Today we’d like to introduce you to David Kenton.
Thanks for sharing your story with us David. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I am a walking billboard of grace, mercy, and favor. My mother was pregnant with me at the age of 12 and my father was 15 at the time. He’s now serving a life sentence in prison. I was given up for adoption and later returned to my biological family before the adoption could be finalized. I was raised in relative (kinship) care in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. For those less familiar, kinship care is when a child lives with a relative/family member who is not their biological parent. I was raised by an amazing woman named Barbara Kenton. I grew up in Lauderdale Manors. If you’re from Broward, you know.
I had a strong support system who helped in my growth personally and academically. I was a product of Broward County Public Schools, and I was determined to get to college. Applying for scholarships was my part-time job after school. I wrote every day, and since high school, I was named a Horatio Alger National Scholar, a Hardee Fellow, and an Education Pioneers Fellow. I attended Florida State University and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Criminology and then traveled to North Carolina Central University School of Law and earned a Juris Doctor degree. The law degree wasn’t the “magic ticket” I expected it to be, and I kept getting pulled back to education. After a few life changes, challenges and a couple job changes, I earned a Doctor of Education degree from Florida State University.
My research focused on how foster care students experience their transition from high school to the college environment. I have served in various leadership roles at Florida State University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, North Carolina Central University, Florida Memorial University, and Florida International University. I am a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated and share my life with my high school sweetheart and Kenton Education Co-Founder Sakeena Gohagen-Kenton. We have two beautiful boys, David and Jonathan. My faith, family, and friends have allowed me to evolve my definition of personal success. I have been able to reshape my goals and learn that I don’t have to be a single issue expert. I’m a higher education professional, but I’m also a business owner and involved in real estate.
Has it been a smooth road?
The road has definitely not been smooth, but the journey has been worth it. I’ve had to bury my mother, my wife at one point had to financially support me, I’ve failed tests, and had dozens of doors closed in my face. I’ve been turned down from jobs and I’ve had to turn down jobs because it was the wrong time. I’ve dealt with micro-aggressions, and people who have actively worked to stop my growth and progression – I have worked for some horrible bosses (and some good ones too).
While I was in it, it was hard to listen to reason. But every struggle is a lesson to prepare for the next experience. Once I got out of my feelings and focused on the lesson life was trying to teach me, God has always been faithful and elevated me to the next level. I still deal with imposter syndrome, but I’m grateful for my support system, always holding me down and helping me to keep my perspective.
Please tell us about Kenton Education.
Kenton Education is an education-based consulting firm with a focus on K-12, post-secondary institutions, and community-based agencies. We provide direct support to individuals, K-12 schools, colleges/universities, departments, and units. We are known for workshop presentations, enrollment management strategies, degree completion coaching, and performance evaluations & measurements. We’re most proud of and what sets us apart is that our services are specifically tailor-made for each client. We provide detailed consulting plans to ensure we are best suited to deliver on your goals.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
The landscape for education will look different in ten years. It’s important to understand market trends related to graduation, enrollment, retention, student outcomes, and career choices. Students will no longer remain in a single-field of discipline for their entire careers. It will be important for educators to help students develop 21st-century skills that are transferable to different career paths. The economy, political climate and elections, student loan debt, college choice between brick and mortar versus online modalities, and job placement will all directly impact enrollment and a student’s decisions to attend college.
Very different conversations will be needed for high school students and their guardians as it relates to college choice moving forward, especially in the state of Florida. Board of Governor’s metrics are setting the tone and pace of state colleges and universities, and students need to be prepared to be flexible with their college goals and maximize their college experience.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.kentoneducation.com/
- Phone: 954-740-7951
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @KentonEducation
- Facebook: @KentonEducation
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