A graduate of Westminster College in Fulton, MO, Kody moved to the East Coast to work at a boarding school because he believes in the importance of community as a fundamental part of education, emphasizing that a safe, inclusive community and shared memories are essential for creating a meaningful school experience. To Kody, extracurricular activities offer students the opportunity to apply what they learn in the classroom to social situations.

Kody brings valuable experience from his work as a mentor for youth in the social services system, where he supported students with autism and specific learning disabilities in improving social skills and school attendance in Virginia. He strongly believes in the importance of sharing interests, viewing hobbies as social bridges that connect people who might not typically come together and provide new perspectives. His personal passions include Japanese culture, technology (particularly how to integrate it into daily life), fitness, and athletics. Kody is especially enthusiastic about introducing individual racquet sports—tennis, pickle ball, table tennis, and badminton—into the Franklin Academy experience. Currently, he teaches geo-ecology and human anatomy and physiology, and he is always seeking ways to enrich classroom learning with positive social experiences and community-building activities.