McKenzie Educator Karlene Ellis Earns Ph.D.

WILLIAMSBURG, Ky. (December 15) — McKenzie educator and coach Karlene Ellis was recently awarded a Ph.D. in Leadership Studies with an emphasis on educational leadership from the University of the Cumberlands.

Dr. Ellis teaches Special Education at McKenzie Middle School and coaches boys' and girls' soccer at McKenzie High School.

She began the doctoral program in January 2023 and fulfilled the requirements just before the December 2025 commencement.

Dr. Ellis' dissertation was a phenomenology study on the impact of COVID-19 on early literacy with a focus on phonics instruction.

The achievement marks another generational first for Ellis, who was also the first in her family to graduate high school and furthermore to graduate college and earn a Masters and a Masters plus 30.

The Jamaican native graduated from Bethel College, where she was an athletic standout in soccer and track.

After graduating from Bethel, she worked at the now-defunct Carroll County Special Learning Center. While there, she established the Carroll County Special Olympics.

Ellis has been an American citizen since 2012, having come on a student visa, then completing the green card process before finally earning full citizenship.

Dr. Ellis told The Banner, "I like learning, and I wanted my children [son Lamarr and twin daughters Amina and Amelia] to know that you can achieve anything you put your mind to as long as you work hard."

She says she would like to be an adjunct professor while continuing to teach and coach.

Mostly, she said, this was about "showing my family that it doesn't matter what you come from, the sky is the limit."