Shining Staff Spotlight: Mrs. Wendy Whip

For this week’s Shining Staff Spotlight, you know her and you love her. Put your hands together for the miraculous Mrs. Wendy Whip, a beloved elementary school counselor at Kenton Ridge Elementary School (KRES)! Having been a part of the NELSD family for over 50 years, Mrs. Whip's journey began as a student before she returned to serve the district valiantly as a teacher and counselor. As the school year draws to a close, we also acknowledge that her renowned time here is nearing its end. 
    
Mrs. Whip has spent the majority of her life polishing her claws and shining her wings within the golden thresholds of the Kenton Ridge cougar den and the Northeastern runway. Growing up in Springfield, she went on to graduate from Kenton Ridge High School (KRHS), and stayed close to home during her college years, where she attended Urbana University and the University of Dayton. You could say she’s always been familiar with the fight or flight hybrid: she was an Urbana knight and a Dayton flyer in her university days! Her astonishing educational abilities have always seemed to parallel those she’s continued to acquire in the way of the cougar and the jet! After earning her PreK-8 Teaching Bachelor’s Degree at Urbana University and her Master's in Student Counseling at the University of Dayton, Mrs. Whip's early career kept her connected to the community she knew and loved.

During this period, she remained close to home, working at Rolling Hills as a latchkey supervisor. Following her academic journey, she had a full-circle moment student-teaching with her first-grade teacher, Mrs. Ross, at Northridge Middle School. She describes these memories as moments that reinforced her love for education! As she continued her path down the winding road of teaching, Mrs. Whip spent 20 years guiding students at South Vienna Elementary School, where she later transitioned into her familiar role of student counselor. Since then, she’s been able to leave a paw print of impactfulness on both Rolling Hills and Kenton Ridge! When taking a look down memory lane, she shares, “Every step of the way has been a meaningful part of my life, and I’m grateful for the connections I've made and the experiences I've had in this amazing district!”

Mrs. Whip has built her own beautiful family within the flourishing community of NELSD. She has been married to her husband, Duane, for almost 33 years! They are celebrating their anniversary in the near future. Together, they have two wonderful sons, Bo and Devin, who have given them two more incredible additions to the family, sister-in-laws Andrea and Brooke. Mrs. Whip says that her favorite thing to do is to spend quality time with her family, whom she cherishes every moment with.  

Speaking of her favorite things, Mrs. Whip not only enjoys her family time, but also an eccentric plethora of hobbies as well. She is very creatively woven, stringing her time to the fulfilling art form of crochet! She participates in a crochet group at school, where they make cozy cat blankets for local animal shelters. Mrs. Whip also enjoys arts and crafts of all kinds! She takes comfort in allowing her creativity to flow. If you take a look at her beautifully decorated and flamboyant office, it wouldn’t come as a surprise! Not only does she embark on endless explorations through her creative capacity, but she also extends her endeavors beyond the boundaries of nature. Mrs. Whip says she loves to connect with the outdoors and to stay active, either camping, biking, or kayaking. If you’re ever unsure of the whereabouts of the wonderous Mrs. Whip, take a gander in the trees, or maybe keep your eye out for a nose peeking out of a book. She loves to read as well! Mrs. Whip is truly a multifaceted marvel!

Fun Fact: Did you know that Mrs. Whip and Ms. Blackburn run a fifth-grade girls group called ROX (Ruling Our eXperiences) for KR?! What an absolute rockstar! This is just one of the many treasure troves of contributions that Mrs. Whip has provided to the NELSD community over her fruitful 50 years. While she has invested so much of her love and care in our district, she has also found immense fulfillment in the communal support she has received. “One of my favorite things about this district is the incredible sense of community that surrounds us,” Mrs. Whip expressed, regarding the blessing NELSD truly is to her. “Whether I'm working in the classroom or as a counselor, I’ve experienced warmth and support from everyone. It doesn’t matter which side of the district I’m on; I always feel welcomed and at home.”

Our beloved Mrs. Whip is sadly departing at the end of this year to begin a new expedition into the tranquil utopia of retirement! While there will be a hole in our hearts due to her absence, the warmth and compassion that she has brought to our community over her many years here will continue to keep her cherished legacy alive.  

Thank you for everything you have sacrificed to guide our district’s future generations to a destination much greater than ourselves, Mrs. Whip! You are an incredible person with not only a remarkable capacity to love but also to feel and teach others that their emotions deserve to be honored. You have positively impacted more students, staff, and individuals than you realize, thanks to your willingness to share your abundant gifts and utilize your talents for the betterment of our community. For every year that you’ve spent in our district, there has been a smaller set of footprints behind you, leading the way toward tomorrow in the present because you taught them how to grow. We will miss you!

Author: Communications Intern Mila Trulock (KRHS ‘26)