Hello.  Please let me introduce myself.  I grew up in Kansas City Missouri and attended the University of Missouri-Columbia for my undergraduate degrees in Biology and French Literature.  During my college years I was fortunate to have had the opportunity to live and study for a year in Thetford, England and a year in Aix-en-Provence, France, and to travel extensively throughout Europe.  As a lover of nature and the out-of-doors, I thought I might like to work in international conservation, so upon graduation, I worked as a summer intern for the Missouri Nature Conservancy, then joined the Peace Corps to see if I could survive in the 3^rd world.  I spent two fantastic years in the Dominican Republic teaching kids about soil conservation, reforestation, and organic vegetable gardening.  It was in the Peace Corps that I discovered a passion for teaching.

         After 3 months of post-Peace Corps travel throughout South America, I enrolled in Columbia University’s Teachers’ College for a Masters in Secondary Science Education. My tuition was paid through a program funded by the Kansas City, Missouri Public Schools. So following my student teaching in the NYC public schools, I returned to teach 8^th grade Earth Science at NE Global Studies Middle Magnet School in KCMO for three years.  During this time I met my wife Kathy, and together we decided to travel to Japan to be Assistant English Teachers in two of Kurashiki City’s Junior High Schools.  Following two wonderful years in Japan we chose to return to America to start our family.  I can hardly believe that I am now entering my 30th year teaching Science here at SW Middle School! My wife Kathy teaches lower elementary at Raintree Montessori School and our daughter, Laura now lives in Wichita KS, and our son, Gabriel working for Grundfos Pumps in Lenexa KS.

         I enjoy helping students to continue their discovery of the wonders of the natural world in which we live.  I hope to share with students my love and respect of Science and Nature.  This year I will be teaching both 7th and 8th grade science.   My philosophy is to encourage hands-on discovery learning.  Students learn Science best by doing Science!  We will use the OpenSCIEd Curriculum again this year in all of our district Middle Schools.  Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.  I try to be available after school most Tuesdays and Thursdays to help students with Science.    Your student may also choose to join me in the "Growing a Better Future" -SW School Garden for other activities sponsored by our Garden Club. Garden Club/Garden workdays are most Mondays afterschool.

My Email address is:  pkennard@usd497.org         

         Sincerely,