Some friendships are forged by proximity, others by shared interests, but the bond between Mackenzie Peck and Jordan Kirby began long before they could walk. Born just eight months apart in the early 1990s, their connection began when Jordan's mother became Mackenzie's godmother, cementing a relationship that would span decades and eventually bring them both home to serve the community that shaped them.

Growing up a mile and a half apart in the Anna-Jonesboro area, the girls were inseparable throughout their childhood. When Jordan moved from Anna to Jonesboro in fourth grade, nervous about starting at a new school, she spotted Mackenzie in the gymnasium on her first day. "I went and sat by her in the gym, and I was like, okay, it's gonna be all right," Jordan recalls of that pivotal moment that reinforced their lifelong friendship.

They graduated together from Jonesboro Elementary in 2007, then navigated high school as best friends before heading to different colleges—Mackenzie to SIU and SEMO for her speech-language pathology degree, Jordan to Lindenwood University Belleville for education. After college, both young women got married the same year, had children around the same time, and somehow, without any grand plan, found their way back to the hallways where their friendship blossomed.

In 2018, both started working at Jonesboro Elementary School District—Mackenzie as the speech-language pathologist and Jordan as a first-grade teacher. The coincidence wasn't lost on them, especially when they realized they were now colleagues in the same building where Jordan's mother, Kendra Edwards, had taught emotionally disturbed students for Tri-County Special Education for 33 years.

Both women have educational legacy in their blood—Mackenzie's mother Crystal was a math teacher and principal, while Jordan's father Doug was director of JAMP before retiring. Coming home to educate the next generation feels like completing a circle.

But it's during life's most challenging moments that their friendship has proven most precious. When Jordan's mother was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's at age 58, just three years ago, having Mackenzie down the hall became a lifeline. "I don't know what I would do without her," Jordan says. "She knows my mom. I don't have to explain anything to her, like I would have to do with others."

Last year brought Mackenzie her own crisis when her nine-month-old son suffered three cranial fractures in a fall. The trauma of leaving him with a babysitter while returning to work was overwhelming. "There were a lot of days where just getting here was hard," she explains. Having Jordan nearby meant having a safe space to process the fear and stress before returning to serve her students.

“I sneak away to her room often and have venting sessions,” Jordan admits. Their friendship provides what every educator needs but few are fortunate enough to have—someone who truly understands both their professional and personal struggles.

At Jonesboro Elementary, the staff operates as an extended family where everyone rallies around colleagues facing difficulties. Whether it's parents bringing coffee during tough times, organizing fundraisers for staff members battling cancer, or simply understanding when someone needs time off for family emergencies, this close-knit team embodies the caring community spirit they model for their students. The genuine support system means no one faces life's challenges alone.

Working in a small town where many of their former teachers are now colleagues has its unique dynamics. "It was really hard coming into teaching with them and having to call them by their first names," Jordan remembers.

Mackenzie and Jordan’s daughters attend the school. “It is a comforting feeling knowing that I’m sending her to these people that I wholeheartedly trust,” Jordan shares. “We’re a close knit school.”

Former teachers know their personalities so well they can perfectly match students to classrooms, while parents who've known them since childhood offer unwavering support for their professional decisions. This web of relationships—where everyone's history and character are known—creates a stability and mutual respect that strengthens the entire educational community.