FORT CAMPBELL, KY – The Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) has named Dr. Kewanis Kennedy, principal of Marshall Elementary School at Fort Campbell as the 2026 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, according to a news release. DoDEA Americas currently operates 50 schools in two districts located in two countries, seven states, and one territory.
His listed biography says he began his administrative career at Christian County Public Schools as an elementary assistant principal and then principal at South Christian Elementary and Christian County Alternative School. He was able to assist South Christian Elementary in decreasing behavior incidents and was an integral part of the school receiving a gold rating from the Kentucky Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports Network in 2019.
He joined DoDEA in 2020 as an emotional impaired instructor at Fort Knox High School and Scott Middle School and later moved to Marshall Elementary School as principal.
“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.”
DoWEA says this recognition highlights Kennedy’s alignment with their Blueprint for Continuous Improvement, particularly in advancing Student Excellence through data-driven initiatives that boosted student achievement by 24 percentage points toward a math SMART Goal and gains for third- through fifth-grade students.
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