‘Teacher chain,’ inspired by college football, honors great work in Lexington school

An incentive the University of Miami football team uses to reward players who force turnovers is the inspiration for a new teacher appreciation program that is changing the culture at Lexington’s Lafayette High School.

The inspiration to nominate two teachers each week to wear a special necklace came from the University of Miami Hurricanes football team, which recognizes and rewards “great plays on their defense with a ‘Turnover Chain,’ a necklace the player wears following a great play,” principal Bryne Jacobs said. “We decided to create a ‘Teacher Chain.’’

Jacobs thinks “the program speaks to a major need in our schools right now -- acknowledgment and appreciation for the great work our teachers are doing.”

The Lafayette program began in November and one of the latest recipients was chemistry teacher Claire Polston.

Jacobs and Administrative Dean Littleton Ward, a former University of Kentucky football player, interrupted her class a few weeks ago to tell her she had been awarded the necklace. Jacobs noted Polston’s students who nominated her said she was “incredibly helpful and kind” and went out of her way to make sure everyone “understands and knows chemistry.”

A school committee was charged with creating a program that recognized teachers and staff for their hard work, Jacobs said, and the members decided on the teacher chain, ‘‘not really knowing the effect it would have.’’

“The impact has been substantial,” said Jacobs. “Teachers, students and parents have the ability to nominate deserving recipients each week.” One week, 100 nominations were submitted.

“The teacher chain started as a way to recognize the really cool things that teachers were doing at Lafayette,” said social studies teacher Chloe Ford.

Once the committee has decided on the recipient, administrators interrupt their class, read aloud the nomination form, and award them the Teacher Chain. Teachers can wear the chain for a week.

“Students love the program. Teachers are literally in tears when they are recognized. We film the award... each week and we have been posting to Social Media with the #TeacherChain. It has been some of the highest viewed content we’ve ever posted to social media,” said Jacobs.

Math teacher Jennie McClanahan said the student who nominated her for the chain said that she was “fun and bubbly and deserved to be acknowledged.”

Teachers are taking photos with the teacher chain, McClanahan said. “It’s a boost to our community.”

Jacobs said a handful of other schools have reached out for information because they want to replicate the award.

Polston said the recognition program has helped an already strong school culture. Each week, a student or parent nominates one teacher and the staff nominates a second teacher.

“Lafayette has a really good school culture to begin with,” Polston said. “While it’s recognition for the teachers, the students really enjoy seeing that happen as well. It’s been a very positive impact ...for student-teacher relationships and just for teacher morale.”

Junior Sasha Bertelson said she nominated geography and government teacher Whitney Walker for the recognition because she was one of her favorite teachers.

“She is such a fun teacher to be around that I figured she was deserving of the teacher chain,” said Sasha. “Plus I wanted to have some fun with her and see how she would react to it.”

Walker said it was common to hear students talk about their submissions.

“The students and staff absolutely love the reveal of the winner and the faculty has done a tremendous job adorning this flashy chain for the duration of the week by creating witty videos and snapping clever photos of ‘life with the chain,’” she said.