College of Education and Behavioral Sciences News

The 2025 class of the Kentucky Teacher Hall of Fame was inducted Friday at WKU. From left: Dean of WKU’s College of Education and Behavioral Sciences, Dr. Corrine Murphy; WKU President Timothy C. Caboni; Julie Cowan; accepting for the late Lois Chandler, her son, Larry Chandler; Jennifer Miller Fritsch; Senator Mike Wilson; Representative Kevin Jackson. (WKU photo by Jessica Basham)

Three longtime educators joined the Governor Louie B. Nunn Kentucky Teacher Hall of Fame during its 2025 induction ceremony Friday at Western Kentucky University.

Members of the Hall of Fame’s 17th class are the late Lois Chandler, Julie Cowan and Jennifer Miller Fritsch.

Lana Chandler, daughter-in-law of the late Lois Chandler, said her family was “thrilled beyond words” when they learned she would be inducted.

“With her being selected, we felt like other people saw the investment she had made in the teaching profession and her students. This would have been the greatest honor in her life,” said Lana Chandler. “She taught with such care and enthusiasm for her students. She worked tirelessly to make sure they got the best education they could have. Her legacy would be just that. That every student she ever taught would remember the lessons and that each one of them took away a good thing from that class.”

Cowan said she was surprised to receive the news that she had been selected.

“My first thought was ‘why me?’ There are so many hard-working elementary teachers that are just as deserving.” Cowan said. “Being a teacher is who I have always been. When I was little, I loved playing school and knew at an early age I wanted to be a teacher. Teaching young children has been a part of my daily life for over 33 years. Seeing students learn and grow is the greatest "award" I will ever receive.”

Fritsch said being selected allowed her the unique opportunity to reflect on her career in education.

“Being selected for this honor is my greatest accomplishment during my career, and I do not take it lightly. This award has made me reflect on the past 23 years of my life and the thousands of kids I have taught,” Fritsch said. “I hope I leave the type of legacy that will inspire and encourage more people to go into the field of education. Being a teacher, for me, has been life changing. I want to be remembered as someone who genuinely loved being an art teacher, an artist and watching my students grow up and do amazing things.”

WKU President Timothy C. Caboni honored the inductees and recognized them for their combined total of 129 years in the classroom. “This honor recognizes far more than years of service. It recognizes their holistic contributions to their students and to our society. It honors their enduring legacies,” he said. 

“Julie Cowan, Jennifer Fritsch and the late Lois Chandler have served our children, our schools and our Commonwealth with tremendous distinction. They embody what it means to be an educator. They have shown us how one teacher can change the trajectory of countless lives.”

Senator Mike Wilson, Senate Majority Caucus Whip, said he was privileged to be able to speak as we honor this year’s inductees.

“In Frankfort, we believe teachers are the backbone of our great Commonwealth. In fact, none of us would be where we are today without a teacher,” said Wilson. “The importance of their work cannot be celebrated enough.”

Kentucky State Representative Kevin Jackson said teachers are “the heartbeat of our communities.” 

“We all have a teacher to thank for helping make us who we are today,” said Jackson. “On behalf of the Kentucky House of Representatives, congratulations to newest inductees into the Kentucky Teacher Hall of Fame at WKU.”

In a video message during the ceremony, Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman, a former teacher, expressed her gratitude to all who work in the field of education.

“Western Kentucky University has a long history of producing some of Kentucky’s best teachers,” said Coleman. “I tell young people that if they want to change the world, become a teacher. There is nothing you can do to change the trajectory of someone’s life and their family’s life for generations than to increase your educational level.”

Dr. Corrine Murphy, Dean of College of Education and Behavioral Sciences, shared information on each of the honorees and recognized past inductees.

The Kentucky Teacher Hall of Fame, housed at WKU’s College of Education and Behavioral Sciences in Gary Ransdell Hall, has inducted 50 outstanding educators since its first class was announced in 2008.

Here’s more about the 2025 inductees:

Lois Chandler 

With an incredible 56 years in education, the late Lois Chandler far exceeded the 19-year requirement for Hall of Fame consideration. A beloved language arts teacher from LaCenter in Ballard County, Chandler spent her career teaching at Wickliffe, Barlow, Bandana, Heath and Concord Elementary Schools before continuing her service as a teacher’s aide and substitute at Ballard Middle School.

Chandler’s lessons extended far beyond grammar and composition; she empowered rural students to find their voice and confidence through communication. One former student shared, “Lois was one of us. She had learned to apply her work ethic to improving her communication skills, and she wanted to spare her students the pain of having to dig out that knowledge on their own.”

Her influence continued through generations. Another former student, who later became a teacher, recalled, “I could pick out the students who had had Lois with no problem at all. She was still working her magic, still insisting on excellence.”

Chandler’s lifelong dedication to education earned her the title of Kentucky Colonel from Governor Wallace Wilkinson, and upon her passing in 2020 at the age of 92, the Kentucky House of Representatives honored her memory with a formal declaration of sympathy. Today, her name joins the Kentucky Teacher Hall of Fame, a testament to a lifetime spent teaching, loving and uplifting others.

Julie Cowan 

For 33 years, Julie Cowan has brought boundless creativity, compassion and joy to her kindergarten classroom. A graduate of Lindsey Wilson College and Western Kentucky University, Cowan currently teaches at Adair County Primary School and previously served at Colonel William Casey Elementary.

Known for her innovative “Kindergarten Bucket List,” Cowan invites her students to dream big, and then helps make those dreams come true. From “Taco Tuesday” and “Clay Day” to ice cream parties and community projects, Cowan turns small wishes into lasting memories.

“Julie is one of the most compassionate, creative and dedicated educators our district has ever known,” wrote a colleague who nominated her. “She’s always thinking from the child’s perspective and goes above and beyond to make them feel cared for and connected.”

Parents echo those sentiments. One shared, “I never worried about my children while they were in Mrs. Julie’s care. She has the perfect mixture of accountability, high expectations and compassion.”

Cowan was previously named Outstanding Educator of the Year (2009) by the Columbia-Adair County Chamber of Commerce. Her induction into the Kentucky Teacher Hall of Fame honors a career that has inspired kindness, curiosity and confidence in countless young learners.

Jennifer Miller Fritsch 

At Glasgow Middle School, Jennifer Miller Fritsch has spent more than two decades nurturing creativity and confidence in her art students. A three-time WKU graduate, Fritsch has also shared her expertise with the WKU Gifted Studies program and university art classes.

Her classroom, described by students as “a space to create ourselves,” is both a sanctuary and a launching pad. One former student reflected, “Mrs. Fritsch inspired curiosity and confidence in us. She taught us to see art as a way to understand who we are.”

Fritsch’s influence extends well beyond her own classroom. She founded the Visiting Artists Program at GMS, connecting students with professional artists, including two of her former students, to collaborate on murals and community art projects. Her leadership of the National Junior Art Honor Society has provided hundreds of students with opportunities for service and creative engagement, from knitting hats for cancer patients to hosting “Art with Santa” events for local children.

A parent of four of her former students said, “Jennifer has an extraordinary talent for making every child feel creative and capable. She sees their individuality and helps them express it.”

Her previous honors include Walmart Teacher of the Year (2005) and Kentucky Art Education Association Middle School Art Educator of the Year (2008 and 2019). Now, as a 2025 inductee into the Kentucky Teacher Hall of Fame, her legacy of inspiration and love for the arts will continue to encourage future generations.

About the Kentucky Teacher Hall of Fame: The Governor Louie B. Nunn Kentucky Teacher Hall of Fame was established in 2000 through a generous gift from former Governor Nunn, aimed at honoring the essential contributions of Kentucky’s classroom teachers and their positive impact on the state’s economy. WKU was chosen as its home due to its century-long legacy in teacher education. Learn more at https://www.wku.edu/kythf/.

Contact Jessica Basham, (270) 745-4030       

- WKU -

Western Kentucky University prides itself on positioning its students, faculty and staff for long term success. As a student-centered, applied research university, WKU helps students expand on classroom learning by integrating education with real-world applications in the communities we serve. Our hilltop campus is located in Bowling Green, Kentucky, which was recently named by Reader’s Digest as one of the nicest towns in America, just an hour’s drive from Nashville, Tennessee.