DALLAS - The Oxford English Dictionary defines a power couple as "two people in a romantic relationship who are influential or successful in their own right."
In North Texas, a married couple who both teach at the same high school are being called a "power couple" after they both got the distinguished Teacher of the Year award back-to-back.
Their secret to success is simple, according to the couple: "Teaching can be hard, but having your best friend understand the struggle makes it easier," said Cedar Hill High School theatre director Bethany Kennedy. "We know what’s going on at work, so we know how to support each other through those frustrations."
Married almost 13 years, they still blush while the other speaks, and they make each other giggle like the high school couples they teach. They say they’re each other's cheerleaders when the job gets tough.
"She’s just not going to quit on the kids," said Cedar Hill High School graphic design teacher Aaron Kennedy. "She’s really the ideal person that you would want to teach your kids."
Mr. Kennedy received the prestigious award at CHHS for the 2020-2021 school year. He’s taught for the last 16 years and leads the school’s graphic design program.
"He has made really positive impacts on his students," said Mrs. Kennedy, sitting next to a blushing Mr. Kennedy. "Sometimes I don’t think he realizes just how much he means to his students because he does a lot."
Mr. Kennedy said it’s nice to have his administrators recognize his hard work, but it means so much more when his students congratulate him for earning the award.
"That’s why we’re here," said Mr. Kennedy. "If the kids aren’t proud of you and aren’t happy with everything that you’re doing, then what’s the point?"
Mrs. Kennedy received the honor this school year. She’s taught for the last 15 years and leads CHHS’s theatre program, which has recently received a lot of awards under her direction.
"We have some special kids in our theater program," said Mrs. Kennedy. "I think we both have students that want to work hard for us because they know we care about them."
They agree that their love is magnified when they see one another thriving in their element, and they both work hard to support each other’s passions.
"She’s always going to push me," said Mr. Kennedy. "I think that’s what I need because, honestly, I would just sit around and do my thing and be good. She makes me a better person. "
When asked what Mrs. Kennedy hopes her students will remember having her as a teacher, she got pensive and glossy-eyed.
"A love for art," she said with a warm smile. "I want them to know that even when things get tough and we have bad days, they can still walk away and know that they worked hard and that they left their hearts on the stage."
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