“TK is just the greatest school district in the world. It’s big enough in size to offer tons of opportunities, but still small enough so that everyone has a chance to participate in those opportunities,” she said.
After graduation in 1976, Kennedy left her Gun Lake-area home to attend Western Michigan University with the dream of becoming a teacher. She completed her degree in elementary education, but at that time, there were few teaching positions open.
She turned instead to various jobs in corporations. She became a corporate trainer and technical writer, but her love of education never left. So, at age 45 she recertified her teaching license and finally found her place in a sixth-grade classroom in a small district in Morrice, Michigan.
“I loved it. It was everything I thought it would be so many years ago,” she said. “Teaching is just one of those things I always wanted to do. I knew from a very young age that I wanted to be a teacher.”
After retiring in 2018, she and her husband moved back to the TK community and the area she loves. “It’s just that small-town where people really care about each other. That’s what makes it special.”
As a retiree, Kennedy said she wanted to find ways to be involved and give back to the community.
The TKAA caught her attention, and she started attending events and meetings. She was recently elected to serve as President of the organization for the next two years.
“I just want to keep expanding this group and getting more alumni involved and more participating from alumni who live outside of Middleville,” she said.
She’s proud of what the association has accomplished since forming in 2016. The organization has grown to be able to provide two $750 scholarships to graduates. They’ve been able to donate $100 to each new elementary teacher and will help at least 12 high school students purchase yearbooks, who otherwise wouldn’t be able to do so. The group is also working to start a mentorship program with the high school with more than 25 people signed up to act as mentors.
“It’s because of the generosity of all our alumni and the people attending our events that we’re able to do all this,” she said.
When she’s not busy working with the TKAA, Kennedy loves spending time with her husband and their dog. She enjoys doing community service work, is a member of the Thornapple Area Enrichment Foundation board, and the committee for Middleville Needs a New Library.
Retirement Plans: Travel and Community Work
Place She Would Most Like to Visit: Alaska
Superpower She Would Most Like to Have: The ability to teleport and be anywhere instantly.
Someone She Wishes She Could Have Dinner With: “My dad. There’s just so many times I think I would like to ask him questions and he’s not here anymore. I would love to know what he thinks about a lot of things, and I would love for him to see the schools today.”