The National Archives and the UK Libraries Wendell H. Ford Public Policy Research Center are proud to present the 2025 Earle C. Clements Innovation in Education Award to six outstanding Kentucky teachers:
The exemplary educators were recognized during an award ceremony in the Great Hall of the Special Collections Research Center on Thursday, August 7.
The Clements Award recognizes history and civics teachers from across the Commonwealth who demonstrate a marked impact on student success, display great creativity and innovation in the classroom, and show a decided commitment to increasing student awareness of the importance of public service.
The award honors the legacy of the late governor, representative, and senator, Earle C. Clements. During his long and distinguished political career, Clements embodied a spirit of service, a dedication to public life, and a commitment to productive political discourse. Clements was a lifelong advocate of improved education.
Learn more about each of this year’s winners:
With over 20 years of experience in secondary education, Sharessa Bentley-Crovo is a high school social studies educator currently serving as Department Chair at Paul Laurence Dunbar High School in Lexington, where she leads the school’s Civics Expo and sponsors several student organizations.. She holds a Master of Arts in Teaching in Secondary Education from Coastal Carolina University and a TESOL certification from Western Kentucky University. "Throughout my career, I have remained deeply committed to fostering civic engagement and student leadership. Empowering students through education today equips them with the skills to become thoughtful, informed citizen leaders of tomorrow.”
Jennifer Brown is a 5th grade social studies teacher at Menifee Central School in Frenchburg. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from Berea College and is an Excellence in Teaching Award winner. She serves as the teacher representative on her school’s site-based decision making council and is actively involved in several statewide and district initiatives. “I am truly honored and grateful to be receiving the Clements Award. This recognition fuels my passion for education and inspires me to continue exploring creative, student-centered approaches to teaching that make learning meaningful and engaging for all of my students.”
Caron Cron is an educator with over 13 years of experience in elementary education. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Integrated Strategic Communication from the University of Kentucky and a Master of Education from University of the Cumberlands. Her passion lies in designing engaging, student-centered learning experiences with a focus on inquiry-based instruction. “I am incredibly humbled to receive the Clements Award. When students understand their role in a community and their power to make a difference, they grow into informed, compassionate leaders. It’s a privilege to help nurture that understanding in the classroom every day.”
Stevie Lemons is entering her tenth year as a social studies teacher at Lafayette High School in Lexington, where she strives to create a classroom rooted in civic engagement and student-centered learning. She recently completed her Rank I, earning her Principal Certification. The U.S. History PLC Lead and sponsor of the LHS Black Student Union, she has led and designed programs that give students from all backgrounds the opportunity to succeed. “I am deeply honored to receive the Clements Award and beyond grateful for my students who inspire me and remind me each day of my passion for education.”
Jason Ross graduated from the University of Kentucky with a Master of Arts in Secondary Social Studies Education in 2010. He has been a dedicated middle school educator for the past 15 years, spending the majority of his career in the social studies department at Leestown Middle School. “I am really honored to receive this award and thankful to be recognized for my hard work and dedication. I stand on the shoulder of giants, learning from some of the best out there. Thank you to all who have taken the time to aid me along this path!”
Clay Rouse is entering his fifth year at Lafayette High School in Lexington where he teaches Adv. Government, AP Micro and Macroeconomics, and a Kentucky studies elective called "Bluegrass Land and Life." He obtained a Master of Arts in Secondary Social Studies Education from the University of Kentucky in 2021. "I strive to bring the people, places, and things of Kentucky to the forefront of 9-12 civics education, and it has been a joy to watch students embrace the state and its complexities. It's an honor to receive this recognition from Kentucky's land grant university for promoting Kentucky education.”
UK Libraries is proud to honor Clements’ legacy through annual fellowships, awards, and events, all of which are made possible by the generous gifts of his daughter, Bess Clements Abell, her husband Tyler Abell, and their two sons, Dan and Lyndon. The Abell family are longtime supporters of UK Libraries, and their gifts ensure the continued promotion of the ideals that Clements championed.
The National Archives is an independent federal agency that serves American democracy by safeguarding and preserving the records of our government, so people can discover, use and learn from this documentary heritage. The National Archives ensures continuing access to the essential documentation of the rights of American citizens and the actions of their government. From the Declaration of Independence to accounts of ordinary Americans, the holdings of the National Archives directly touch the lives of millions of people. The agency supports democracy, promotes civic education and facilitates historical understanding of our national experience. The National Archives carries out its mission through a nationwide network of archives, records centers and presidential libraries, and on the internet at www.archives.gov.
The Wendell H. Ford Public Policy Research Center preserves the history of Kentucky politics and government and provides access to primary source materials pertaining to public policy and the US Congress. Utilized by scholars around the world, the collection has been recognized as one of the finest and most thorough public policy repositories in the United States. The Ford Center works closely with faculty with public policy teaching and research interests and collaborates with UK’s Martin School of Public Policy & Administration and the Wendell H. Ford Government Education Center in Owensboro, Kentucky.
