Three educators inducted into Governor Louie B. Nunn Kentucky Teacher Hall of Fame

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. -The Governor Louie B. Nunn Kentucky Teacher Hall of Fame honored three outstanding educators this week for their lasting impact on students across the Commonwealth.

Lois Chandler, Jennifer Fritsch, and Julie Cowan were recognized for decades of dedication, creativity, and compassion in the classroom. Chandler, who devoted 56 years to education before her passing, was remembered for her lifelong commitment to students and fellow teachers.

Fritsch, an art teacher at Glasgow Middle School, has spent decades giving students a safe space to express themselves through art.

“When you look at art, it’s not just about who is the best artist,” Fritsch said. “Having them in art lets them see themselves in a different way.”

Cowan, a reading interventionist with 33 years of service, was also celebrated for her creative teaching methods and personal approach to student growth.

“Just to teach them about real-life things is more and more important,” Cowan said. “That impact you have on them will carry through to them as grown-ups.”

The three inductees were praised not only for their innovative classrooms but for helping students discover who they are beyond academics.

Their shared philosophy reflects a deep understanding of education as both a profession and a calling.

“I just have never felt like it was a job,” one inductee said. “They’re just part of me.”

For all three educators, the relationships they’ve built with students are irreplaceable.

“To get an award where I’m actually just being me and doing what I love—it is very humbling,” Fritsch said.

Above all, each woman has made a significant and lasting contribution to Kentucky classrooms, ensuring their legacies continue to inspire generations to come.