Shining Staff Spotlight: Mrs. Jody Dempsey

For this week’s Shining Staff Spotlight, put your hands together for Mrs. Jody Dempsey, a custodian at Kenton Ridge (KR)! While helping keep our building squeaky clean, she provides a joyful presence amongst our students that is implacable.

Mrs. Dempsey may be a Kenton Ridge Cougar now, but back in high school, she was a Northeastern Jet. She’s the fiercest kind of Springfield native, with wings to soar with and a set of claws to show off! She’s continued her golden-winged legacy here in her hometown with her wonderful family of four! Mrs. Dempsey has been married to her husband, Jim, for nine years. They’ve raised a family of little Jets, many of them having taken flight from their nest already! They have two daughters, Tracy (29) and Angie (27), who, like their mother, are NE alumni. Angie is married to Cody, and they’ve made a home out south in Oklahoma. Mrs. Dempsey also has three great-nieces and two great-nephews, whom she relishes endlessly. Not only does Mrs. Dempsey have two amazing human children, but three furry babies as well! She has a Corgi named Tate and a Labrador named Izzy. She even has a little Corgi grand-pup! She could not be more doting to her fantastic family, which only continues to grow in the most beautiful of ways! 

Fun Fact: Did you know that Mrs. Dempsey studied to be a nanny at the Nannies of Cleveland?! She worked as an aide for Northeastern Local Schools before becoming a custodian, a role she’s upheld for eighteen years. We couldn’t be happier that she’s continued her endeavors here at KR, scrubbing away any sour sadness and replacing it with sparking smiles. You can find her all around the building on a daily basis, maintaining the positive environment she’s helped create! How lucky are we to have this cleaning queen in our midst?

When Mrs. Dempsey isn’t keeping the KR campus looking its very best, she’s spending time with friends and family, and finds entertainment through creativity! She enjoys helping her friends out in the countryside with their cattle, exploring this fascinating world behind her camera, and taking pictures of whatever she can. She loves crafting and taking care of her great-nieces and great-nephews. Mrs. Dempsey is also a sports fan of both OSUs: The Ohio State University and Oklahoma State University! Not only does she involve herself in so much already, but when she can, she assists with the NE FFA Parent Boosters. Mrs. Dempsey is truly someone you can count on whenever and wherever! 

While our hearts are just full of love for the wonderful Mrs. Dempsey, she says she adores everyone at KR even more. She loves being around all of the students, getting to see them every day, and chatting with them in the hallways, especially our little kindergartners! She enjoys her creative freedom to decorate the hallways of the elementary and being able to interact with all the students and staff daily. Mrs. Dempsey loves her job and the people she’s surrounded with, and we couldn’t agree more! 

We cannot fully express our gratitude for the impact Mrs. Dempsey has left on the environment of Kenton Ridge. She’s always got a smile on her face, and her joyful energy is too contagious not to smile back! The hallways of our school are brightened with the rays of the light she omits, and her cheerful essence spreads like wildfire. Her hard work has not gone unnoticed, and with her commitment to the condition of the KR Campus, we can learn in clean and happy classrooms. 

Let’s give one of hip-hip-hooray for Mrs. Dempsey! Thank you for all you do! KR and NELSD are endlessly thankful for you.

Click here to nominate a staff member for our #ShiningStaffSpotlight feature.

Author: Communications Intern Mila Trulock (KRHS '26)