Susan "Susie" Diane Kidd was born April 6, 1948, in McPherson, Kansas, to Frances Lulu Garrelts Lafferty and LeRoy Edwin Lafferty. Susan passed away on August 30, 2024, at Via Christi Village in Manhattan, Kansas. Cremation has taken place.
Susie spent her entire professional life in education at Sheridan Elementary, starting with student teaching with Grace Burkhead in 1970. During those years, she taught grades, 2, 2-3, and 3. She earned a Masters Degree in ELL, and was nominated for Kansas Teacher of the Year by USD 475. Her favorite years were teaching second grade in the mobile classrooms. Nature played a large role in her classroom. She loved having living "critters" for her students to observe and care for, especially her bunnies! She participated many times at recess by playing underdog on the swings and playing kickball.
Susan served on the USD 475 Math Task Force for many years since its inception. She was instrumental in writing grade level learning objectives and developing local testing before the implementation of State Assessments. She also worked with the Science and Language Arts Task Forces.
Susie served as the Primary Team Leader for over twenty years. She planned and led Team meetings, mentored new teachers, and helped her team find resources that would help them meet their student and professional goals. This job also required occasionally filling in for the building principal in her absence and working with the Intermediate Team Leader to accomplish building goals and productive morale for the whole staff. Susan also mentored and supervised many student teachers from KSU. After her "official" retirement in 2008, Susie served as a Paraprofessional for nine more years at Sheridan. Her patience and positive attitude continued to make a difference for many students who needed it and thrived because of it.
Mrs. Kidd built strong relationships with all her students, creating a safe place to learn and reach their highest potential. She also was willing to help students outside of the classroom. She was a Foster Parent for a few years as well. Susie was an avid supporter of Blue Jay sports, attended all her children's activities, and even attended many sports and performance actives of her students. Family meant everything to her.
Susan is survived by her daughter, Amy F. Kidd and her husband Charles Rudick of Connecticut; her granddaughter, Grace Rudick of Philadelphia; her son, Kasey Lee Kidd and his wife Jenn Kidd of Texas; her stepson, Steve Kidd of Junction City; her sister, Doreen Ediger of McPherson; and brother, Ron Lafferty of Florida.
She was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Gary Lafferty, and her husbands, Richard McKee and Kennith Kidd, and her beloved dog Ragsy.
A Celebration of Life will be held from 1:00-3:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 6, 2024, at the Sheridan Elementary School Gym, 429 W. Ash Street, Junction City, Kansas.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to the Junction City Animal Shelter, 2424 N. Jackson Street, Junction City, KS 66441 or the Johnson Cancer Research Center, Kansas State University, 1 Chalmers Hall, Manhattan, KS 66506.