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Story and photo by SUSAN ENLOE, KCKPS

The November 10 meeting of the Kansas City, Kan., Board of Education was held at Grant Elementary School. 

At the meeting, members of the Board of Education recognized (l-r) Eugene Rodriguez, head custodian at Douglass Elementary School; Marli Brandt, teacher at Stony Point South Elementary School; and Stephen Brandt, math instructor at Washington High School as November 2009 Employees of the Month. 

Eugene Rodriguez was nominated for Employee of the Month by Douglass principal Marguerite Martinez. 

Recognizing the task of getting a new building ready for the opening of school, Martinez said of Rodriguez, “Mr. Rodriguez worked many days from six in the morning until 11 or 12 at night getting our building ready for occupancy … He was seen many evenings way after the end of his scheduled work time, making sure that staff had what they needed . . .”  Martinez spoke of his commitment to the students and staff at the school, and of the many ways that Rodriguez has been a help to her as the new principal for the school.

“He knows many families and truly considers the whole child. Students look up to him, and for many, he is a positive male role model.”

Washington teacher Joe Graham and instructional coach Scarlett Sherretts-Risley nominated Stephen Brandt.   “ … Master Sergeant Stephen Brandt recently returned from serving a year in Iraq as a medic. He has been employed by the district since 1999, serving as a math teacher, SLC coordinator, cross country and track and field coach. While in Iraq, Stephen served on the Sustainment Brigade, which worked on fostering relationships and communications … Even in Iraq, Stephen continued to demonstrate his commitment to education by reading to the Iraqi children.”

When a soldier serves his country, away from his family and home, the spouse must assume all of the parenting and household duties.  MSgt. Brandt’s wife, Marli, was nominated for her efforts on the “home front”. 

Introducing Mrs. Brandt, David Smith, Assistant to the Superintendent for Communications said, “Marli is a 4th grade teacher at Stony Point South Elementary.

This is her 11th year with KCKPS. She is being recognized for maintaining a positive attitude in her position during the stressful time of having her husband serve in Iraq for the past year. She is commended for maintaining high quality work and managing her household in the absence of her husband.”