Prominent Kentucky and WKU figures honored two inductees into the Kentucky Teacher Hall of Fame Friday in the Gary Ransdell Hall Auditorium during the 2024 induction ceremony, reinforcing the lasting impression educators leave on their students.

The speakers celebrated and welcomed inductees Arthur Hale and Linda Kingsley to the 16th class of the Kentucky Teacher Hall of Fame, housed in WKU’s College of Education and Behavioral Sciences since 2008, according to a press release. 

“I love that the Hall of Fame is housed here at WKU, because Western Kentucky University has a long history of turning out some of the best teachers across Kentucky,” Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman said.

Coleman, who WKU President Timothy Caboni introduced in the ceremony as “a lifelong Kentuckian, an educator, a basketball coach, a writer, a nonprofit founder and our 58th lieutenant governor of Kentucky,” highlighted the importance of teachers.

“The lives that you touch, and more importantly, the lives that touch you, will change your life as much as the lives that you change,” Coleman said. “I think our honorees today would probably say the same.”

Hale, a former Ohio County High School teacher of 54 years and WKU alum, said teachers “either got it or they don’t.”

“It’s a daunting task to teach kids,” Hale told the Herald. “It’s an awesome responsibility.”

Corinne Murphy, dean of the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences, recounted the lifelong lessons Hale equipped his former students with.

“What stands out about Mr. Hale’s letters is a chorus of students praising Mr. Hale, how he has deeply affected their careers and their professional lives, leading them to jobs in science, medicine, higher education and many others because of his mentorship,” Murphy said.

Kingsley, also a WKU grad, taught English and coached the speech and debate team at Owensboro High School for 29 years, according to a press release. 

Murphy said Kingsley’s teaching methods paralleled the phrase, “education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.”

“She not only ignited that spark, but panned it into a lifelong flame,” Murphy said.

Kingsley still kindles that flame, and said she substitute teaches at Owensboro Public Schools to this day. She said her persistence is what led her to this accolade.

“This may be an endurance award,” Kingsley told the Herald. 

As Kingsley and Hale forged the paths of many students in their combined 83 years of teaching, state representative and House Education Committee Chair Member James Tipton reflected on the educators who led him in life.

“I appreciate those teachers who made a difference in my life, and I’m confident each of you can name teachers that made a difference in your life,” Tipton said.

Caboni commended the endurance of Kingsley and Hale and of all educators who dedicate their lives to the betterment of their students.

“Thank you for answering your own call to teaching decades ago, for inspiring your students and all those who worked alongside you during your careers and for demonstrating to us all how a single teacher can change many lives,” Caboni said.

News Reporter Kane Smith can be reached at [email protected].