Katie Berner receives statewide teaching honor
- 35 minutes ago
- 2 min read
For Katie Berner, teaching has always been about creating opportunities for students to grow, explore, and find their voice.
The many ways Berner supports students have earned recognition beyond Clark County.
The Kentucky Department of Education recently named Berner one of nine recipients of the 2027 Kentucky Teacher Achievement Awards, making her a nominee for Kentucky Teacher of the Year.
"I love what I do and I'm honored to be selected," she says. "I'm excited to share with others about some of the great programs and people we have at Baker Intermediate and in Clark County.”
A CCPS educator since 2008, Berner has spent her entire career at the same school, serving students when it was Clark Middle School and continuing her work after it became Baker Intermediate.
While her official title is media specialist, Berner's impact extends far beyond the library.
She co-directs Baker musicals with husband Collin, leads the daily morning news broadcast, and volunteers with numerous extracurricular events, including sponsoring student clubs and helping with bringing DanceBlue to Baker this year. She has served as a Kagan coach, team leader, core content leader, SBDM member, and Family Resource Center Advisory Council member.
Her proudest accomplishment, she says, is building a thriving theater program that continues to grow. Since forming in 2016, the Baker Theatre Department has presented 11 musicals and expanded to a summer camp.
"There are so many things I love about teaching," she says. "The students make my job fun. I love seeing their creativity and resilience on display when we're working on projects."
Clark County's robust arts education program makes it easy to settle in.
"I love how supportive the Clark County community is of the arts programs," Berner says. "We have a supportive group of arts educators, students, and families that have made Clark County Schools a thriving theater community."
Such support and collaboration makes the Berners proud to call CCPS home.
"The Clark County community is so supportive," she says. "Collaborating with community partners like the Clark County Extension Office and the Clark County Public Library is definitely one of my favorite parts about teaching."
Baker Principal Josh Mounts calls Berner an "absolute game changer" for students.
"She has completely transformed our library into a lively, welcoming space where books and learning really come to life through her fun activities and hands-on experiences."
The feeling is mutual.
"I love the Baker Family of staff members," says Berner. "At this point, I've been teaching with some of them for over 15 years, so they truly feel like family."
The KDE recognition process continues this summer with interviews in July before Kentucky Teacher of the Year winners are announced Sept. 9 in Frankfort.
"Mrs. Berner wears so many hats," Mounts adds, "and her energy and dedication make our school a better place every single day."