LEXINGTON, Ky. — The Kentucky Department of Education is accepting nominations for the 2026 Teresa Perry Compassion Award, which honors exceptional KDE employees who demonstrate the same qualities of service and compassion that defined the late Teresa Perry’s 33-year career in education. The aw ard is given annually in June to a KDE employee who exhibits the characteristics and professionalism Perry showed every day. Perry served as executive secretary to the commissioner of education and worked for the state for more than 33 years, noted for providing outstanding customer service to those inside and outside the agency, always exhibiting compassion and providing positive inspiration for others. The first five recipients were Janice Harris (2021), Monica Raines (2022), Viembre Nicholson (2023), Crystal Sohl (2024) and Chris Williams (2025). The award presentation typically takes place during a Kentucky Board of Education meeting in June and includes recognition of the recipient’s dedication and service to the department. Eligible nominees are KDE employees who demonstrate exceptional compassion, customer service, and commitment to supporting colleagues and the public. KDE staff, supervisors, and other department personnel are encouraged to submit nominations recognizing deserving employees who embody the values Perry exemplified throughout her career. The award was created with input from Perry’s family, which includes her sister Dru Hawkins, who works for KDE in the Office of Finance and Operations, as well as her three children. Recipients of the award receive a glass vase, a tribute to Perry’s love of flowers, and are honored at a formal ceremony before the Kentucky Board of Education. This article was generated by AI (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001) based on source material from Kentucky Teacher, enriched with 3 web searches. The original source is available at http://www.kentuckyteacher.org/news/2026/04/kde-opens-nominations-for-2026-teresa-perry-compassion-award/. The post KDE opens nominations for 2026 Teresa Perry Compassion Award appeared first on The Lexington Times. ...read more read less