gave me a foundation for the work I do now.”

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Karen Manley is a fixture at Community Education. Currently the WCPS Family Resource Coordinator at Natcher Elementary, Manley serves on the Community Education Advisory Council and was previously employed by Community Ed for 16 years.

“As supervisor of the after-school program at McNeill, I tried to incorporate fun traditions. Two activities included the annual McNeill vs. Potter Gray Dodgeball Tournament and our weeklong End of Year Celebration. The Dodgeball Tournament gave both schools the chance to show off their dodgeball skills while being cheered on by parents and fellow students. The week-long End of Year events included the No Talent Talent Show, where anyone could showcase their talent (or lack thereof), remote control car races, gutter sundaes, and the infamous water day. I still have kids and staff who were in the program tell me how those were some of their best memories of after-school.”

Manley enjoyed working closely with the college students who worked as staff. “I am still in contact with many of them, and it’s been gratifying and exciting to see them grow into amazing adults and excel in life!”

Before working for Community Education, Manley served as Program Director for Girls Incorporated and had served as Volunteer Coordinator for the Foster Grandparent Program. Manley and her husband, Brian, have three children.

“My time at Community Education allowed me to grow both personally and professionally which helped prepare me for my position as a Family Resource Coordinator with Warren County Public Schools. I firmly believe working within the walls of a school as a Community Education employee provided me with a unique perspective and experience in the education world. Whether it be working with student groups, problem-solving, planning large-scale events, organizing programs, budgeting, or daily encounters with students, parents, staff, and volunteers; my experience as a Community Education employee has helped me in my approach to the tasks I am faced with daily.”

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Meet Korey Vaughn, a 6th-grade teacher at Bristow Elementary who brings a fresh and vibrant perspective to the classroom.

Prior to landing at Community Education, Vaughn’s early experience was mostly with very young students, thanks to a program he participated in during high school in Elizabethtown. Little did he know this early interaction with young learners would set the stage for a career in education.

“Before Community Education, I had only worked with preschool and kindergarten students,” said Vaughn. “Throughout my five years at Community Education, I got to work with students in Kindergarten through Eighth grade.” That experience helped shape the teacher he has since become.

One of the challenges he faced at Community Education was helping co-lead summer camp with students and staff from diverse backgrounds for several years and learning how to best serve all of the present needs. This helped teach Vaughn a great deal about adaptability and the art of catering to various learning styles.

“Working at Community Education has prepared me for the rest of my career because I got valuable experience working with students and families before I started my teaching career. I learned many things that made my transition into my own classroom much easier for both my students and myself.”

His time at Community Education helped launch a bright teaching career, arming Vaughn with insights and skills to make the classroom a lively, engaging, and unforgettable place.

When asked what he is most proud of from his time working at Community Education, Vaughn replied, “I am most proud of the relationships I have been able to build with students and families that still last to this day.” Those connections testify to Vaughn’s ability to make a lasting impact. And he’s just getting started.

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Alvaton Elementary’s principal, Pauletha Butts, represents the stories of many educators who worked in Community Education programs early in their careers. Her success underscores the valuable foundation and experience gained from Community Education, highlighting the lasting impact of such programs on professional growth and leadership development.

Prior to working for Community Education, Butts worked as a substitute teacher and an Instructional assistant. Asked how working at Community Education prepared her for the rest of her career, she had this to say. “Working at Community Education provided me with valuable experiences and skills that have greatly influenced my career trajectory. Supervising and tutoring a diverse group of students exposed me to various learning styles, behavioral challenges, and individual student needs. This experience helped me in differentiating instruction to meet the needs of students. Moreover, the relationships I have are fostering a positive and supportive environment.”

Butts completed a master’s degree in education-special education, a Rank 1 in School Administration with a principal certification, and is currently pursuing a doctorate in Educational Leadership.

“After leaving Community Education, I embarked on a career as a special education teacher, focusing on students with Learning and Behavioral Disabilities (LBD). I dedicated several years to honing my skills in this field, working closely with students who required specialized support and individualized instruction.”

“While working for Community Education, I am proudest of the relationships I built with the kids and the positive impact I had on their learning experiences,” Butts said. “I dedicated myself to supervising and tutoring the students in the after-school program, ensuring they received the support they needed to succeed academically. Additionally, during the summer camps, I made it a priority to create engaging and enjoyable learning activities that kept the students motivated and excited about learning.”

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The four years Bowling Green Junior High School principal Robert Lightning spent working for Community Education helped prepare him for a successful career in education.

“Working at Community Education exposed me to the diverse needs and challenges of students from different backgrounds and abilities. The experience instilled in me a deep sense of empathy, adaptability, and inclusivity, which have been integral in my approach to education. As a principal, I prioritize creating a supportive and inclusive school environment that celebrates diversity and provides tailored support for each student’s individual needs.”

Originally from Guthrie, KY, Lightning served as an after-school and summer counselor for the Housing Authority of Bowling Green before coming to Community Education. He received a B.S. in Elementary Education, Mathematics Specialist Certification, and his M.A. in School Administration K-12.

Lightning’s proudest accomplishment while at Community Education was helping students grow academically and socially. “My biggest challenge was finding ways to connect with each student individually since Community Education provides services to our large, diverse community.”

After graduation, Lightning went on to first serve as a 5th-grade teacher at L.C. Curry and Parker-Bennett-Curry Elementary School. “My tenure at Community Education allowed me to develop a deep understanding of the importance of community engagement and collaboration in education. Through various community outreach programs and initiatives, I learned how to build strong relationships with parents, students, and community members.”

Lightning and his wife, Lavette, have a son, Gavin, and a daughter, London, a freshman attending the University of Louisville.

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Kaitlyn Ball, originally from Lexington, pursued her education at WKU, attaining dual Elementary and Special Education certifications. After graduation, Ball returned to Lexington and is a 1st Grade LBD (Learning and Behavior Disorders) Special Education Teacher. Before her time at Community Education, Ball gathered valuable experience through babysitting and working at a daycare in her hometown. Her tenure at Community Education spanned 1.5 years.

Ball’s proudest achievement during her time at Community Education was being able to create a safe, quiet space within the summer camp. This area served as a sanctuary for children who needed a break from emotional turmoil, offering them a haven to regain control over their feelings and actions.

Ball faced the challenge of navigating novel behaviors among the children and strived to find tailored solutions to meet each child’s unique needs.

Reflecting on her time at Community Education, Ball acknowledges its impact on her career. “It equipped me with crucial leadership skills, honed my parent communication abilities, and provided insights into state regulations governing childcare and schools. The experience also helped me to refine behavior management techniques and craft interesting educational activities.”

“I am immensely grateful for my time at Community Education. It was an ideal launchpad for learning how to manage my own classroom.” Ball emphasizes her genuine enjoyment of her job there and how it laid the foundation for her current role as a teacher.

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Kay-Dee Vales teaches biology at Warren East High School. Vales worked in the School-Age Program at Community Education for four years while studying at WKU to be a teacher.

We asked Vales how working at Community Education prepared her for the rest of her career. “It helped prepare me to handle almost any situation. From discussing with parents, teachers, and kids. For my classroom teaching, it made me more adaptable to student needs and even emergency situations.”

“If you are considering being a teacher, I highly recommend working at Community Education. Not only will it prepare you for your future classroom, but it will also give you multiple strategies you can use. If you do not want to become a teacher and just love working with kids and great people, then still apply. I absolutely loved all my coworkers and bosses. Erin and Jarrod are amazing and can make any environment super fun, but they also accomplish things.”

What are you proudest of accomplishing while at Community Education? “It gave me a lot of preparation for the day I got to be in my own classroom and work with kids. I loved working with kids and interacting with them and their parents. I currently teach at Warren East High School, where I am proud to have encountered multiple students that I have had through Community Education!”

“I cherish all the people I met in my four years at Community Ed. Seeing those students grow up and seeing them again makes my heart so happy! You are making a difference in this program, and I am proud to say I got to be a part of that!”

Originally from Harrington, Delaware, Vales, her fiancé Mark Johnson, and their children Kay-Lee and Kimberly live in Bowling Green.

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Working with children from diverse backgrounds in Community Education programs while a student at WKU presented its share of challenges to Brad Moore. Moore had to learn to navigate through varying attitudes, strengths, and weaknesses, determining the best approach to handle different situations based on each child’s unique personality and needs. It was a complex task at times.

“My proudest accomplishment was positively impacting the lives of children who may not have the best home life. We achieved this by providing them with after-school and all-day programs they looked forward to attending. This helped create a supportive environment for these young individuals, offering them opportunities for growth and development.”

Moore worked in Before and After school programs from 2005-2008.

The experience Moore gained at Community Education proved invaluable in shaping his career. “It taught me patience and teamwork. These principles have stayed with me and have been instrumental in my journey to becoming a successful business owner.”

After his time at Community Education, Moore relocated to Nashville, Tennessee, where he initially worked in an environmental laboratory. He subsequently transitioned into the field of environmental consulting. Today, he is the Owner/President of two successful companies, one a plumbing and water restoration company and the other an environmental services company, in Memphis, Tennessee.

Originally from South Carrollton in Muhlenberg County, Moore graduated from WKU in 2008. Moore and his wife, Beth, have a son, Maddux.

As Moore likes to say, “Teamwork does make the dream work.” The patience he honed at Community Education has helped in his professional success.

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Brandon Dillard started his career journey straight out of high school, joining Community Education with a determination to make a meaningful impact.

Despite lacking prior leadership experience, Dillard’s story serves as a testament to the value of working within this organization.

“I learned a lot by working at Community Education,” Dillard says. “My biggest challenge was being a young person in charge of students and staff, trying to act like I knew what I was doing in any situation.”

“Dealing with students, parents, teachers, and leaders of all kinds helped prepare me for the job I have today.” Dillard has his Paramedic Associate of Applied Science (AAS) and climbed the ladder from an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) to a Paramedic in the emergency medical services field. Dillard is currently a Lieutenant/Paramedic-CC/IC at Robertson County EMS in TN.

Dillard and his wife have a daughter and four dogs rounding out their family.

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Four questions with Ashley Hilger, Safety Administrator for Jefferson County Public Schools. Hilger worked in the Community Education Before and After School program in college. From Shelbyville, KY, Hilger has her BA in History and her MS in Justice Studies, and is earning her EdD in Educational Leadership.

What are you proudest of accomplishing while at Community Education? “Building strong relationships with my after-school kids and their families at Lost River.”

What challenges did you face? “Working with children for the first time and learning to communicate with them in a way they understand.”

What did you do after you left Community Education? “I worked at Maryhurst, a psychiatric residential facility for teen girls, for four years. I was able to move up in that time and eventually ran my own program for about two years.

Anything else you would like to share? “Working at community education camps and Lost River Elementary was the best experience I could’ve asked for. I am thankful to my supervisors for suggesting I apply to be a site supervisor after my first summer. It prepared me for the rest of my career path. It taught me patience with adults and children. It also taught me my favorite thing I tell people new to working with children: Children have all the same big emotions we have in way smaller bodies and with way less life experience. Have mercy and grace for them.”

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Former staff member, Ally Keltner hails from Bowling Green, Kentucky. Before joining Community Education, her experience in nurturing and guiding children was evident through her roles at Hillvue Heights Church teaching Sunday school, Wednesday night Bible Study, and helping to provide childcare at various church events, including concerts, special programs, and Divorce Care ministries. These early exchanges laid the foundation for future endeavors.

Keltner began pursuing a degree in Early Childhood Education at Western Kentucky University while dedicating four years to Community Education from 2001 to 2004. During this time, she held several roles that highlighted her commitment and passion. She served as a group leader at Potter Gray for two years before transitioning to a site supervisor role at TC Cherry for an additional two years. Her involvement extended to the Super Summer Club, where she worked all four years as a teacher and group leader. In addition, she contributed to the programs at Natcher and Lost River Elementary schools.

She says her tenure at the agency left an indelible mark on her, allowing her to develop strong leadership skills through her interactions with school staff, along with Community Education administrative staff. She learned to communicate effectively, ensuring the programs ran smoothly for the benefit of children, parents, and the program itself.

One of Keltner’s proudest accomplishments during her time at Community Education was the lasting bonds she formed with the students she cared for. Some of those students, who are now adults with families of their own, remain in contact with her. Witnessing their growth into amazing young adults has been a source of pride.

When asked if there were specific challenges during her time at Community Education, Keltner recalled what unfolded after the 9/11 tragedy. Being responsible for students’ well-being, she had to navigate the delicate task of addressing their questions and fears while assuring them of their safety.

Keltner stated this experience played a huge role in helping her to develop the skills needed to have those difficult conversations with children in the face of loss.

After leaving Community Education, Keltner suffered the loss of her father and was diagnosed with breast cancer. With her WKU educational journey on hold due to these difficulties, her career path was a bit uncertain. Proving she is a fighter both personally and professionally, she defeated her cancer and made a decision to enter the health field. For the past 12 years she has been serving patients in Physician Services at Med Center ENT.

Keltner is a voracious reader, a pet lover, and enjoys spending time with family and friends.

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[av_image src=’https://www.commed.us/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Jordan-Franklin-graphic.jpg’ attachment=’11379′ attachment_size=’full’ copyright=” caption=” image_size=” styling=” box_shadow=’none’ box_shadow_width=’10’ box_shadow_color=” align=’center’ font_size=” overlay_opacity=’0.4′ overlay_color=’#000000′ overlay_text_color=’#ffffff’ animation=’no-animation’ animation_duration=” animation_custom_bg_color=” animation_z_index_curtain=’100′ parallax_parallax=” parallax_parallax_speed=” av-medium-parallax_parallax=” av-medium-parallax_parallax_speed=” av-small-parallax_parallax=” av-small-parallax_parallax_speed=” av-mini-parallax_parallax=” av-mini-parallax_parallax_speed=” hover=” appearance=” css_position=” css_position_location=’,,,’ css_position_z_index=” av-medium-css_position=” av-medium-css_position_location=’,,,’ av-medium-css_position_z_index=” av-small-css_position=” av-small-css_position_location=’,,,’ av-small-css_position_z_index=” av-mini-css_position=” av-mini-css_position_location=’,,,’ av-mini-css_position_z_index=” transform_perspective=” transform_rotation=’,,,’ transform_scale=’,,’ transform_skew=’,’ transform_translate=’,,’ av-medium-transform_perspective=” av-medium-transform_rotation=’,,,’ av-medium-transform_scale=’,,’ av-medium-transform_skew=’,’ av-medium-transform_translate=’,,’ av-small-transform_perspective=” av-small-transform_rotation=’,,,’ av-small-transform_scale=’,,’ av-small-transform_skew=’,’ av-small-transform_translate=’,,’ av-mini-transform_perspective=” av-mini-transform_rotation=’,,,’ av-mini-transform_scale=’,,’ av-mini-transform_skew=’,’ av-mini-transform_translate=’,,’ link=” target=” title_attr=” alt_attr=” img_scrset=” lazy_loading=’disabled’ id=” custom_class=” template_class=” av_element_hidden_in_editor=’0′ av_uid=’av-lqfqkj26′ sc_version=’1.0′ admin_preview_bg=”][/av_image]

Five questions with Jordan Wade Franklin, Library Media Specialist at Bowling Green Junior High School. A native of Bowling Green, Franklin has master’s degrees in Social Work, Exceptional Education, and Library Science.

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What are you proudest of accomplishing while at Community Education? “It had to be running a successful Eagle ROC Camp. The camaraderie of the staff made the summer so much fun. Each staff member brought unique ideas to the camp to make it a one-of-a-kind experience. Kids were excited to be there daily, largely due to the staff members.”

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What challenges did you face? “On the first day of our after-school program, the State Inspector showed up at one of my schools. I had never experienced anything like it before. Thankfully, Wes and Erin were there to help and offer solutions for the next time.”

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What did you do after you left Community Education? “I taught elementary Special Education for five years before becoming a Librarian. I am in my 10th year as a Library Media Specialist and starting my 6th year at BGJHS.”

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How did working at Community Education prepare you for the rest of your career? “Community Ed taught me so many things. I learned how to manage people and that the best working environments were places where we had fun. I loved working with Erin and Wes. We were a team that helped each other and had each other’s backs.”

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Anything else you would like to share? “Some of my fondest memories are my daily chats with the office staff. Josh and Rhonda kept me laughing, Debi Wade Jordan was always ready with a witty comment, and Anne Grubbs was always willing to listen and offer advice when needed. Her heart for serving sticks with me to this day.”

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Franklin’s family includes her husband, Demont, son, Maize, and dogs, Chipper and Judge.

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During our 50th Anniversary year, we have been telling the stories of past employees who have gone on to do great things using skills they learned working at Community Education. We now present six questions with Liz Turner, ESL Teacher for BGISD (Dishman McGinnis Elementary and McNeill Elementary).

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A native of Bowling Green, Turner received her Bachelor’s in Elementary Education from WKU, and her Master’s in Literacy Specialist and Rank 1 in Teacher Leadership with an ESL Endorsement from the University of Cumberlands. Turner and her husband, Justin, have two sons: Briggs (3) and Stratton (1 ½).

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What was your experience working with children before starting with Community Education? “Before Community Education, I was a lifeguard and babysitter. I was a lifeguard at Indian Hills Country Club for five years and then babysat full-time in the summer for three summers.”

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What are you most proud of achieving during your five years at Community Education? “My proudest accomplishment at Community Education was supervising the extensive after-school program at McNeill Elementary. I had big shoes to fill when I took over as supervisor, but I maintained a well-run program and built relationships with families and kids that would last a lifetime. I always know when I hear ‘Mrs. Liz!’ that it is a McNeill child or parent. It is a great feeling and makes me happy.”

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What challenges did you face? “Being in charge of the largest after-school program wasn’t always easy, but it taught me so many things. I had to manage kids and deal with a large staff. Tough conversations were had occasionally, and being the boss wasn’t always fun. Building relationships with staff and kids made the program run smoothly, and the staff respected me and each other.”

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What did you do after you left Community Education? “I finished my degree in Elementary Education and did my student teaching at Briarwood Elementary. After student teaching, I was hired at Dishman McGinnis Elementary and began my teaching career. I have taught several grade levels since the beginning of my career and love it. This coming year will be my 12th year teaching and beginning my new position as an ESL teacher at Dishman McGinnis and back to where it all began, McNeill.”

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How did working at Community Education prepare you for the rest of your career? “Working at Community Education and being in charge of the after-school program taught me much about management, rapport, and organization. As a first-year teacher, I applied these strategies to my classroom, which helped immensely. Classroom management and building relationships are two of my most vital attributes in the teaching profession, and Community Education played a huge part in helping me grow.”

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Is there anything else you would like to share? “Community Education was a fantastic experience! I loved learning and building my way up as the years progressed. I started at McNeill as a group leader, then assistant supervisor, and eventually became a supervisor. Our program comprised over 100 kids, and there was never a dull moment. I worked with some fantastic people and continue to this day to keep in touch with them. The kids and parents were great and supported me despite tough decisions. I have been able to watch these kids grow and become young adults. I made an impact that can never be replaced. I am thankful for my five years and wouldn’t have changed anything.”

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[av_image src=’https://www.commed.us/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Will-Downing-graphic_Dec-7-2023.jpg’ attachment=’11381′ attachment_size=’full’ copyright=” caption=” image_size=” styling=” box_shadow=’none’ box_shadow_width=’10’ box_shadow_color=” align=’center’ font_size=” overlay_opacity=’0.4′ overlay_color=’#000000′ overlay_text_color=’#ffffff’ animation=’no-animation’ animation_duration=” animation_custom_bg_color=” animation_z_index_curtain=’100′ parallax_parallax=” parallax_parallax_speed=” av-medium-parallax_parallax=” av-medium-parallax_parallax_speed=” av-small-parallax_parallax=” av-small-parallax_parallax_speed=” av-mini-parallax_parallax=” av-mini-parallax_parallax_speed=” hover=” appearance=” css_position=” css_position_location=’,,,’ css_position_z_index=” av-medium-css_position=” av-medium-css_position_location=’,,,’ av-medium-css_position_z_index=” av-small-css_position=” av-small-css_position_location=’,,,’ av-small-css_position_z_index=” av-mini-css_position=” av-mini-css_position_location=’,,,’ av-mini-css_position_z_index=” transform_perspective=” transform_rotation=’,,,’ transform_scale=’,,’ transform_skew=’,’ transform_translate=’,,’ av-medium-transform_perspective=” av-medium-transform_rotation=’,,,’ av-medium-transform_scale=’,,’ av-medium-transform_skew=’,’ av-medium-transform_translate=’,,’ av-small-transform_perspective=” av-small-transform_rotation=’,,,’ av-small-transform_scale=’,,’ av-small-transform_skew=’,’ av-small-transform_translate=’,,’ av-mini-transform_perspective=” av-mini-transform_rotation=’,,,’ av-mini-transform_scale=’,,’ av-mini-transform_skew=’,’ av-mini-transform_translate=’,,’ link=” target=” title_attr=” alt_attr=” img_scrset=” lazy_loading=’disabled’ id=” custom_class=” template_class=” av_element_hidden_in_editor=’0′ av_uid=’av-lqfqqogf’ sc_version=’1.0′ admin_preview_bg=”][/av_image]

Will Downing, now a teacher at Rockfield Elementary School, participated in the Community Education after-school program at McNeill Elementary as a student from kindergarten through the fifth grade.

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His experience with the program influenced his decision to pursue education as a career.

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“I was able to gain the ability to make a variety of friends from different backgrounds and make valuable relationships with adults that were in our backyard at WKU,” Downing said.

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“Community Ed prepared me for my current position because it helped me get an early start on relationships and the value of giving each child a chance no matter what the circumstances are,” Downing added.

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As a student, Downing liked most that he could spend time in the after-school program catching up on homework and spending time with his friends after a long day of school.

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“Karen Manley directed our program at McNeill and had a positive influence on me from a young age because the way she cared for her students and staff,” Downing said. “She has always been big on relationships and that had a great impact on me.”

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Downing is pictured here with his fiancée and fellow teacher, Madison McKee.

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We are wrapping up our year of profiling former staff members who have gone on to successful careers, both in and out of education. Today, we feature Chelsey Bush.

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A native of Bowling Green and Alvaton, Bush has her Bachelor of Science from WKU and is a Real Estate professional and owner/partner at Vette City CrossFit. Bush’s husband is a firefighter in Bowling Green, and they have three children.

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What are you proudest of accomplishing while at Community Education? “Learning to organize groups of kids and or people to be a productive group.”

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After working at Community Education, you were a middle school teacher for six years. How did working at Community Education prepare you for the rest of your career? “Community Education allowed me to be a leader early on in life. By being entrusted with the responsibilities of other staff and kids, I quickly learned to structure a large group in a most productive and positive way for everyone involved. The directors of the camps taught me how to communicate with parents on a positive level, how to handle staff differences, and how to listen to kids no matter how large or small the concern was.”

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Anything else you would like to share? “Bowling Green is so fortunate to have a program like Community Ed. Not only did I learn so much, but I also met many friends that I worked with through the summer camps and school programs. It was one of the best jobs I could be a part of.”

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[av_image src=’https://www.commed.us/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Chelsey-Bush-profile-photo_Dec-14-2023-968×1030.png’ attachment=’11378′ attachment_size=’large’ copyright=” caption=” image_size=” styling=” box_shadow=’none’ box_shadow_width=’10’ box_shadow_color=” align=’center’ font_size=” overlay_opacity=’0.4′ overlay_color=’#000000′ overlay_text_color=’#ffffff’ animation=’no-animation’ animation_duration=” animation_custom_bg_color=” animation_z_index_curtain=’100′ parallax_parallax=” parallax_parallax_speed=” av-medium-parallax_parallax=” av-medium-parallax_parallax_speed=” av-small-parallax_parallax=” av-small-parallax_parallax_speed=” av-mini-parallax_parallax=” av-mini-parallax_parallax_speed=” hover=” appearance=” css_position=” css_position_location=’,,,’ css_position_z_index=” av-medium-css_position=” av-medium-css_position_location=’,,,’ av-medium-css_position_z_index=” av-small-css_position=” av-small-css_position_location=’,,,’ av-small-css_position_z_index=” av-mini-css_position=” av-mini-css_position_location=’,,,’ av-mini-css_position_z_index=” transform_perspective=” transform_rotation=’,,,’ transform_scale=’,,’ transform_skew=’,’ transform_translate=’,,’ av-medium-transform_perspective=” av-medium-transform_rotation=’,,,’ av-medium-transform_scale=’,,’ av-medium-transform_skew=’,’ av-medium-transform_translate=’,,’ av-small-transform_perspective=” av-small-transform_rotation=’,,,’ av-small-transform_scale=’,,’ av-small-transform_skew=’,’ av-small-transform_translate=’,,’ av-mini-transform_perspective=” av-mini-transform_rotation=’,,,’ av-mini-transform_scale=’,,’ av-mini-transform_skew=’,’ av-mini-transform_translate=’,,’ link=” target=” title_attr=” alt_attr=” img_scrset=” lazy_loading=’disabled’ id=” custom_class=” template_class=” av_element_hidden_in_editor=’0′ av_uid=’av-lqfqt0rh’ sc_version=’1.0′ admin_preview_bg=”][/av_image]

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[av_image src=’https://www.commed.us/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Brandon-Dewitt-profile-photo_Dec-21-2023-959×1030.png’ attachment=’11376′ attachment_size=’large’ copyright=” caption=” image_size=” styling=” box_shadow=’none’ box_shadow_width=’10’ box_shadow_color=” align=’center’ font_size=” overlay_opacity=’0.4′ overlay_color=’#000000′ overlay_text_color=’#ffffff’ animation=’no-animation’ animation_duration=” animation_custom_bg_color=” animation_z_index_curtain=’100′ parallax_parallax=” parallax_parallax_speed=” av-medium-parallax_parallax=” av-medium-parallax_parallax_speed=” av-small-parallax_parallax=” av-small-parallax_parallax_speed=” av-mini-parallax_parallax=” av-mini-parallax_parallax_speed=” hover=” appearance=” css_position=” css_position_location=’,,,’ css_position_z_index=” av-medium-css_position=” av-medium-css_position_location=’,,,’ av-medium-css_position_z_index=” av-small-css_position=” av-small-css_position_location=’,,,’ av-small-css_position_z_index=” av-mini-css_position=” av-mini-css_position_location=’,,,’ av-mini-css_position_z_index=” transform_perspective=” transform_rotation=’,,,’ transform_scale=’,,’ transform_skew=’,’ transform_translate=’,,’ av-medium-transform_perspective=” av-medium-transform_rotation=’,,,’ av-medium-transform_scale=’,,’ av-medium-transform_skew=’,’ av-medium-transform_translate=’,,’ av-small-transform_perspective=” av-small-transform_rotation=’,,,’ av-small-transform_scale=’,,’ av-small-transform_skew=’,’ av-small-transform_translate=’,,’ av-mini-transform_perspective=” av-mini-transform_rotation=’,,,’ av-mini-transform_scale=’,,’ av-mini-transform_skew=’,’ av-mini-transform_translate=’,,’ link=” target=” title_attr=” alt_attr=” img_scrset=” lazy_loading=’disabled’ id=” custom_class=” template_class=” av_element_hidden_in_editor=’0′ av_uid=’av-lqfqw3hf’ sc_version=’1.0′ admin_preview_bg=”][/av_image]

My name is Brandon DeWitt. I am from Scottsville, KY, where I reside with my beautiful wife, Holly, and our two beautiful daughters, Emerson and Chandler.

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I graduated from WKU with my middle-grade education degree in social studies and language arts. I then got my Master’s Degree in Special Education and now teach Special Education at the Allen County Intermediate Center. I am also a boys’ assistant basketball coach at Allen County Scottsville High School.

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Before Community Education, I volunteered with Big Brothers Big Sisters in high school. I had known I wanted to be a teacher and coach all through school because that is what my mom and dad were.

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I began working for Community Education at Warren Elementary in the fall of 2005. From 2005 to 2009, I worked at Alvaton Elementary, Potter Gray Elementary, and Lost River Elementary before my time was up. I also worked the Super Summer Club program every year I was there.

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My proudest accomplishments while working at Community Ed were the relationships I was able to form with the students there. I knew my ability to develop positive relationships with students would impact my future career as an educator.

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This week’s spotlight features former staff member Lacey Norwood. While her roots are in Tennessee, having grown up in Heritage and now living in Watertown, she found her way to Bowling Green when she began attending classes at WKU.

When asked what prompted her to apply at Community Education, Norwood said, “Before Community Education, I worked at Dillard’s, but once I changed my major to education, I felt it was best to start working with children early on. There is no better experience than starting with a before and after-school program!”

What are you proudest of accomplishing at Community Education, and how did working here prepare you for the rest of your career? “I was a staff member for one semester before being recommended as a site supervisor at another school. My compassion for the kids and leadership skills led me to take over TC Cherry’s program quickly. I credit my experience with children solely to Comm Ed, where I received experience with special needs children, foster families, and different behavioral issues. Natalie Taylor Gentry taught me a lot about how to handle difficult situations and parent interactions professionally. I am thankful for my time at Comm Ed and the life lessons it taught me. It absolutely made a difference in the educator I am today.”

We inquired if she had anything else she would like to share about Community Education or her time spent working here, and Norwood stated: “I highly recommend any college student in the education field to work for Comm Ed because of the experience with the kids, interacting with parents, and the summer camps were a blast. The impact you make on a child could last a lifetime!”

After several years of working with our agency, Norwood moved to Nashville and worked as a Site Director for the YMCA’s before and after-school programs. She married her husband Jim, started a family, and became a stay-at-home mom with their four children. As the children went on to school, Norwood did the same, both as an educator and a student. Having her bachelor’s in physical education, she was able to jumpstart her career as a Middle School Strength/Conditioning Coach, as well as a K-5 PE teacher and Volleyball Coach with the Wilson County school system.

On top of raising a family and working full-time, Norwood is also pursuing a Master of Physical Education at Cumberland University.

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Thank you for helping us celebrate our unforgettable 50th year! To our employees: your dedication and hard work have been the backbone of our success. And to our wonderful community: your support has been the heart of our journey.

Here’s to the next 50 years of serving together!

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