Teachers can access NEED curriculum online. As resources are available, teacher workshops
and hands-on kits are available. Individual state curriculum correlations are available here.

Karen Reagor
State Coordinator
The NEED Project
Tel: 859-802-2024
Email: kreagor@need.org
About The Kentucky NEED Project

The Kentucky National Energy Education Development (NEED) Project is the state program of the
National Energy Education Development Project, a not-for-profit education association that focuses on
K-12 energy education. NEED provides workshops for teachers, grade-appropriate curriculum materials
and kits for energy activities in the classroom. NEED also assists schools in forming student energy teams
that study how energy is used in the schools and implements programs to help reduce energy consumption.

Program Highlights

Kentucky Youth Awards Program (YAP) for Energy Achievement:  In April, Kentucky NEED hosts our annual YAP Awards Luncheon in partnership with the Kentucky Green and Healthy Schools program.  Student groups are recognized for the energy and environmental projects they have completed during the school year.

Kentucky Energy Tour:  In June we host our annual Energy Tour for Kentucky Educators, spending five (5) days on a tour bus visiting energy sites across the Commonwealth.  We have a three year rotation, visiting sites in east, central and western Kentucky.

Kentucky is fortunate to have program sponsors who provide funding for schools across the Commonwealth.

Kentucky Office of Energy Policy (KOEP)
Koep has funded our Kentucky program for over 20 years, through State Energy Program (SEP) and Coal Education funds. This support allows us to host one-day teacher workshops across the Commonwealth.  They also support our Student Energy Team program and our Kentucky Youth Awards Program. The coal education funds support our five (5) day Energy Tour.

East Kentucky Power Cooperative and Member Coops: Blue Grass Energy, Grayson RECC, Cumberland Valley Electric, Jackson Energy, Salt River
These energy cooperatives provide funding to support teachers in their service territories to attend our 1-day workshops and other training opportunities.

Non-funding Partners

East Kentucky Power Cooperative (EKPC)
EKPC has been a longtime supporter of our program providing resources for teachers and logistical support for our energy tours.

Kentucky Power/AEP CFL Project

Working with KP/AEP partners, Kentucky NEED planned and facilitated three professional development opportunities for seventh grade teachers in the service territory in support of the utilities’ CFL project. NEED curriculum and resources that support energy efficiency lessons were provided.

High Performance Sustainable School Buildings Workshop

The 2013 Kentucky NEED High Performance Sustainable School Buildings Workshop, held in partnership with the Kentucky Department for Energy Development and Independence (DEDI) continues to impact energy efficient school design in Kentucky. During workshop sessions, school administrators, architects and engineers heard from design experts and administrators about a holistic, systems approach to school design and renovation. A program highlight was a presentation by Kenton County high school students on their research of energy efficient design opportunities in their district.

 

Kentucky Energy in Education Collaboration

During the ARRA funded years, Kentucky developed a successful collaboration of several organizations working to address energy issues in K-12 schools. When the funding ended, three of these organizations chose to continue the collaboration. Kentucky NEED, Kentucky Green & Healthy Schools Program and the School Energy Manager Project are carrying on their partnership to work in support of teachers and students who want to learn about and address energy and environmental issues in their schools.

 

 

If you would like more information on becoming a KY NEED sponsor or partner, please contact Karen Reagor at kreagor@need.org.