UK Libraries honors 6 Kentucky civics, history teachers with Clements Award

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Aug. 12, 2025) — The UK Libraries Wendell H. Ford Public Policy Research Center, in partnership with the National Archives, has announced the recipients of the 2025 Earle C. Clements Innovation in Education Award, honoring six exceptional Kentucky teachers:

• Sharessa Bentley-Crovo, Paul Laurence Dunbar High School (Lexington)
• Jennifer Brown, Menifee Central School (Frenchburg)
• Caron Cron, Rosa Parks Elementary School (Lexington)
• Stevie Lemons, Lafayette High School (Lexington)
• Jason Ross, Leestown Middle School (Lexington)
• Clay Rouse, Lafayette High School (Lexington)

The educators were recognized during an award ceremony in the Great Hall of the Special Collections Research Center on Thursday, Aug.t 7.

The Clements Award celebrates history and civics teachers from across Kentucky who make a profound impact on student success, bring creativity and innovation to the classroom, and inspire a deeper understanding of the value of public service.

Named in honor of the late Kentucky Gov. Earle C. Clements — who also served as a U.S. representative and senator — the award reflects his enduring legacy of service, dedication to public life and commitment to constructive political dialogue. A lifelong champion of education, Clements worked tirelessly to expand opportunities for students. 

Learn more about each of this year’s winners:

Sharessa Bentley-Crovo

With more than 20 years of experience in secondary education, Sharessa Bentley-Crovo is a high school social studies teacher and department chair at Paul Laurence Dunbar High School in Lexington, where she leads the school’s Civics Expo and sponsors several student organizations. She holds a Master of Arts in teaching in secondary education from Coastal Carolina University and a TESOL certification from Western Kentucky University.

“Throughout my career, I have remained deeply committed to fostering civic engagement and student leadership,” Bentley-Crovo said. “Empowering students through education today equips them with the skills to become thoughtful, informed citizen leaders of tomorrow.”

Jennifer Brown

Jennifer Brown is a fifth-grade social studies teacher at Menifee Central School in Frenchburg, Kentucky. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in elementary education from Berea College and is a recipient of the Excellence in Teaching Award. Brown serves as the teacher representative on her school’s site-based decision-making council and is actively involved in several statewide and district initiatives.

“I’m truly honored and grateful to be receiving the Clements Award,” she said. “This recognition fuels my passion for education and inspires me to continue exploring creative, student-centered approaches to teaching that make learning meaningful and engaging for all of my students.”

Caron Cron

Caron Cron is an educator with more than 13 years of experience in elementary education. She received a Bachelor of Arts in integrated strategic communication from the University of Kentucky and a Master of Education from University of the Cumberlands. Her passion lies in designing engaging, student-centered learning experiences with a focus on inquiry-based instruction.

“I’m incredibly humbled to receive the Clements Award,” Cron said. “When students understand their role in a community and their power to make a difference, they grow into informed, compassionate leaders. It’s a privilege to help nurture that understanding in the classroom every day.”

Stevie Lemons

Stevie Lemons is entering her 10th year as a social studies teacher at Lafayette High School in Lexington, where she works to create a classroom rooted in civic engagement and student-centered learning. She recently completed her Rank I, earning her principal certification. As the U.S. history professional learning community lead and sponsor of Lafayette’s Black Student Union, Lemons has led and designed programs that give students from all backgrounds the opportunity to succeed.

“I’m deeply honored to receive the Clements Award and beyond grateful for my students, who inspire me and remind me each day of my passion for education,” she said.

Jason Ross

Jason Ross earned a Master of Arts in secondary social studies education from UK in 2010. He has been a middle school educator for 15 years — spending most of his career in the social studies department at Leestown Middle School in Lexington.

“I’m really honored to receive this award and thankful to be recognized for my hard work and dedication,” Ross said. “I stand on the shoulders of giants — learning from some of the best out there. Thank you to all who have taken the time to aid me along this path.”

Clay Rouse

Clay Rouse is entering his fifth year at Lafayette High School in Lexington, where he teaches advanced government, AP micro- and macroeconomics, and a Kentucky studies elective called “Bluegrass Land and Life.” He earned a Master of Arts in secondary social studies education from UK in 2021.

“I strive to bring the people, places and things of Kentucky to the forefront of (9th- through 12th-grade) civics education, and it has been a joy to watch students embrace the state and its complexities,” Rouse said. “It’s an honor to receive this recognition from Kentucky’s land-grant university for promoting Kentucky education.”

UK Libraries honors Clements’ legacy through annual fellowships, awards and events, all of which are made possible by the support of his daughter, Bess Clements Abell, her husband Tyler Abell, and their two sons, Dan and Lyndon. The Abells are longtime supporters of UK Libraries, and their gifts ensure the continued promotion of the ideals that Clements championed.

The National Archives is an independent federal agency that serves American democracy by safeguarding and preserving the records of our government, so people can discover, use and learn from this documentary heritage. The National Archives ensures continuing access to the essential documentation of the rights of American citizens and the actions of their government. From the Declaration of Independence to accounts of ordinary Americans, the holdings of the National Archives directly touch the lives of millions of people. The agency supports democracy, promotes civic education and facilitates historical understanding of our national experience. The National Archives carries out its mission through a nationwide network of archives, records centers and presidential libraries, and on the internet at www.archives.gov.

The Wendell H. Ford Public Policy Research Center preserves the history of Kentucky politics and government and provides access to primary source materials pertaining to public policy and the U.S. Congress. Utilized by scholars around the world, the collection has been recognized as one of the finest and most thorough public policy repositories in the United States. The Ford Center works closely with faculty with public policy teaching and research interests and collaborates with UK’s Martin School of Public Policy & Administration and the Wendell H. Ford Government Education Center in Owensboro, Kentucky.