Meet Free State’s new Attendance Secretary Stephanie Kema

Attendance+Secretary+Stephanie+Kema+at+her+desk.+

Klaire Sarver

Attendance Secretary Stephanie Kema at her desk.

At the start of the school year some students were surprised to see that the friendly face of Free State’s old Attendance Secretary Donna Madel was not in the office.

“She was always really friendly with all of her students that came in and I think she created a really open environment,”senior Taylor Stohs said.

“When I was an office aide she was always really friendly and we just got really close last year,” Stohs said.

When Free State’s new Attendance Secretary Stephanie Kema filled out her application for the position, she knew that her life was going to be full of changes. Kema, who is new to Lawrence, took on a job that she had never done before in a city she didn’t know. 

“Prior to this I worked at Texas A&M University in the Forest Service Department,” Kema said. “I’ve done a lot of office work prior to this, but not in this capacity.”

Being able to interact with those that I work with and also the students [is the best part]. It’s been fun being able to get to know a lot of different people.

— Stephanie Kema

Kema uprooted her life in Texas after her husband was hired by the University of Kansas.

“My husband took a position at the University of Kansas on the football staff here,” Kema said.

Since Kema’s move she’s begun transitioning into her new title as Attendance Secretary.

“[My colleagues] were all very welcoming and very helpful,” Kema said. “And they still continue to be really helpful.”

For Kema, the best part of her new job is the person-to-person interaction.

“Being able to interact with those that I work with and also the students [is the best part],” Kema said. “It’s been fun being able to get to know a lot of different people.”