“Hey, Mr. Holley!” is a common phrase you hear shouted down the hallways of Concordia Lutheran School, often accompanied by a high five. Students from our youngest preschool class all the way up to our eighth graders (even parents!) love starting the day with a check- in from one of our beloved teachers.
Mr. Holley is one of the first faces students see at Concordia each morning, as he helps direct traffic at the drop off line, always with an upbeat soundtrack coming from his speaker nearby as he greets each student by name, rain or shine.
His connection with the student body is noticeable throughout the day. He can’t walk out to recess or during a passing period without someone flagging him down to share a story, ask for advice, share a recent victory, or just for a high five and a smile.
Kendrick Holley is Concordia Lutheran School’s athletic director, as well as the P.E. and character class teacher. He has many other jobs behind the scenes that keep our school running smoothly and often go unnoticed. Holley started working at Concordia in 2008. He is currently in his 18th year teaching at Concordia. He was drawn to school because of the impact he could have teaching and mentoring students from preschool through eighth grade.
One of his favorite things about working at Concordia is getting to see each child’s unique abilities and talents, learning who they are and what makes them shine. He also cites the upbeat work environment and connection with the other teachers on staff as a highlight.
During his time at Concordia, Mr. Holley says he has learned patience and empathy when working with kids. He understands that students learn at different paces, and need time to internalize and excel at different skills. Mr. Holley considers it a blessing to see kids grow from preschool to eighth grade and watch them overcome challenges, both inside and outside of the classroom.
One of his favorite memories over the years is the Concordia basketball team winning the annual Lutheran Elementary Schools Tournament championship in 2009, an area wide competition against other Lutheran schools. He is also proud of taking 3rd place in this year’s LEST basketball tournament.
Alumni Nate Hartman was on that championship-winning basketball team in 2009. When asked about his memories of Concordia and Mr. Holley, he shared this,
“Mr. Holley took the time to get to know each student on a personal level so they felt confident and safe in his presence. Mr. Holley always trusted and believed in me. He knew what I was capable of even when I wasn’t able to see it. I will forever be thankful for that.”
Hartman says, “Every staff member knew me. They knew what I loved, what my strengths were, and also what my weaknesses were. I am a compassionate, understanding, and kind person in large part because of my time at Concordia and teachers like Mr. Holley.”
Students like Nate Hartman are who keep Kendrick Holley coming back to Concordia year after year. When it comes to his teaching philosophy, Holley says there is a time for everything under the sun- play is play and work is work. He models doing your best when it is work time, then to make space for fun. He also instills an ethic of respect for self and others.
Preschool classes have P.E once a week with Mr. Holley. Elementary and middle grade students at Concordia have P.E class twice a week, and a character class once a week with Mr. Holley. Character class is where Mr. Holley gets to teach about respect, breaking down Concordia’s habits of success. Concordia’s habits of success help students be aware, relational, self-managing, and responsible. Concordia aims to foster the whole-child, instilling skills for academic, social-emotional, and spiritual development.
We love our staff and are so thankful for the longevity and investment of teachers like Kendrick Holley into our students and families. Come visit our hallways and you can join the line for a high five from Mr. Holley! Book a tour today to meet our staff and see the Concordia difference for yourself.