When students at PACE High School in Cincinnati, Ohio, enter Ivory Kennedy’s classroom, they feel secure and ready to learn.  Ms. Kennedy recognizes that students thrive in an environment of encouragement and support, and she works tirelessly to promote a positive attitude and strong work ethic.

Students at PACE often lead lives that present numerous challenges; her class is filled with convicted felons, drug abusers, and runaways.  These students hold promise, and Ms. Kennedy refuses to let outside influences stifle the educational process.  She works with all students to come up with academic plans tailored for each individual, and she refuses to let them give up.  Life may throw out obstacles for these young adults, but Ivory Kennedy is there to smooth the road for them.

In His Own Words:  Jam Stryffeler Praises Ivory Kennedy

Jam Stryffeler, Assistant Principal at PACE High School, knows effective teaching when he sees it.  He reflects on Ivory Kennedy and her efforts to help her students:

“Ms. Kennedy has created a classroom environment that is safe, exciting and a source of real learning.  Ivory’s classes are run in a continuous progress fashion.  Students finish and move on to another social studies course.  Other students are motivated by the daily successes they see.  When one student is granted credit, the others improve their work ethic in order to finish.  Her attitude encourages the students to catch up to the right grade.  She constantly builds student confidence, always reassuring them that they will pass the state test and that they will graduate.  She goes out on a limb telling students that if they don’t pass the state test, she’ll take the blame. 

“She sees the students as her people and understands the need to help them get back on track.  She is non-judgmental.  She sets up individual plans for every student.  She is aware of their needs and disabilities.  The students rely on her to survive, and I do not say that lightly.  She has students who do not know where they will sleep tonight, or they need medical treatment, or they are in danger.  She handles it in stride.  Ivory Kennedy cares for the whole student. 

“She refuses to allow students to drop out.  No one wants to let her down.  Ms. Kennedy has all of her courses available online, in case students are incarcerated, sick, or do not have bus fare to come in.  She offers choices in assignments and tailors courses for students who are deficient in a certain area.  She also has packets students can take should they lack an internet connection.

“Ivory is available to counsel students before school, after school, and at lunch.  She has handled their crisis situations at all hours and on weekends.  This is not her job requirement, but it is her vocation.  She is a badly needed African American female role model that PACE High School is proud to claim as a teacher.”