Warehouseman does job for the love of it

According to his co-workers, Rio School District warehouseman Kenny Henschel is a giving person who truly does his job for the students. Henschel, a member of Rio Chapter 329, was named 2008 Member of the Year for Maintenance and Operations Services.

“Kenny is just one of those really remarkable people that you only meet a handful of times in your life,” said Patrick Radford, a custodian. “He’s really genuine, he cares, he’s unselfish and he’s just real.”

As a warehouseman, Henschel receives supplies and delivers them throughout the school district. He also currently works part-time at the purchasing desk, due to short staffing. Henschel’s work in ensuring school sites have the supplies they need means that he impacts students on a daily basis. Rio School District Superintendent Sherianne Cotterell said he brings sunshine to every school site, everyday.

“If Kenny’s around, you can count on him saying something kind, something warm and something funny,” Cotterell said. “He’s just a very kind-hearted, good human being.”

Henschel was educated in Rio schools, and began working at the district in 1979 while still in junior high school. He changed locker combinations and became a custodian’s trainee. He returned to the district 16 years later working in maintenance and as a substitute bus driver.
Cotterell said Henschel embodies kindness and dedication.

“For me, Kenny embodies the heart and soul of CSEA. Classified employees are the backbone of our district. They’re our support. They are doing the day-to-day work that makes it possible for teachers to teach, principals to manage and superintendents to survive,” she said.

Henschel is also active in his chapter, serving in roles including chief job steward and treasurer. Among his members, Henschel is seen as a consensus builder who seeks creative solutions to problems facing the chapter. Radford said Henschel’s outside-the-box thinking helped the district find enough money last year to give a salary increase to all classified employees.

“He’s got a really great sense of financial matters,” Radford said.

Henschel is extensively involved in his community, volunteering as a coach and umpire with Little League, and serving as a Eucharistic minister at his church.

Henschel is proud of the recognition, not only for himself but for all of CSEA.

“People say ‘Here is this average Joe, and his peers believe that he has done something extraordinary,’” Henschel said. “But I don’t think I’ve really achieved that much. I’m not going out of my way to do anything. These are things I like to do.

“Life is short. If you’re not happy with what you do, maybe you need to do some soul searching and rethink what you’re doing. I can come to work and smile everyday.”