Roxann Keenan is a third-grade teacher at Holy Family School. Recently, she was recognized as the Distinguished Teacher of the Year for the Dodge City Diocese at the Kansas Association of Independent and Religious School (KAIRS) Conference.

In her letter nominating Keenan for the honor, Holy Family School Principal Debbie Hagans noted that Keenan began her career as a first-grade teacher and has always taught in Catholic schools.

“Rox thought she would teach first grade forever,” Hagans noted. But things took a twist in 2015 when she was reassigned to the third grade, where she discovered her “niche.” 

“Rox is known for her no-nonsense approach in the classroom and high expectations for her students,” Hagans said in her nominating letter. “However, her students responded to those expectations and like her for her fairness and structured classroom. As one of her former students said after having Rox as a teacher, ‘Well, that wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be!’”

A former student remembers

This year is Keenan’s final year teaching; after 38 years of dedication, she is choosing to retire. 

“I’ve toyed with it all year but I am retiring at the end of this year,” she said. “It’s been hard, I stress about it a lot and then I think no, it’s time. We’re going to move on.”

Former student Alaina Schneider recalled an unusual detail from her experience with Mrs. Keenan.

“She was always the one you went to when you needed your tooth pulled,” said Schneider, “She kept little tooth necklaces you would wear around all day showing it off. I couldn’t even try to count the amount of teeth she’s pulled throughout the years, but that was one of many reasons why she made such an impact on me. The little things in life are what make such a huge impact.”

The path to Holy Family School

Keenan was born in Hays and then her family moved to Great Bend, where she attended St. Patrick School starting in the third grade.

Later, St. Patrick and St. Rose combined to become one school, Holy Family.

“I think it is pretty cool that she is teaching in the same school she attended,” Hagans said.

 After graduating from Great Bend High School, she obtained her teaching degree through Fort Hays State University and began her teaching career as a first-grade teacher at St. John’s Catholic School in Hoisington, then St. Rose in Great Bend, and finally Holy Family School beginning in 2011.

When asked why she’s never applied to the public schools, Keenan said, “I’ve never really even thought about it. It’s never even crossed my mind to leave here and go somewhere else. We’re family knitted here.”

Family life

Keenan is married to Kent Keenan and they have two children: Andrew and Adam. She also has three grandchildren whom she adores. Keenan and her husband enjoy cruising with their friends and are looking forward to an Alaskan cruise this summer.

In addition to teaching, Keenan is a Eucharistic Minister at Prince of Peace Parish and involved with the Twilighters FCE (Family Community Education) group.

Community Connections is a regular feature of the Great Bend Tribune, showcasing people who live in the Golden Belt. We welcome readers to submit names of individuals who are active in the community that they would like to see featured in a future story. Send suggestions to news@gbtribune.com and explain their “community connections.”