The Morehead State University English Education program was well represented at the 2013 Kentucky Council of Teachers of English/Language Arts Conference held Feb. 22-23 at the Cincinnati RiverCenter Marriott.
Not only was Brandie Trent, a Morehead State graduate, named the KCTE High School Teacher of the Year but Kathryn Mincey, a member of the English Department faculty, was named the KCTE College Teacher of the Year.
In addition, MSU English faculty and students as well as Morehead Writing Project site leaders presented six sessions at the conference including:
- Final Survey Data Update on How Kentucky High School English Teachers Teach Reading and Grammar: Implications for 9-16 Curriculum Alignment and Professional Development presented by Kathryn Mincey, Dr. Alison Hruby, and Megan Ison (one of MWP’s Peer Writers).
- Deconstruction + Integration + Technology = Success! by Vickie Moriarity (MWP Coordinator), Shannon Hill, and D. Sandra Jordan.
- Enhancing Quality Using Critical Thinking Skills by Dr. Robert Royar
- So Much More Than Tutors…Student Teachers as Peer Writers by MWP Peer Writers Alexandra Reinke, Julie Rehkamp, and Whitney Jones
- Transforming the Writing Classroom Into a Writing Studio by MWP Site Leaders Deanna Mascle, Tim Reding, Jared Salyers, and Brandie Trent.
- In addition, Brandie Trent was called to fill in a session on digital storytelling when Dr. Sara Kajder was unable to present.
One of Mincey’s former students, KCTE President-elect Kerry Stephenson presented her award. Stephenson notes this award represents a significant career milestone — 35 years of service to education in Kentucky.
Stephenson described Mincey’s respect and love for teaching. “She has been my teacher, my friend, my colleague, and a supporter – not only of me, but of KCTE/LA throughout the years.”
Mincey began teaching freshman writing at Morehead State in 1974 and then taught English, speech, and theater at the University Breckinridge School. A former college debater, she coached speech and debate teams and supervised theater productions plus serving as Kentucky Thespian Director. After completing of doctoral course work in literary criticism at the University of Kentucky, she returned to full-time teaching in general education English at MSU in the mid-1980s, eventually adding methods courses for teacher preparation, student teaching supervision, graduate pedagogy classes, and Honors Program courses.
For several years, she directed the Volunteer Writing Coach Project in the Rowan County Schools and coordinated a grant from the Witter Bynner Foundation for Poetry to explore reading and writing poetry with students in Rowan and Bath County classrooms. She participated in the MSU Professors in the Schools program, received the 2002 Morehead State Faculty Service Award, and served as chief editor for MSU’s SACS self-study through two evaluation cycles.
Mincey has published a variety of articles related to teaching methods for grammar, writing and poetry in the California, Virginia, Arizona, New England, and Kentucky English Bulletins. She has a strong interest in curriculum alignment in language arts and in supporting professional development for teachers. She has sponsored Tau Omega Epsilon, the English Education honorary, established and supervised the MSU English Education Center for pre-service and in-service teachers, initiated the English Teacher Connection at Morehead State, and helped to host its summer conference for teachers. (This year’s conference, Bridges to Readiness for College and Careers, is scheduled for June 12.)
Mincey has presented teaching methods sessions at KCTE/LA for a number of years and regularly brings MSU secondary English Education undergraduates to the conference. She has accompanied Tau Omega Epsilon seniors to the NCTE conference for years as well. She began phased retirement (working half-time) four years ago and will retire fully this May. She and her husband, Mike, have three children, two grandsons, and a granddaughter expected to arrive this summer. They live at her family farm in South Salem, Ohio, where she will continue some freelance editing but vows, after 39 years, never to read another freshman paper.