View All News
Calloway County Schools will receive the Kentucky Read to Achieve grant award for each elementary school beginning in the 26-27 school year. East Calloway Elementary, North Calloway Elementary, and Southwest Calloway Elementary will all receive four-year grants for $70,000 per year, totaling $840,000 in the district over the life of the grant.
The grant funds will be used to add another reading interventionist position at each school for each of the four years of the grant.
Elementary Supervisor of Instruction Ryan Marchetti wrote the grant for each of the three elementary schools.
"We are incredibly excited and grateful to receive this grant," Marchetti said. "Literacy continues to be our number one academic priority, and this grant allows us to provide high-quality, targeted, and intensive literacy interventions for even more of our elementary students. We will see the benefits of this grant for years to come."
Back to School Events - 2026-27
Districtwide:
- FRYSC Back to School Bash - July 23 - 4:30-6:30pm - Murray State Curris Center
- First Day of School - Wednesday, August 5th
Calloway County Preschool:
- July 14 - 8am-4:30pm - Packet Pickup
- July 30 - 5-7pm - Open House
East Calloway Elementary:
- July 22 - Registration (K-5) 2:30-6:30pm
- July 28 - K-2 Back to School Night 5:00-6:30
- July 28-29 - KinderCamp 9:00-11:00
- July 30 - 3-5 Back to School Night 5:00-6:30
North Calloway Elementary:
- July 20 - Registration (K-5) 9:00am-6:00pm
- July 27 - K/1 Back to School Night 5:30
- July 28 - 2nd & 3rd Back to School night 5:30
- July 30 - 4th & 5th Back to School night 5:30
Southwest Calloway Elementary:
- July 20 - Registration (K-5) 9:00am-6:00pm
- July 28 - K-2 Back to School - K 5:30pm, 1st/2nd 6:15pm
- July 30 - 3-5 Back to School Night - 5:30pm
Calloway County Middle School:
- July 24th - Registration 12-6pm (staggered by grade levels)
- July 27th - Smooth Sailing (6th grade) - 8am-12pm
- Back-to-School (6th grade) - 12-3pm
- Back-to-School (7/8th grades) - 3-6pm
Calloway County High School:
- July 14th – New Student Registration Day #1 from 8am-3pm
- July 21st – Freshmen and Senior Schedule Pickup in LMC from 11am-6pm
- July 22nd – Sophomore and Junior Schedule Pickup in LMC from 11am-6pm
- July 23rd – New Students Schedule Pickup in Guidance from 8am-11am and 12pm-2pm
- July 28th – New Student Registration Day #2 from 8am-3pm
- July 30th – Freshmen Orientation from 6pm-7:30pm at CCHS
Calloway County Virtual Learning Academy - Grades 10-12
- August 3rd - Registration Deadline - No late registrations in 26-27
Calloway County Schools has announced that Lourdes Oster will be hired as the next principal of East Calloway Elementary School. Oster will take over at East on July 1st for Monica Williams, who will become an assistant principal at CCHS.
Oster is the current assistant principal at North Calloway Elementary School, where she served for one year. She has over twenty years of experience as an educator, mostly as an English Language teacher. She has an extensive education, with two Master’s degrees and a Bachelor’s degree. She is also bilingual in English and Spanish.
“We are excited to welcome Lourdes to her new role at East,” said Superintendent Tres Settle. “She’s been a great leader at North this year, and I am excited to see what she will bring to East. She is a hard worker and a talented person, and I am confident she will be a great principal.”
Oster is originally from Waverly, TN, but has lived in Murray since 2016. She and her husband, Ryan, have two children - Vanessa (17) and Wesley (14).
“I am grateful and excited to be the next principal at East,” said Oster. “I can’t wait to get to know the faculty, staff, students, and their families. I will work incredibly hard to be a great leader for East. Together, we will build a positive and productive school culture at East where students and staff are supported and successful.”
Calloway County Schools have named Jeri Kramer as the April Laker Champion for Kids. Kramer is a district-wide special education teacher serving multiple schools. She is also the head softball coach for CCHS and CCMS.
The Laker Champion for Kids is awarded each month to a Laker staff member who goes above and beyond for students and colleagues.
Kramer was nominated by East teacher Christie Swann and CCMS speech-language pathologist Abby Sykes.
“I tried to think of an eloquent way to express all that she does for our kids and for the teachers who work with them, but I could not find just the right words,” wrote Swann. “I think the best I can do is to say that she does anything and everything that she can do to meet every need that arises. She has a special touch with our friends with autism. She is firm when she has to be and kind and gentle at every opportunity. She is present at every school in the district, and it sometimes seems she is present at all of the schools in the span of one day. She is the autism consultant, the teacher for our hearing-impaired students, a case manager, an ARC chairperson, a leader in the special education department at the high school, a bus driver, the head coach for the CCMS and CCHS girls' softball teams, and a sounding board for many of us. She fills in wherever she is needed and manages to do the work with a smile and a calm spirit. Her official title of ‘itinerant special education teacher’ in no way describes the magnitude of her job. She does not accept praise or gratitude easily, but I cannot think of anyone who is more deserving of recognition for all she does for students and colleagues throughout the district.”
Sykes nominated Kramer for her work behind the scenes in the district.
“Typically, there are two types of individuals helping the world go around: those the public sees and those who work behind the scenes assuring everything keeps moving effectively,” wrote Sykes. “People like her are the quiet unsung heroes who never desire the accolades associated with public view.”
“She is one of the district leaders who taught me to not only serve the students with their minutes, but to serve them and their families like Him. Thankfully, I am blessed with beginning my career alongside one of my heroes for children and now working daily with her to serve our students as her career closes. She optimizes our district's wide vision - ‘Every student matters.’ She believes and practices what sets our district apart from all the others - to do right by the child no matter what. There is no district wide employee who could love our children more.”
East Calloway Elementary School's Academic Team finished fifth overall in the 2026 KAAC Regional Governor's Cup competition held in Paducah on February 28th.
Layla Koebbe was first place overall and regional champion in Composition. The Future Problem Solving team finished second overall with members Nola Sykes, Roscoe Young, Knox Lowery, and Della Davenport. Ava Milby and Jaymie Fiske finished tied for sixth place in Composition. Ava Akers took fourth place in Arts and Humanities, and Knox Lowery finished sixth in Social Studies.
The Quick Recall team finished fifth with team members Layla Koebbe, Nola Sykes, Ava Akers, Knox Lowery, Roscoe Young, Greyson Browning, Aubrey Esmond, and Carter Stewart.
East Calloway Elementary's Future Problem Solving team were named the district champions during Governor's Cup competition on February 7th. The win advances the team to compete at the regionals in late February. The team includes East students Nola Sykes, Roscoe Young, Knox Lowery, and Della Davenport.
The school's quick recall team finished second in the district, with team members Layla Koebbe, Roscoe Young, Knox Lowery, Carter Stewart, Aubrey Esmond, Greyson Browning, Nola Sykes, and Ava Akers.
All East Calloway writing participants demonstrating exceptional capturing three of the top five placements. Layla Koebbe secured second place, followed by Ava Milby in third and Jaymie Fiske in fourth.
Additional individual honors included Knox Lowery earning fourth place in Social Studies, while Aubrey Esmond placed sixth in the same category. In Language Arts, Layla Koebbe and Addy Koawlchon tied for sixth place. In Arts and Humanities, Ava Akers achieved fifth place and Londyn Pitman earned sixth. Rounding out the team’s strong showing, Maelyn Canerdy placed seventh in Math.
The East team is coached by Megan Milliken.
East Calloway Elementary School fifth grader Layla Koebbe was the Calloway County winner of the KY AARP Grandparents Essay contest. Layla’s essay focused on her grandmother, Beth Ott, who runs a wildlife rehabilitation center.
The essay now moves on to district competition in the statewide essay contest. The event is sponsored locally by the Calloway County Retired Teachers Association.
Parent tour registration links:
North: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040B4FAEAD23A0F49-62155122-lakers#/
Southwest: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080948ADAE2DA46-62176462-lakers#/
East Calloway Elementary School's Future Problem Solving team finished 12th overall in the state-wide KAAC Governor's Cup Junior FPS Challenge, very nearly qualifying for a place in the state finals. Pictured (left to right) are team members Knox Lowery, Della Davenport, Nola Sykes, and Roscoe Young.
Calloway County Schools has named Megan Milliken as the Laker Champion for Kids for January. Milliken is a 5th grade language arts teacher at East Calloway Elementary School.
The Laker Champion for Kids is awarded each month to a Laker staff member who goes above and beyond for students and colleagues.
Milliken was nominated for the award by East teaching colleague Aymee Herndon.
“She gives so much of herself to her craft," Herndon said. "She is a phenomenal Language Arts teacher and has a way of pulling out the best from each of her students. She also spends hours each week with her Academic Team and students are flourishing under her guidance.”
East principal Monica Williams also is impressed with Milliken's work.
“She teaches with a dynamic, fast-paced approach that challenges students to think deeply and perform at their highest level," said Williams. "She sets exceptionally high expectations and holds students accountable not only to her, but to themselves and each other. Her classroom culture balances rigor with strong relationships. Students know they can laugh and be themselves, while still meeting demanding academic goals. This proven instructional approach led her students to score in the top 3% in the state on the KSA Writing last year, a testament to both her expertise and her students’ hard work.”
Season's Readings recently delivered free books to all Calloway County kindergarten students. The annual program, led by CCBOE member Mitch Ryan, gifts books to all kindergarten students in Calloway and Murray schools based on their interests each Christmas.
CCHS and MSU student athletes help out with the book deliveries to help students write their names inside the front covers and organize their books.
Calloway County Schools are excited to announce state accountability results and school ratings from the 2024-25 school year.
All five Calloway County schools received “blue” or “green” ratings, placing them among the top schools in Kentucky. The ratings are based on a five color scale, including the lowest level red, then orange, yellow, green, and the highest level, blue.
Southwest Calloway Elementary School and North Calloway Elementary School both earned “Blue” overall ratings for the 24-25 school year, the highest possible rating. East Calloway Elementary School, Calloway County Middle School, and Calloway County High School all received “Green” ratings, the second highest rating.
“I am extremely proud of our student achievement and our accountability results,” said Superintendent Tres Settle. “Our faculty and staff work incredibly hard to provide all of our students with opportunities to succeed. We are always looking for ways to improve our schools and will continue to do so, but it is exciting to see that work is paying off for our students and their families.”
The ratings are assigned by the Kentucky Department of Education based on a variety of accountability measures in a weighted formula. Students are tested in reading, math, science, social studies, and combined writing. The achievement formula also includes change from the prior year data. A “Quality of School Climate and Safety” survey is included for school accountability, and English Learner Progress is included in the calculation for schools with a minimum of thirty EL students. Postsecondary readiness and graduation rates are a part of high school level accountability.
All five schools saw increases in student achievement from 2024 to 2025 and have achievement data well ahead of the state averages in Kentucky.
Five Calloway County teachers were recognized as graduates of the Leadership Initiative for Teachers by the Murray-Calloway County Chamber of Commerce. Teachers were recognized as part for the Chamber's annual salute to education during the November Business at Lunch event.
LIFT teachers explore community resources during Chamber led training beginning in July. Teachers learn about non-profits, community resources, and business opportunities during the training with the goal that teachers will communicate what they've learned to students and colleagues.
Pictured are 2025 LIFT graduates Kayla Luker (Southwest), Julia Garland (East), Emily Hearn (CCMS), Laken Falwell (North), and Jacob Falwell (CCHS).
Calloway County Schools has named Kali Simmons as the August Laker Champion for Kids. Simmons is the guidance counselor at East Calloway Elementary School.
The Laker Champion for Kids is awarded each month to a Laker staff member who goes above and beyond for students and colleagues.
Simmons was nominated for the award by East principal Monica Williams.
“She epitomizes the essence of what it means to be a Champion for Kids," Williams said. "She is a compassionate counselor who goes above and beyond for our kids. Kindness is not just a trait she possesses, but a guiding principle in her interactions. Always prioritizing the well-being and success of her students, she consistently ensures that their needs are met. Her empathy shines through as she checks in on students, offers a listening ear, and provides supportive guidance. She is not only a valuable asset to East Elementary but a great team member in the front office, actively collaborating to create a positive environment. Her commitment to following through on her promises underscores her dedication to the students she serves, making her an invaluable support at East Elementary.”
Calloway/Murray FRYSC Back to School Block Party
July 17th, 4-7pm at CFSB Center at Murray State
Games for kids, School Supplies Assistance, School Physicals, Health Care Resources, Community Resources, Refreshments
First Day of School for K-12 Students: Wednesday, August 6, 2025
Calloway County Preschool
July 14 - Packet Pickup - 8am-4:30pm
July 31 - Open House - 5-7pm
East Calloway Elementary School
July 22 - Registration - 2:30-6:30pm
July 29 - Back to School Night K-2 - 5-6:30pm
July 31 - Back to School Night 3-5 - 5-6:30pm
North Calloway Elementary School
July 22 - Fee Day - 8am-6pm
July 28 - Back to School Night - 3rd grade at 5pm, 4th grade at 6pm, 5th grade at 7pm
July 29 - Back to School Night - 1st grade at 5pm, 2nd grade at 6pm
July 31 - Back to School Night - Kindergarten at 5:30pm
Southwest Calloway Elementary School
July 22 - Fee Day - 8am-6pm
July 28 - Back to School Night - K-2 - 5pm
July 29 - Back to School Night - 3-5 - 5pm
Calloway County Middle School
July 28 - Registration Day - Grades 7-8 - 4-7pm
August 1 - Smooth Sailing Day Camp - 6th Grade - 8am-1pm
August 1 - Registration Day - 6th Grade - 1-3pm
Calloway County High School
July 14 - New Student Registration - 8am-3pm
July 22 - Freshman and Senior Schedule Pickup - 11am-6pm
July 23 - Sophomore and Junior Schedule Pickup - 11am-6pm
July 24 - New Student Schedule Pickup - 8-11am, 12-2pm
July 29 - New Student Registration - 8am-3pm
July 31 - Freshman Orientation - 6-7:30pm
Calloway County Schools director of transportation Matt Turner was recognized as the 2025 Rookie Transportation Director of the Year by the Student Transportation Association of Kentucky at their annual conference in Louisville on June 26th.
Turner was nominated by the district's bus driver trainers for outstanding dedication, service, and leadership in the district's transportation department.
Pictured left to right from the Calloway County Schools transportation department are Richard Burkeen, Amanda Morgan, Turner, and Ryan Rogers.
Calloway County Schools have hired Tiffany Brown as the district’s new Director of Special Education for the 25-26 school year. Brown replaces Lynsey Smith, who moved to an assistant principal position at Calloway County High School.
Brown brings a wealth of experience to the district in her new position. She has served Paducah Public Schools as the Early Childhood Disability Coordinator since 2008. Before her administrative role, she was a preschool teacher for six years in Graves County. Brown has two Master’s degrees and a Bachelor’s degree, all from Murray State University.
“We are excited to add Ms. Brown to our administrative team,” Superintendent Tres Settle said. “She has an incredible amount of experience, and she has been highly recommended by her former colleagues. I am confident she will be a great fit for our school community.”
“I’m honored to join the Laker family alongside other great educators and leaders to prepare kids for a bright future,” Brown said. “This is more than a job to me; it’s a higher calling to advocate for exceptional students, be a resource for families, and support staff in this important work. I’m excited to get to know the students and faculty and together find innovative ways to meet the unique needs of all learners to create an environment where they can not only maximize their potential but thrive.”
Brown grew up in Graves County and now lives in Cunningham with her husband Casey. She has two adult children, Chaney and Chayton, and an infant grandson. She will begin her new position officially on July 1st.
Congrats to our Calloway teachers chosen for the Chamber's 2025 LIFT program!
The Murray-Calloway Chamber of Commerce's Leadership Institute for Teachers provides professional learning aimed to bridge the gap between education and workforce through experiential learning.
Calloway teachers participating in 2025 are:
Emily Hearn, CCMS
Kayla Luker, Southwest
Julia Garland, East
Laken Falwell, North
Jacob Falwell, CCHS
Calloway County Schools will receive $70,000 from the 2025 Kentucky Numeracy Counts grant from the Kentucky Department of Education. The grant can be used for purchasing high-quality research and evidence-based curriculum for kindergarten through third grade and professional training for teachers. Forty districts in Kentucky will receive funds from this competitive grant.
Students and teachers from all three Calloway County elementary schools will benefit from this grant.
"We are excited about this grant and our progress in our primary math classrooms," said Calloway County superintendent Tres Settle. "We have seen remarkable growth in our elementary math achievement this school year, and we believe this grant will continue to fuel that success."
Funds will be available to the district beginning on July 1, 2025.
Pictured are East principal Monica Williams, Southwest principal Mark Mallory, and North principal Melinda Hendley.
East Calloway Elementary School has received $5,000 from Tennessee Valley Authority for the TVA Stem Classroom Grant Program.
The school plans to use the grant funds to purchase hands-on STEM resources for classrooms to use during instruction.
The school was presented with a ceremonial check from Jodie Hansen with West Kentucky Rural Electric and Scotty Sholar with TVA.
Pictured are East principal Monica Williams, East teacher Ashley Smith, Hansen, Sholar.
East Calloway Elementary School fifth grade students Dax Knieriem and Freyja Beatty won first place in their age division in the Kentucky Junior Duck Stamp Contest.
Knieriem received first for his conservation message, and Beatty earned first for her artwork. Both students received a $100 prize. The state contest is a part of the national contests held by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
East Calloway Elementary School music teacher Todd Terry was named the winner of the "Distinguished Faculty" award for the Pre-K to Fourth Grade level during the West Kentucky Community and Technical College's Eighth Annual Regional Educators Awards and Scholarship Program held on March 27th at the Clemens Fine Arts Center in Paducah.
The Regional Educators Awards and Scholarship Program was established in August 2017 by WKCTC President Anton Reece. Dr. Reece’s vision was to recognize pre-kindergarten through high school educators, administrators and staff members who work tirelessly each day on behalf of students, parents and the community in WKCTC's service region, which includes Ballard, Calloway, Carlisle, Fulton, Graves, Hickman, Marshall, McCracken, Livingston and Lyon counties in Kentucky and Alexander, Hardin, Massac, Pope and Pulaski counties in Illinois.
The award honors an educator who inspires young learners by building a strong foundation for academic and social growth in their formative years. Over 200 educators were nominated for various awards in five different categories.
Southwest Calloway Elementary School teacher Steven Bauer has been selected by the Kentucky Department of Education to serve on the Social Studies Standards and Assessment Review Committee.
The American Institutes of Research will be facilitating a team of teachers, higher education leaders, and business and community members to review the Kentucky Academic Standards (KAS) for Social Studies and the assessment blueprint. The committee will meet multiple times in-person and online in 2025.
Bauer teaches fifth grade social studies at Southwest.
Calloway County Schools has received the 2025 Kentucky Comprehensive Literacy Grant award from the Kentucky Department of Education. The grant totals $1.3 million through 2028, with an initial award of $260,000 in June.
"We are grateful and excited for this literacy grant," said Superintendent Tres Settle. "Literacy is our top academic priority and we have made incredible progress over the last few years recovering from the pandemic. This grant will allow us to continue improve our resources and strategies to ensure all students can achieve high levels of literacy success."
The grant funds are restricted and can only be used for purchasing high-quality instructional resources, job-embedded curriculum based professional learning, family engagement in literacy development, and other associated costs.
The grant funds must be allocated on all levels - early childhood, elementary, middle, and high. All Calloway County District schools will benefit from the grant. In addition, the grant includes local childcare partners Busy Bees, Under the Son, Milestones, and Lily Pad, in addition to Calloway County Preschool.
Thirty-nine of the state's 173 school districts were awarded in the competitive grant process.
The Calloway County Conversation District held its annual Awards Banquet on March 18th and recognized numerous Lakers from around the district.
In the art contest, Alina Pugh (East), Ella Osborne (Southwest), and Alina Marquardt (North) were named school winners.
CCHS student Emerson Herndon and CCMS student Leah Hughes were the school writing award winners.
CCMS teacher Scott Pile was given a Conservation District Honor Award for his work in conversation education in his science classroom.