Rank Change Candidates



Application & Acceptance

Note, you must include a copy of your valid Kentucky Teacher Certification.

Applicants will be notified within two weeks of reception by the CKEC Teacher Certification Institute of ALL documents required for acceptance.


***The application for Fall 2024 will not open before June 3, 2024.  Applications will be accepted until August 2, 2024.***



Professional Learning

Core 7 Modules

Each module consists of two 90-minute, virtual sessions.   Candidates will focus on their Pathway standards in each module and submit assignments/artifacts based on the content of the module and the candidate's Content Community of Practice focus.    The topics for the modules are:


Module 1: Continuous Improvement

Module 2: Learner Development, Differences, and Advocacy

Module 3: Congruence and Clarity

Module 4: Instruction

Module 5: Collecting, Analyzing, and Using Data

Module 6: Assessing and Learning

Module 7: Collaboration with School, Family/Caregivers, and Community


Content Community of Practice

In conjunction with each Core 7 Module, candidates will participate in a Content Community of Practice.  There will be one 90-minute live, virtual session for each Core 7 Module.

The Teacher Performance Pathway is guided by the Kentucky Teacher Performance Standards.  This pathway is designed for teachers who want to develop their craftsmanship in the classroom setting.  


The Teacher Leader Pathway is guided by the Teacher Leader Model Standards.  This pathway is designed for teachers who wish to develop a more global perspective in an area of educational pedagogy.  

Summer Professional Learning

During the summer between the first and second year of the program, candidates will complete twelve (12) hours of professional learning.  Six (6) of the hours will be connected to a Core 7 Module and six (6) hours will be aligned to the Content Community of Practice.  Candidates will work with their mentor coach to select professional learning opportunities.  Candidates will completes assignments based upon their summer learning.

Teacher Performance Pathway

Options for a Community of Practice in this pathway include:

Teacher Leader Pathway

Options for a Community of Practice in this pathway include:

Note:  Based on numbers of applicants, some Communities of Practice may be combined or not offered.  Therefore, applicants will be asked to select their top three (3) choices when they submit their Pathway Declaration Form.


Personalized Growth

Mentor Coaches

Each candidate will be assigned a mentor coach to support them throughout the program.  Candidates will meet with their mentor coach for twenty (20) hours over the course of the program.   The mentor coach will provide feedback and support for the candidate as the candidate engages in:

Clinical Observation

The mentor coach will observe the candidate in the candidate’s clinical setting (classroom, coaching session, PLC facilitation, etc.).  This may be done live or via a video recording of the setting.  The mentor coach will provide feedback and coaching specific to the work observed.  This will happen once during the program.  Timing of the observation will  be decided on in collaboration with the mentor coach.  The candidate will be observed by the mentor coach, who will use the Kentucky  Framework for Teaching as a tool to promote dialogue about the candidate’s craft.  In lieu of an in-person observation, the candidate may opt to video a lesson (at least 30 continuous minutes) and share it with the mentor coach, who will then provide the feedback.  

Action Research & Capstone Project






Sagor, R., and Williams, C. (2017). The action research guidebook: A process for pursuing equity and excellence in education, 3rd ed. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin.

Action Research

Throughout the program, candidates will engage in an action research, culminating with the Capstone Project.  The action research for the Capstone Project will follow the four-stage process described by Sagor and Williams (2017), and includes the following Action Research Stages & Key Actions:


Clarifying vision and targets


Articulating theory


Implementing action and collecting data


Reflecting on data and planning for informed action


Capstone Project

The Capstone Project tells the story of the action research.  It will be presented in front of a panel of at least three(3) professionals.  As part of the Capstone Project, the candidate will share the following components: