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AGAINST HIM AT THE TIME. HIS SENTENCING IS SET FOR MAY. A NATIONAL TEACHERS ORGANIZATION HONORS A LATE ELKHORN PUBLIC SCHOOLS WORKER, BUT HIS MEMORIAL HAS HIT A SNAG. KETV NEWSWATCH SEVEN’S IZZY FUNFAIR JUUL EXPLAINS. DEB HARRISON SAYS HER HUSBAND, KEVIN HARRISON, COULD SOLVE ANY PROBLEM. ANY STAFF MEMBER THAT WORKED IN THE BUILDING KNEW THAT WHEN KEVIN CAME IN, SOMEONE WAS GOING TO GET FIXED. FOR 20 YEARS, KEVIN WAS THE MAINTENANCE COORDINATOR FOR ELKHORN PUBLIC SCHOOLS. HE PASSED DURING A CONSTRUCTION INCIDENT IN SEPTEMBER OF 2024. I UNDERSTOOD HIS ROLE IN THE PROCESS. HE KNEW THAT WHAT HE DID ALLOWED FOR KIDS TO LEARN AND GROW. KEVIN HAS BEEN HONORED IN THE NATIONAL MEMORIAL FOR FALLEN EDUCATORS. THE FACT THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO DEDICATE THEMSELVES IN THEIR TIME TO REMEMBERING PEOPLE LIKE KEVIN, THAT MEANS A LOT. THE DEDICATION CEREMONY WAS LAST SUMMER, BUT THE PROCESS ISN’T COMPLETE. BUT UNFORTUNATELY, WE CAN’T PUT HIS NAME ON THE MEMORIAL BECAUSE WE JUST DON’T HAVE ANY SPACE. MADDIE FENNELL IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL TEACHERS HALL OF FAME. SHE SAYS JUST FIVE YEARS AFTER EXPANDING THE MEMORIAL, THEY NEED ANOTHER MONUMENT. EVEN AS WE RAISE THE PROFILE, WE’RE GOING TO FIND MORE NAMES AND WE WANT TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO HONOR THOSE PEOPLE IN A TIMELY MANNER, FENNELL SAYS. A NEW PILLAR IS A $50,000 INVESTMENT, AN EXPENSE THE ORGANIZATION CAN’T COVER ON ITS OWN. WE’RE CALLING IT THE 12 FOR $1,212 FOR 12 CAMPAIGN, BECAUSE WE DO HAVE 12 NAMES AWAITING INSCRIPTION AT THIS TIME, LIKE JUST TO KNOW THAT KEVIN WILL BE REMEMBERED BY PEOPLE OTHER THAN JUST US. I THINK THAT MATTERS. DETAILS ABOUT HOW TO DONATE CAN BE FOUND IN THIS STORY O
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National group honors late Elkhorn worker
The National Teachers’ Hall of Fame needs a new monument to complete the dedication
Deb Garrison said her husband, Kevin Garrison, could solve any problem.”Any staff member that worked in the building knew that when Kevin came in, something was going to get fixed,” Deb said.For 20 years, Kevin was the maintenance coordinator for Elkhorn Public Schools. He passed during a construction incident in September 2024.”But he understood his role in the process of teaching and learning. He knew that what he did allowed for kids to learn and grow,” Deb said during the dedication ceremony last summer in Emporia, Kansas.PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Elkhorn Public Schools employee dies after accident at construction zone, Douglas County sheriff saysWhile he was honored in 2025, the process isn’t complete.”Unfortunately, we can’t put his name on the memorial because we just don’t have any space,” Maddie Fennell said.Fennell is the executive director of the National Teachers’ Hall of Fame, which oversees the memorial. She said just five years after expanding the memorial, they need another monument.”As we raise the profile, we’re going to find more names, and we want to have the opportunity to be able to honor those people in a timely manner,” Fennell said.Fennell said a new pillar is a $50,000 investment, which is an expense the organization can’t cover on its own.”We’re calling it the 12 for 12, $12 for 12 campaign because we do have 12 names awaiting inscription at this time,” Fennell said.”I like to just know that Kevin will be remembered by people other than us, I think that matters,” Deb said.Donations are being accepted on the National Teachers’ Hall of Fame website. Kevin Garrison is survived by his wife, Deb, and two daughters, Rachel and Nicole.Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google search.NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |
Deb Garrison said her husband, Kevin Garrison, could solve any problem.
“Any staff member that worked in the building knew that when Kevin came in, something was going to get fixed,” Deb said.
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For 20 years, Kevin was the maintenance coordinator for Elkhorn Public Schools. He passed during a construction incident in September 2024.
“But he understood his role in the process of teaching and learning. He knew that what he did allowed for kids to learn and grow,” Deb said during the dedication ceremony last summer in Emporia, Kansas.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Elkhorn Public Schools employee dies after accident at construction zone, Douglas County sheriff says
While he was honored in 2025, the process isn’t complete.
“Unfortunately, we can’t put his name on the memorial because we just don’t have any space,” Maddie Fennell said.
Fennell is the executive director of the National Teachers’ Hall of Fame, which oversees the memorial. She said just five years after expanding the memorial, they need another monument.
“As we raise the profile, we’re going to find more names, and we want to have the opportunity to be able to honor those people in a timely manner,” Fennell said.
Fennell said a new pillar is a $50,000 investment, which is an expense the organization can’t cover on its own.
“We’re calling it the 12 for 12, $12 for 12 campaign because we do have 12 names awaiting inscription at this time,” Fennell said.
“I like to just know that Kevin will be remembered by people other than us, I think that matters,” Deb said.
Donations are being accepted on the National Teachers’ Hall of Fame website. Kevin Garrison is survived by his wife, Deb, and two daughters, Rachel and Nicole.
Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google search.
NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |
