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Hardin County Schools Tuesday night unveiled their Portrait of a Learner, a set of aspirations for what every student will know and be able to do when they graduate.

“We actually started working on Portrait of a Learner a couple of years ago in our ongoing efforts to ensure that our students have the advantages they need to succeed when they leave our district and when they graduate,” said HCS Community Relations Specialist John Wright. “We want our students to have advantages over their peers because we know that’s what’s going to land our graduates high-paying, successful jobs and careers.”

The portrait was created using feedback from district stakeholders such as faculty and staff, community members, parents, and students. The district partnered with the University of Kentucky Center for Next Generation Leadership to identify target competencies.

“Those five competencies are Responsible Citizen, Personal Champion, Engaged Learner, Effective Communicator, and Active Collaborator, and so throughout the school year and probably for the next several years, you’ll be hearing those terms used,” Wright said. “That’s kind of the foundation for what they’ll be learning in the classrooms.”

The competencies will make concrete appearances in school buildings, such as on a poster on the wall, and worked into the curriculum.

“It is our ongoing task to ensure that our students are ready for the workplace and for life outside of graduation, and we look forward to continuing this work with the community’s help and our Portrait of a Learner,” Wright said.

Visit the Hardin County Schools website for more information.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear welcomed officials and recovery advocates to the capitol Monday in observance of Recovery Month. 

The governor held signing ceremonies for three pieces of legislation that support addiction recovery efforts across the commonwealth. 

House Bill 462, which was sponsored by House District 25 Representative Steve Bratcher, “addresses gaps in certification requirements and strengthens the framework for recovery housing, ensuring these facilities provide safe, supportive environments for individuals in recovery.”

The governor also signed Senate Bill 71, which expands access to transportation services for people in recovery residences, and House Bill 505, which expands the Board of Alcohol and Drug Counselors and establishes criteria for registration as a “temporary alcohol and drug peer support specialist.”

The governor also recognized the four latest counties that received Recovery Ready Community certifications from the state. When Hardin County received the certification in February, Lincoln Trail District Health Department Social and Community Services Manager Jennifer Osborne said the certification process shows a county what it has and what it needs.

““It gives us a framework to look at what is going on in the community around youth prevention initiatives, substance use prevention initiatives, harm reduction, treatment, recovery support for individuals that are in recovery,” said Osborne. “It gives us an idea of what is already in place in the community and what we might see as opportunities for improvement in a community.”

Information about treatment programs across Kentucky is available at www.findhelpnowky.org.