DoDEA Announces Dr. Kewanis Kennedy as 2026 Principal of the Year

The Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) is proud to name Dr. Kewanis Kennedy, principal of Marshall Elementary School at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, as the 2026 DoDEA Principal of the Year.

Dr. Kennedy earned the highest distinction in a competitive, system-wide selection process, receiving 39 out of 40 points on the Professional Standards for Educational Leaders evaluation and unanimous praise from nominators across the Americas region and DoDEA headquarters.

Under Dr. Kennedy’s leadership, Marshall Elementary has achieved remarkable academic growth, exceeding its math SMART Goal by 24 percent in fifth grade and posting similar gains in third grade. These results reflect targeted professional development, data-driven decision-making, and aligned instruction that directly support the DoDEA Blueprint for Continuous Improvement.

Nominators highlighted Dr. Kennedy’s impact:

• Creating a clear, shared vision that drives measurable student success.
• Building strong school-community partnerships through open communication, family engagement events, and an open-door policy for parents and sponsors.
• Mentoring teachers and aspiring leaders through systems such as “Friday Feedback” and systematic professional learning, elevating staff capacity and morale.

Dr. Kennedy fosters a positive school climate through restorative practices, weekly CSI (Culture, Support, Instruction) team meetings, and rapid-response crisis support, while aligning all curriculum, instruction, and assessment with DoDEA, district, and school improvement plans.

“Dr. Kewanis Kennedy represents the very best of DoDEA leadership,” said Dr. Judith Minor, DoDEA Americas Director for Student Excellence. “His commitment to academic excellence, professional growth, and community collaboration has transformed Marshall Elementary and serves as a model for our entire system.”

Dr. Kennedy will be formally recognized at the 2026 DoDEA Education Summit and will represent DoDEA in national principal-of-the-year competitions.