She was the head teacher[1] and first member of the faculty elected at the Alabama Girls' Industrial School (later, Technical institute; now, University of Montevallo).
Her first college work was given under the instruction of Mr. J. D. Cooper, of Trinity, Pennsylvania, who was also a teacher in Centerville.
In addition, she added to her preparation for teaching by normal school correspondence courses.
In 1896, she returned to Knoxville, but when the Alabama Girls' Industrial School (later, the Technical Institute; now, the University of Montevallo) was opened, she was the first member of the faculty elected and for 16 years, filled the chairs of English and history.
[3] The central wing of the university's main dormitory, Annie Kennedy Hall, is named in her honor.