Kendra Easter, Building Administrative Assistant at East Elementary, was named the 2024-25 Classified Employee of the Year for Jenks Public Schools.
A Jenks grad who demonstrates exceptional work ethic and meticulous organization, Easter never misses an opportunity to support a student, help a colleague, or fill a need at her site. She serves as the Substitute Coordinator at East Elementary in addition to helping with Trojan Explorers, field trip coordination, and a variety of other essential tasks to keep her building and her site running smoothly. Above all, Kendra demonstrates a remarkable ability to connect with students. As one of her principals puts it, "Kendra stands outside our building every day to greet students and make sure they get to class safely. I have witnessed her helping students get out of the car when they are having a bad morning. I have seen her personally go get breakfast for a student and connect them with a friend to make sure they are set up for success."
"I love trying to make the day easier for our teachers, and I love the kids," Easter stated. "I love being able to greet them every day. For some kids, it may be the only thing they have to look forward to and it's not something I take for granted. I know I look forward to it."
From her desk just inside the Building D entrance, Easter assists parents and visitors, answers questions, and makes sure students get to class safely. If a student is having a difficult day, Easter consistently goes out of her way to stop, connect with the student, and do all she can to make sure the student feels seen and supported. She works closely with the other Administrative Assistants to improve operations and addresses issues with positivity and professionalism.
"I'm humbled and grateful for this recognition," Easter said. "I love being here, my kids go here, and I just love helping and being a part of our team here at our site. This is where I want to be."