November Super Staff Spotlight

Kendra Keen

If there’s one name synonymous with dedication, heart, and Mustang pride, it’s Mrs. Kendra Keen. For 20 incredible years, Mrs. Keen has been a steady pillar of the Whitepine Joint School District – 14 years shaping young minds in elementary classrooms, followed by six years inspiring our middle school learners.

Mrs. Keen is passionate about education and wholeheartedly committed to student success. She takes the time to truly learn who her students are – what they care about, what motivates them, and how to help them shine. Her colleagues often describe her as “a safe landing spot for students in need” and someone who has been “instrumental in creating an amazing, ongoing culture with our middle school students.”

Whether she’s teaching ELA, math, art, or anything in between, Mrs. Keen’s upbeat, engaging style makes learning come alive. Her classroom is a safe, joyful place filled with curiosity, laughter, and high expectations.

But the impact of Mrs. Keen doesn’t stop at the classroom door – because after school, she becomes Coach Keen. 🏀 A lifelong fan of basketball, she is now in her 20th year coaching for the Deary Mustangs. Under her leadership, teams have made multiple state tournament appearances and even brought home a State Sportsmanship Award along the way. Her passion for basketball extends beyond her high school team as well. Each year she organizes the annual Mustang Basketball camp for grades K-9, and it is always highly attended.  She also runs Saturday Basketball for grades 4-8 in January of each year. For the past two years, she has been the assistant cross-country coach, helping runners reach their full potential. Her influence on Mustang athletics is deep, positive, and long-lasting.

To sum it all up... Mrs. Keen is known as a magnificent mother, exceptional educator, fantastic friend, and a genuinely good human being. Her compassion, consistency, and energy make her a model of what it means to serve students and community with heart.