To our Paducah Public Schools students, staff, family and friends:

Since receiving Governor Beshear’s recommendation that the start of school be delayed until September 28, I have been in constant conversation with local health officials, district leadership, and our board of education about the best path forward. We have requested and received local and regional data to analyze the local impact as opposed to the state-wide impact of the COVID-19 virus. 

We are exploring every option at this point regarding how and when to start school. While we may be able to make an announcement sooner, we will announce the specifics of our plan no later than the next meeting of the Paducah Board of Education on Monday, August 17.

Our staff have been planning to implement both at-home and at-school learning, as we originally planned, so I am confident that they will be prepared for either option.

Regardless of how we deliver instruction to our students, let’s continue to work together for what is best for each and every child.

Donald I. Shively, EdD

This is a Youtube link to Part 1 of the presentation made by Dr. Shively to the Paducah Board of Education about plans to reopen Paducah Public Schools for fall 2020.

In Part 1, Dr. Shively talks about the planning process and provides and overview of revisions to the school calendar for 2020-21.

Stay tuned for links to the remainder of the presenation. 

 

Here is a Youtube link to  part 2 of the presentation made by Dr. Shively to the Paducah Board of Education about plans to reopen Paducah Public Schools for fall 2020.

In Part 2, Dr. Shively talks about the 2020-21 school calendar, safety procedures that will be in place, and the instructional plan that will be used.

 

Here is a Youtube link to part  3 of the presentation made by Dr. Shively to the Paducah Board of Education about plans to reopen Paducah Public Schools for fall 2020.

In Part 3 , Dr. Shively talks about the Hybrid Instructional Plan and the Health/Logistical Plan. 

 

Here is a Youtube link to the fourth and final part of the presentation made by Dr. Shively to the Paducah Board of Education about plans to reopen Paducah Public Schools for fall 2020.

In Part 4 , Dr. Shively talks about the Health/Logistical Plan, Important Dates, and where to ask questions. 

If you do not have a computer to access online registration, you can call any school in the district to make an appointment to complete registration on site. Only one parent/guardian per household may come to register. Please wear a mask. If you want to download the flyer, please select "Read More".

 

Online Registration for returning students (rising students in grades 1 - 12)  is now open. To see instructions for online registration click "Read More".

You can find forms and information about online registration here.

If you have questions, please send us an e-mail  or call us at 270-444-5600 ext. 1014.

Registration for new students and kindergarten students will open Monday, July 20.  

In an effort to limit in-person contact, Paducah Public Schools will move to online registration for the 2020-21 school year. Online registration will begin Monday, July 6.

 

If you already have an Infinite Campus Parent Portal account, you are ready for online registration.  If you don't have a Parent Portal account, you will need to set one up to register online.  Please send an e-mail to [email protected] to request your activation key. For security purposes, you will need to provide:

> Your (parent or guardian) name and date of birth

> The name, date of birth, and school attending for each child you plan to register 

 

Please note that we will not be providing in-person registration events due to COVID-19 precautions. Now is the time to get your Parent Portal account set up and ready to complete registration for your students. If you need assistance or have questions, please send an e-mail or call the office of the Director of Pupil Personnel at 270-444-5600. 

Jordan Wessels has been named head coach for Paducah Tilghman swimming.

 

Wessels coached high school men's swimming in Iowa prior to his move to Paducah in 2018.  He led his team to a conference title and was voted conference Coach of the Year by his fellow coaches. His team finished in the top ten at the state meet with one of his swimmers setting a new state record.

Jordan's personal swimming accomplishments include two Big East Conference titles with the University of Louisville. He was a three-time team high school state champion, a six-time individual state champion, and seven time age group national record holder.

“ The Tilghman swim team is very fortunate to have found a coach with such experience," said PTHS athletic director Jason Nickal. "We look forward to Coach Wessels doing great things with our swim team.” 

Kate Criner, recent Paducah Tilghman High School graduate, has been named a US Presidential Scholar. From nearly 5,600 candidates selected from high schools around the country, she was named one of 621 semifinalists in the national program. Today, she was named one of two US Presidential Scholars in Kentucky. Criner and Raymond Suo from Louisville’s duPont Manual Magnet High School are among the distinguished students named 2020 Presidential Scholars. A third Kentucky high school senior, Megan Johnston from Danville’s Boyle County High School, has also been honored as a US Presidential Scholar in Career and Technical Education. 

The Paducah Tilghman High School Class of 2020 Virtual Graduation is live. You can view the video on Youtube here.

A copy PTHS Class of 2020 Commencement program is attached. Click "Read More" to view or download the program.

Here are the major sections of the program:
I. Welcome
II. PTHS Band of Blue: "Songs of Old Kentucky-I. John Riley (with Wayfaring Stranger)"
III. Recognition of Salutatorian and Salutorian Speech
IV. Recognition of Valedictorian and Valedictorian Speech

V. PTHS Concert Choir: "The Lord Bless You and Keep You"
VI. Recognition of Distinguished Student

VII. Conferring of Diplomas

 

Congratulations and Best Wishes to the PTHS Class of 2020!

The annual Paducah Tilghman High School Honors Night couldn't be presented live due the COVID-19 pandemic, so PTHS principals, guidance counselors, and staff presented special awards, scholarships, and departmental awards to Tilghman underclassmen and the PTHS Class of 2020 via video.  You can view the video on Youtube here.

A copy of the Honors Night script, along with a link to this video, can be found here. Click "Read More" to view or download the program.

If you are looking for a particular section of the video, you can find timestamps placed at regular intervals on the Honors Night script to help you navigate. Here are the major sections with timestamps:
I. WELCOME (:10)
II. SPECIAL AWARDS (:30)
III. SCHOLARSHIPS
A. Private Organizations (7:15)
B. Colleges and Universities (14:10)
IV. DEPARTMENTAL AWARDS (24:13)
V. CLOSING REMARKS (32:35)

Congratulations and Best Wishes to the PTHS Class of 2020!

We are grateful to PTHS alumnus J. Brandon Price for his generous donation to assist current seniors who may be facing a hardship. Mr. Price is challenging all PTHS alumni to make a donation to assist the senior class during this time.

Current seniors, Tornado Alley FRC is accepting applications for if you are in need of immediate assistance due to COVID-19. Funds are intended for gas, food and similar necessities. For more information about applying contact Lakilia Bedeau at [email protected]

Paducah Tilghman High School’s Kate Criner is one of 150 high school seniors nationwide named a 2020 Coca-Cola Scholar. The achievement comes with a $20,000 scholarship to be used at her future university. Criner will attend the University of Louisville in the fall.

 

Students chosen to be Coca-Cola Scholars are "exceptional high school students who are dedicated to leadership, service, and action that positively affects others," says the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation. This year, the 150 finalists were chosen from 251 regional finalists. Over 95,000 students applied and nearly 1,900 were named semifinalists. With the 31st class in 2019, the Foundation has provided over 6,150 Coca-Cola Scholars with more than $69 million in educational support. 

Kathleen Criner and Andrew Katz, seniors at Paducah Tilghman High School, have been named two of 621 semifinalists in the 2020 US Presidential Scholars Program. The semifinalists were selected from nearly 5,600 candidates. Criner and Kate are among only nine Kentucky high school seniors to receive the distinction, and west Kentucky’s only semifinalists. 

The US Presidential Scholars Program was established in 1964, by executive order of the President, to recognize and honor some of the nation's most distinguished graduating high school seniors for their accomplishments in many areas: academic success, leadership, and service to school and community. In 1979, the program was extended to recognize students who demonstrate exceptional talent in the visual, creative and performing arts. In 2015, the program was again extended to recognize students who demonstrate ability and accomplishment in career and technical education fields. Annually, up to 161 US Presidential Scholars are chosen from that year’s senior class, representing excellence in education and the promise of greatness in America’s youth. All Scholars are invited to Washington, DC, in June for the National Recognition Program, featuring various events and enrichment activities culminating in the presentation of the Presidential Scholar Medallion during a White House-sponsored ceremony.

Thank you to everyone who participated in the PTHS SBDM Parent Representative Election for the 2020-2021 school year.  The parent representatives elected were Stephani Gray and Missy Brown.  

Paducah Public Schools has been honored with the 2020 Best Communities for Music Education designation from The NAMM Foundation for its outstanding commitment to music education.  This is the third year in a row that Paducah Public Schools has received this designation.

The Best Communities for Music Education designation is awarded to districts that demonstrate outstanding achievement in efforts to provide music access and education to all students. To qualify for the Best Communities designation, Paducah Public Schools answered detailed questions about funding, graduation requirements, music class participation, instruction time, facilities, support for the music program, and community music-making programs. Responses were verified with school officials and reviewed by The Music Research Institute at the University of Kansas.

Sandra Griffes-Devoe has been named head girls basketball coach at Paducah Tilghman High School.

Griffes-Devoe played high school basketball at Heath High School. While at Heath she was named to the All-District team three years, was an All-Purchase player two years, and was All-State Honorable Mention one year.

During her college career, Griffes-Devoe was a scholarship player for Paducah Community College, Austin Peay State University, and Quincy University. While at PCC she was a Kentucky JUCO all-conference selection. 

After graduating from Quincy College, Griffes-Devoe became an assistant coach at her alma mater and was then head coach at John Wood Community College in Quincy, Illinois. Griffs-Devoe then transitioned to high school coaching, and coached girls basketball at Quincy Senior High School and Springfield Southeast High School. She has 29 years of experience coaching girls basketball.

“Paducah Tilghman athletics is very fortunate to hire such a quality coach with a passion for the game,” said PTHS athletic director Jason Nickal. “Coach Devoe brings a wealth of basketball knowledge and experience to Tilghman.” 

Corbin Snardon has been named assistant principal of the Paducah Innovation Hub.

Snardon is currently interim assistant principal at Paducah Middle School. He began teaching at Paducah Middle in 2011 after receiving his Bachelor of Science in Social Studies from Western Kentucky University. While at Paducah Middle he taught sixth grade geography and eighth grade history.  He served on the School Based Decision Making Council for five years and was facilitator for the School Lighthouse Leadership Team for two years. He was a finalist for the Ashland Inc. Kentucky Teacher of the Year in 2015.