Teachers from Warren, Logan counties win teacher achievement awards

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Two teachers, one from Warren County and one from Logan County, have been recognized as 2024 Teacher Achievement Award winners.

According to the Kentucky Department of Education, Amber Dwyer of Alvaton Elementary School and ​Brandi Violette of Olmstead Elementary School are some of the 22 outstanding Kentucky educators chosen as recipients of the awards.

Dwyer has been awarded an Elementary School Teacher Achievement Award and works as a a third-grade teacher at Alvaton Elementary School, officials say. She holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in education from Western Kentucky University.

The department of education says Dwyer dreamed of becoming an elementary teacher since her first day of kindergarten, and passion for learning and her dream of teaching never wavered. In 2003, Dwyer became the first member of her family to graduate from college. She currently is a sponsor of Alvaton Elementary’s BETA club, Academic Team and Leading Ladies Club. Dwyer is also a new teacher mentor, a third-grade team leader and is a member of the Alvaton Elementary Advisory Council.

Violette has been awarded a Middle Teacher Achievement Award and works as a middle school special education teacher at Olmstead Elementary School.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in exceptional education from Western Kentucky University and a master’s in education in administration from Campbellsville University.

Officials say Violette is dual certified in exceptional education, learning and behavior disorders, and moderate and severe disabilities.

Violette started her career over 20 years ago and has served as team leader for both middle school and special education for 12 years, officials say. As a district teacher leader, she reviews compliance, mentors new special education teachers and leads professional development sessions. She also has been appointed to serve on the Kentucky Close the Gap team. She is a National Board Certified teacher in exceptional education, a certification renewed in 2022.

All chosen teachers qualify to compete for the 2024 Kentucky Teacher of the Year Award, which will be announced in September.