Northeast News
November 2, 2016
Shiela Mae Bender, recently one of the Head Start teachers at the Woodland Early Learning Community School at 711 Woodland Ave., passed away July 7th. Bender finished her 36 year career in May of this year. Her Kansas City service began at Woodland as its School Librarian until it closed in 2010.
After three years at nearby Phyllis Wheatly Elementary, Bender came back to Woodland, as she had promised that the school would reopen and she would return. Woodland became a dedicated early education center.
Last May, Bender received the 2016 Wonderscope Early Educator Award from the Children’s Museum of Kansas City for service to children from diverse cultures in this area. And as a resident of the Pendleton Heights neighborhood for 14 years, Bender loved the people and the architecture of our Historic Northeast.
Because of her attendance at many Fabulous Friday Family Fun Nights in the Truman Forum, on Saturday October 15th a memorial service was held at the lower level of the Plaza Branch of the Kansas City Public Library, 4801 Main, 64112.