Going into her 10th year at the helm of The Providence School, principal Denise Adams has received a statewide award reflecting her administration of students in the custody of the commonwealth.
Adams received the Outstanding School Administrator of the Year award at a luncheon Tuesday during a conference hosted by the Kentucky Educational Collaborative for State Agency Children at Eastern Kentucky University.
“It’s an honor, because there are a lot of really good, passionate educators who teach at-risk youth,” Adams said. “... There’s really only a small part of our school that is a KECSAC program, where some of the schools, their entire school is a KECSAC program.”
The Providence School has been heralded as one of the best alternative schools in the state, being named a “best practice site” by the Kentucky Department of Education in 2009 and 2010. The award highlights exemplary practices in programs that provide services to at-risk students with unique needs.
Adams said the success of the school under her leadership is a credit to the teachers.
“I guess if I do anything well, I do a good job of hiring,” she said. “I have good teachers; I can’t teach; I’m not in the classroom all the time; you have to divvy out your children to teachers who shut their doors, and you trust that they’re doing the job well, and I think my teachers are trustworthy; they are doing the job well.”
The Providence School will open its doors in Wilmore this fall at the old Jessamine Early Learning Village building at 210 S. Lexington Ave. It had formerly been located at 200 Computrex Drive in Nicholasville.
Adams said the award was meaningful to her as she was among many in the state who believe in their practices with at-risk students.
“It’s an honor, because there are so many people that are really passionate about what they do and good,” she said. “Passion doesn’t make you good, but it’s pretty hard to be good without it.”
