Instructor cherishes history

Iola Middle School teacher Kendy Johnson has come full circle in her career in education.
After a three-year stint as a paraprofessional, Johnson is resuming her 25-year career teaching history.
“I’m loving it,” Johnson said. “I’m having a good time finding activities and just teaching again. I’m thankful USD 257 gave me this opportunity.”
Johnson was raised in Montezuma and has taught social science teacher in several cities, including West Allis, Wis., and Haviland. She was also a special education teacher in Coldwater.
Johnson moved to southeast Kansas four years ago with her husband, Dale, who serves as a pastor in Moran.
At IMS, Johnson teaches seventh grade Kansas history and current events. Her Kansas history class will transition to world geography in the spring.
While she has taught several subjects through special education, history has always captured Johnson’s fascination. She likes how the past can relate to today.
“There’s so much life in it,” Johnson said. “We look at how we lived and we look at how we’re living now.”
Her history class has artifacts for students to examine as well.
Johnson said she had to adjust to using Google-related programs at IMS for her students.
While the school year has only begun, Johnson said she appreciates her students’ eagerness to learn.
Her current events class contains a board on which several newspaper articles are attached. Students discuss recent news with Johnson and form opinions on what is happening in the world. She hopes this class will actively seek information.
“I want them involved in the news,” Johnson said. “It’s important for them to be interested in what’s going on in the world instead of being on the computer all the time playing games.”
Topics from September have included Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, the artificial bomb earthquake from North Korea and other political actions in government.
Johnson said she has set the bar high for herself in wanting to become more proficient using the new technology at IMS. At the same time, she wants her student to embrace history.
“I want them to enjoy learning,” Johnson said. “I want them to engage in the process and enjoy digging into it. I don’t want it just to be another class that they sit through.”