Kennedy is a special education teacher at South Middle School, where she has been teaching for three of her four years in education. Inspired by the educators and coaches from her own childhood, and by her mother-in-law, Gretchen Elliott, the 2023-2024 Kansas Teacher of the Year. Kennedy draws inspiration from Gretchen’s innovative ideas, strong connections with her students and her classroom environment. Kennedy enjoys watching her students grow, laugh and enjoy their time at school. She is grateful for her coworkers, who make South Middle School a great place to work. Outside of the classroom, Kennedy spends her time baking sourdough, gardening during the summer time, and chicken farming. A fun fact about her is that she is working towards becoming a homesteader.