KECSAC Central Office Personnel

 

Dr. Ronnie Nolan
Acting Director
104 Case Annex
Phone: (859) 622-6552
Fax: (859) 622-8051
Ronnie.Nolan@eku.edu

Dr. Ronnie Nolan has worked with the Kentucky Educational Collaborative for State Agency Children (KECSAC) since 2004. KECSAC is an active partner with the Kentucky Departments of Education, Juvenile Justice, Community Based Services and Mental Health and Mental Retardation Services which provides financial support to local school districts throughout the state. This funding is designed to assist partner school districts with the resources to meet their responsibility of educating children served by state agency programs located in those districts.

A proud product of the Kentucky public school system, Ronnie has spent much of his professional career working with at-risk students to empower them to achieve at their highest levels. After a childhood marked by many of the characteristics that are associated with at-risk students, his career began at Berea College where he worked as a mentor to local children. Soon after leaving Berea, Ronnie volunteered with the AmeriCorps National Service Program where he worked with welfare dependent families in Pike County who were striving to reach self-sufficiency. Dr. Nolan’s first introduction to KECSAC came in 1996 when he began working with the MASH Drop-Inn, a residential temporary shelter for at-risk youth in Fayette County, Kentucky. Dr. Nolan served as a youth care worker in the program for three years. The professional experience of working in a KECSAC program offered greater insight into how the program serves at-risk students on a daily basis.

Dr. Nolan served previously as the Director of Student Development and Interim Dean of Students at Peace College in Raleigh, North Carolina. Prior to this position, he served as Director of Student Activities and New Student Orientation Programs at Midway College in Midway, Kentucky. In addition to his other experience, Ronnie has associate faculty status in the College of Education at Eastern Kentucky University and previously served as an instructor in the Leadership Development Program at Peace College.

As a frequent presenter at numerous local, state and national conferences, Dr. Nolan has had the opportunity to share his research and insight on topics relevant to at-risk youth. These have included serving as a keynote speaker at a Department of Juvenile Justice Cadet Graduation Ceremony, as well as presenting at the National Dropout Prevention Network Conference, the Kentucky Council for Exceptional Children, the Kentucky Summit on Children and many other education conferences.

Dr. Nolan serves as a member of the Department of Community Based Services Community Stakeholders Committee, and the Kentucky Center for Instructional Discipline State Leadership Team. He is actively involved with the Kentucky Department of Education’s Alternative Education Advisory Team where he worked to develop a comprehensive statewide alternative education action plan. The plan, a collaboratively developed guide, includes action steps to increase the success and effectiveness of alternative education programs in Kentucky. Dr. Nolan also previously served on the Planning Committee for the National Dropout Prevention Conference where he was a member of the Student Arts and Entertainment Committee and the Program Planning Committee.

Dr. Nolan has been involved in research related to the at-risk population as well. His primary research during his graduate study at North Carolina State University focused on first-generation college graduates. As a first-generation college graduate himself, he understands the complexities involved in degree attainment and has researched both motivating factors and barriers that prevent first-generation students from succeeding in post-secondary studies. While serving with KECSAC, Dr. Nolan, along with other KECSAC team members and the Department of Occupational Therapy at EKU, has been involved in a mixed-method descriptive study focused on student transitions between KECSAC programs and general education programs. Dr. Nolan has presented preliminary results of the study to the KECSAC State Administrators Association as well as the Interagency Advisory Group of KECSAC. He is scheduled to present additional findings at the 2008 National Dropout Prevention Conference in Atlanta, November 2008.

After earning a bachelor’s degree in Political Science with a minor in Black Studies from Berea College, Ronnie went on to the University of Kentucky where he earned a Master of Science in Educational Policy Studies and Evaluation. Dr. Nolan completed his doctoral degree in Education Administration at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, North Carolina. Outside of his professional endeavors, Ronnie enjoys hiking Appalachian Mountain trails, spending weekends remodeling a home in the historic Fairway neighborhood of Lexington and traveling to some of America’s most beautiful cities.

 

Heather Carpenter
Communications & Development Specialist
104 Case Annex
Phone: (859) 622-5780
Fax: (859) 622-8051
Heather.Carpenter@eku.edu

Heather Carpenter joined the Kentucky Educational Collaborative for State Agency Children (KECSAC) Team in August 2007 as the Communications and Development Coordinator. Heather earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Anthropology from Centre College and a Master of Arts degree in English Literature from Washington University in St. Louis. She also earned an M.Div degree from Vanderbilt Divinity School in May of 2007. 

After completing her M.A. from Washington University in St. Louis, she taught English Composition at Lexington Community College (now Bluegrass Community and Technical College) for two years. Her work as an educator at LCC informs her advocacy and development work on behalf of State Agency Children at KECSAC.  

Heather's responsibilities include:

• Program Monitoring Schedule Questions
• Interagency Advisory Group
• Annual and Quarterly Reports
• The Collaborative Quarterly Newsletter
• State Agency Children School Administrator Association (SACSAA)
• Grant Writing

Kristine Estill
Budget Specialist
104 Case Annex
Phone: (859) 622-6550
Fax: (859) 622-8051
Kristine.Estill@eku.edu

Kristine Estill works as the Budget Specialist at the Kentucky Educational Collaborative for State Agency Children (KECSAC) since April 2005. 

Kristine’s responsibilities include:

• Managing the State Agency Children’s Fund and the KECSAC Operating Budget
• Memorandum of Agreements
• Reimbursement Questions (Quarterly Reports)
• Directory and Mailing List Corrections
• Financial Deadlines
• ADM Reports
• Annual December 1st Census
• Supervising Student Workers

Kristine has worked for Eastern Kentucky University for the past ten years. Prior to coming to KECSAC, Kristine worked at the Center for Economic Development, Entrepreneurship and Technology (CEDET) as an Administrative Assistant I for three years. She transferred to CEDET from the Department of Technology as a desk typist for two year and worked at the Learning Resource Center in the Library as a desk clerk beginning in September of 1998.

Kristine lives in Madison County with her husband Duran and their two children, Kara and DJ. She enjoys spending time with her family, watching reality shows, and playing with her pets: Jacks, Sammy, and Smokie. Kristine earned a Associate of Applied Science degree in Office and Technologies from Eastern Kentucky University and is currently working on her Bachelor degree in accounting. One day Kristine hopes to have her own accounting firm.


Cindy Held
Training & Technology Support Specialist
Case Annex 104
Office: (859) 622-8538
Fax: (859) 622-8051
Cynthia.Held@eku.edu

Cindy was born in Louisville but moved to Richmond while very young and has lived here ever since. In May 2006 she graduated Magna Cum Laude with her Bachelor’s in journalism and a minor in English. While a student she worked on the campus newspaper “The Eastern Progress” as a columnist and section editor for many years. She also worked as a student worker and temporary employee in the ITDS office. Before coming to KECSAC she also held a marketing position at a manufacturing company in Lexington. In her spare time she enjoys being with her friends and ballroom dancing. Her mother, father and older brother, Steven, also live in Richmond. As a proud EKU alumna, she is excited to be back at the university and working with KECSAC.



Russell Behanan
Program Improvement Specialist (Central Region)
Phone: (859) 333-5171
rbehanan@hotmail.com

Russell Behanan became a KECSAC Program Improvement Specialist in December 2003. Mr. Behanan earned his Bachelors and Masters Degrees from Eastern Kentucky University in the areas of Education and Educational Administration. Certifications include School Superintendent, School Principal, Secondary Teacher, State Trainer-Principal Internship Program and state trainer for School-Based Decision Making Council. Mr. Behanan began his professional career as a high school teacher and counselor at Madison High School in Richmond, Kentucky. After six years he began an administrative career in the Fayette County school district that has spanned over twenty-five years. For five years he served as assistant principal at Bryan Station High School. For the next thirteen years, Mr. Behanan served as Head Principal at Beaumont Middle School, guiding the school through implementation of Kentucky Education Reform Act initiatives and also the transition of the school from a junior high organization to the full middle school concept.

Mr. Behanan next served as Director of Middle Schools (Assistant Superintendent) for four years for the Fayette County School District. Responsibilities included supervising principals and associate principals in eleven large urban middle schools, coordination and the continued implementation of the middle school concept, coordinating all athletic programs and evaluating all programs for effectiveness.

Beginning August 2001 to present, Mr. Behanan has served as Assistant Coordinator of the 504 Program and KECSAC Programs for Fayette County Public Schools. Mr. Behanan has been honored as the Fayette County Principal of the Year and the Central Kentucky Association of Educational Office-Personnel Administrator of the Year.

Mr. Behanan’s experience in developing and implementing plans for continuous alignment of curriculum to state and national standards makes him an important part of KECSAC’s plan to provide program improvement technical support to our programs.

Roy Chapman
Program Improvement Specialist (Western Region)
Phone: (859) 509-8221
roychapman@newwavecomm.net

Roy Chapman joined the Kentucky Educational Collaborative for State Agency Children (KECSAC) Team in July 2002 as a Monitoring Specialist. Mr. Chapman earned his Bachelors, Masters, and Rank I degrees from Eastern Kentucky University in the areas of Industrial (now called Technical) Education and Administration. Certifications include Instructional Supervision, School Principal, Vocational/Tech. Teacher, and trainer “Developing Capable People” by Stephen Glenn.

Mr. Chapman began his career as an Industrial/Technology Middle School Teacher at Woodford County Middle School. After fourteen years he accepted an administrative position and would serve the next fourteen years in this capacity. Mr. Chapman first served as an Assistant Principal for a year, then as Principal for nine years at WCMS. The last four years of his school career, Mr. Chapman served as Principal of the new Woodford County Alternative School. This school served seventh through twelfth grades. During these last four years, Mr. Chapman also served as the Safe Schools and KECSAC grants coordinator.

During Mr. Chapman’s tenure at Woodford County he was honored as the middle school teacher of the year, as selected by his peers. Another year he was selected by the county-wide Special Education Parents Association as teacher of the year.

Mr. Chapman’s served as Principal at Woodford County at an important and critical time. The Kentucky Education Reform Act was implemented the very first year of his middle school principalship. During the next nine years he had the opportunity to develop, align, and implement the reform act goals, objectives, and curriculum standards at Woodford County Middle School

Finally, two other areas of Mr. Chapman’s life provide additional invaluable expertise. He was employed in the industrial setting for five years where he learned extensive manufacturing skills. Lastly, his love of music led to learning and playing the banjo and guitar. Professional music venues include Renfro Valley, Kentucky, Silver Dollar City Theme Park, Dollywood (both in Tennessee), and various bluegrass music festivals.

Lue Cole
Program Improvement Specialist (Eastern Region)
Phone: (606) 524-0812
luecole@newwavecomm.net

Joining the Kentucky Educational Collaborative for State Agency Children Team (KECSAC) in 2003, Lue Cole serves as a Program Improvement Specialist for the eastern region of the state. In that capacity, responsibilities include visiting approximately forty KECSAC programs annually to monitor each program’s academic performance, learning environment, and efficiency.

Lue’s educational background includes earning a B.S. degree from Cumberland College (now known as the University of the Cumberlands) with a major in English, followed by a Master’s degree and a Rank I degree from Union College. Other educational endorsements include training to teach classes in advanced placement English and gifted/talented.

For most of her thirty years in the classroom, Lue taught high school English. However, toward the end of her teaching career, Lue helped build an alternative education program in Laurel County, The Bentley School, and served as the director, as well as one of the teachers.

Honoring her educational accomplishments, professional awards include the Jackson County High School Beta Club Teacher of the Year, South Laurel High School Outstanding Teacher, Campbellsville College Excellence in Teaching, and Laurel County Schools High School Excellence in Teaching,

Since retirement from the teaching profession, Lue has remained actively involved in the state’s goal to reach proficiency by 2014. For the Kentucky Department of Education, Lue served on numerous Scholastic Audit and Scholastic Review Teams. As well, she was a state endorsed school based decision-making council trainer for several years, facilitating workshops designed by the Kentucky Association of School Councils. Additionally, she worked as a safe schools associate with the Kentucky Center for School Safety, visiting alternative education programs across the state, and, when needed, providing them with technical assistance. She remains an advocate for school safety by serving on safe school assessment teams for the Kentucky Center for School Safety.

Meanwhile, Lue’s role as a KECSAC Program Improvement Specialist provides the opportunity to stay connected with Kentucky’s quest for proficiency for all schools.