Christy Spurlock
Assistant Professor, Education Curator, the Kentucky Museum, Department of Library Special Collections

  Contact Information:

Department of Library Special Collections

E123 Kentucky Building
Western Kentucky University
1906 College Heights Blvd. #11092   
Bowling Green, Kentucky 42101-1092   

Phone: (270) 745-6082
FAX: (270) 745-6264
Email: Christy.spurlock@wku.edu

Education
Position Description
Special Projects
Partnerships
Research
Public Services
Awards/Grants

 
Education
   
Masters Secondary Education/Specialization in History (1991). University of Louisville, Louisville
B.A. History/English (1985). Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green
U.S. Army Financial School. Ft. Ben Harrison, Indianapolis, Indiana
Nuclear, Biological and Chemical School. Kaiserslautern, Germany

 
Position Description
   
Develops educational programs for diverse audiences
Recruits, trains and supervises volunteers and KYLM Education Department student workers
Plans and implements workshops, community outreach activities and weekend and summer
programs
Develops educational content for web site
Member of the acquisitions and exhibition committees

 
Special Projects
   
Education Room- Altered the physical appearance of the room (paint, décor, materials),
  creating a visually appealing learning environment.
Traveling Trunks- Dramatically increased the usage of traveling trunks by soliciting
  teachers for suggestions. A total of 6 new trunks created.
Educator survey- Developed and implemented first survey targeted to visiting educators.
  Field trip teachers returned anonymous surveys which were overwhelmingly positive.
Educational Advisory Council- Recruited outstanding area educators to meet to advise
  in educational program development
Christmas In Kentucky- Organized and implemented annual family oriented museum-wide
  event. 1,000 attended December, 2007.
Kentucky Themed Christmas Ornaments- Organized and implemented program for area 4th
  and 5th grade students. Ornaments displayed as an exhibit.
International Holiday- Partnered with the WKU Theatre Department to stage three school
  day performances (800 attendance) and two public performance of International Holiday
Volunteer Awards and Appreciation Dinner- Organized and implemented an annual volunteer
  recognition dinner and presentation.
KYLM email lists- Collect and organize email addresses for volunteers, educators, targeted WKU
  students, etc. Have thousands of email addresses in a variety of lists to distribute KYLM educational
  and programming information.
Educational Web Page- Worked with Sandy Staebell to completely redesign Education web page
  for educators.
Education Programs & Tours Booklet- Composed, printed and distributed booklet targeted to
  educators promoting the various tours and programming offered by the museum.
Diary of Johnny Underwood-Used text composed by Nancy Baird and designed and printed a
  diary for area school children as part of BG/Warren County study.
A Star in Each Flag Resources-Developed a host of Civil War activities and resources for educators and visitors in
  conjunction with new exhibit.
Duncan Hines Resources- Researched and developed the 1950s activity center for use with Duncan Hines exhibit
  including:clothes closet, phonograph player, and dinner detectives activity.
Teacher Workshops- Received a grant for two teacher work shops for October, 2008 to be held
  at the KYLM.
KHS History Mobile- Arranging and coordinating the Lincoln mobile for the museum. Coordinating
  with WKU Education Department professors and area schools for tours and activities.
Girl Scout Badge Workshop- Assisted with the organizing and implementing of a Badge Workshop
Daily News- Became part of Daily News newspaper in education program partnership with area
  school systems. Develop weekly ads that promote a variety of Education Department programming
Student Employee Orientation- Developed a comprehensive new student worker orientation
  presentation, written standardized policies and dress code for KYLM.
KYLM Facebook and MySpace Websites- Developed and maintain sites in a concentrated effort to reach younger
  and divergent audiences that may not visit our official website.
 
Partnerships
   
International Holiday-Partnered with the WKU Theatre Department to stage three school day performances (800
  attendance) and two public performance of International Holiday
Mischief Makers- Partnered with the WKU theatre Department to stage two school day performances (637
  attendance)
Southern Kentucky Educational Attractions Association-Christy and Rho Lansden, of Lost River,
  conceived of and formed SKEAA. Organized area venues. Published and distributed thousands of “one stop”
  brochures for area school systems.
Partner with Capitol Theatre, Historic Railpark-for field trips and cross promotion of Christmas
  programming.

 
Research
   
          Articles
   
Spurlock, Christy. "The White Stone Quarry of Bowling Green, KY" The Register of the Kentucky
  Historical Society (Winter 1994) 44-72.
Working on several articles for possible future publication. Topics include 1792 KY waterway transportation, museum
  education and WKU alumni connections.
   
           Exhibits
   
A Star in Both Flags: Conflict in KY- Researched 4th and 5th grade Core Content, textbooks,
  solicited area educators for suggestions in exhibit development.
Kentucky Themed Christmas Ornaments- Ornament making program through the Education
Department for area 4th and 5th graders.
WKU 100- Designed and distributed comprehensive cross curriculum Core Content guide for the exhibit.
   
           Consultantships
   
Historic Railpark & Train Museum- Served as a consultant to the museum to assist with Education
  materials development
Kennerly’s Chapel Meeting House Project- Served as advisor/researcher in preparation for 200th
  anniversary celebration. http://www.kennerlyschapel.org/
   
            Conferences/Presentations
   
Guest speaker Kentucky Association of Museums. Presentation entitled, “Fighting for the Field
  Trip Dollar: Wooing Teachers to Your Door”
“Kentucky Library & Museum”- PowerPoint presentation of brief history and current “Kentucky
  Library & Museum”- PowerPoint presentation of brief history and current programming and exhibits.
  Make this presentation throughout the year to a variety of civic, student, and educator groups.
Attended Interpreting Slavery at KY Historical Sites, KY Historical Society
Attended Southeast Regional Conference of ALFAM American Living History Farm and Agricultural
  Museums

   
Public Services
   
              Professional Organizations
   
  •
American Association of Museums
  •
Kentucky Historical Society
  •
Kentucky Association of Museums
  •
Museum Education Roundtable
  •
American Association for State and Local History
  •
Association for Living History, Farm and Agricultural Museums
  •
Capitol Theatre Education Committee
   
               Departmental/ University Committees and Task Forces
   
  •
DLSC Search Committee for Weekend/Evening Event manager
  •
DLSC Acquisitions committee
  •
DLSC Civil War Exhibit Committee
  •
DLSC Program Committee
  •
DLSC Brochure Committee
  •
DLSC Christmas in Kentucky Committee- Chair
DLSC Volunteer Dinner Committee- Chair
University Libraries Search Committee for Community Outreach Director
University Libraries Search Committee for Marketing Coordinator
University Libraries Search Committee for Digital Librarian
WKU Faculty Senate Alternate
WKU Faculty Senate
   
                  Other
   
Landmark Association Bowling Green Warren County- Board member
 •
Capitol Theatre Education Committee- Advised in upcoming programming decisions and to
  partner with the Capitol for certain performances/field trips
Networking Women BG/Warren County Chapter
BG/WC Humane Society Volunteer
WKU Alumni Association
WKU Cupola Society
Friend of WKU Libraries & Museum
Friends of Riverview
BG Schools/Pritchard Committee/Educators & Parents: a Powerful Alliance

Awards/Grants
   
                   Awards
   
2008-2009 Frank R. Levstik Award for Professional Service Kentucky Historical Society
Kentucky Museum Advisory Council Award for Excellence- First recipient
Margie Helm Award for Outstanding Performance 2008
WKU First Time Grant Award- Office of Sponsored Programs 2007
Teacher of the Year Voted by students Glasgow High
Who’s Who in American Teachers 10 years
U.S. Army Good Conduct medal
Selected as "Outstanding Soldier" for 63rd FSU
   
                    Grants
   
Grant Humanities Council $12,000 Civil War Teacher Workshop
Grant Humanities Council $2,000 Lincoln Traveling Trunk