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PASEO NEWS

Administration

Principal: Dr. Keyona Powell

Dr. Keyona Powell

Greetings!  I am Dr. Keyona Powell, Principal at Paseo Academy of Fine and Performing Arts. 

Education is the passport to opportunities and my goal is ensure all students have access to a rigorous education as well as post graduate opportunities that adequately prepare them for life after high school. In terms of education, I hold a Bachelors of Science in Psychology from Xavier University of Louisiana, a Masters of Science in Counseling from The University of the District of Columbia, and a PhD in Education Leadership from George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. With over fifteen years of experience in education, I strive to promote student academic and social emotional development by enhancing the student experience through partnerships, program innovation, classroom instruction, direct support, and a supportive and inclusive culture and climate. Utilizing an innovative leadership lens, I work to contribute to students' and staffs' individual development through the creation of a vibrant, healthy, resilient, and rigorous learning environment.

Outside serving as Principal, I am a mother, an adjunct faculty member at UMKC, and I love to travel. 

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Vice Principal: Chester Palmer

Greetings!  I am Chester Palmer, Vice Principal at Paseo Academy of Fine and Performing Arts.

I was born in Mount Pleasant Texas to Imogene Garrett and Howard Palmer. I graduated high school from Mount Pleasant High School, in Mount Pleasant, Texas, where I was the first black to receive the honor Most Valuable Athlete. After graduation, I attended Wiley College in Marshall, Texas on a baseball scholarship and played all 4 years and became the captain of the baseball team. While in college, was a part of the drama club and appeared in several plays, named the most likely to succeed, secretary of the senior class and joined Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Incorporated, where I served as Basileus.

After graduation from college, I moved to Kansas City, where I worked in the business industry for several years with companies like AT&T, Colgate Palmolive, Ford Motor Company and Jackson County Department of Corrections.

I have worked in the field of education for the past 40 years and have held several positions while on this journey such as: Substitute Teacher, Paraprofessional, Coach, Principal, Vice Principal and Conflict Mediation Coordinator.

I have furthered my education by attending University of Missouri Kansas City located in Columbia, Missouri. There I received a Master’s of Education with an emphasis on Leadership Urban Education as well as an Educational Specialist certification in Leadership Policy and Analysis.

I am married to the love of my life Lois and we have been married for 30 years and have 4 children.

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Chester Palmer, Vice Principal of Paseo

Vice Principal: Kent Mailen

Kent Mailen, Vice Principal of Paseo

Greetings!  I am Kent Mailen, Vice Principal at Paseo Academy of Fine and Performing Arts. 

I have 16 years of experience in education.  My parents were teachers as well, so I have been around education my entire life.  I began my teaching career in Washington, KS as a 7 - 12 grade social studies teacher, boys basketball coach and football coach.  After five years there, I moved to Washington, D.C. to work in the U.S. Senate for one year.  From there I moved overseas and taught at George Washington Academy in Casablanca, Morocco for four years, then to Dalian, China for two years and then to Asuncion, Paraguay for two years.  Covid forced us to move back to the U.S. which allowed me to serve as an Instructional Coach in Kansas City, KS for one year at Harmon High School before coming to KCPS as a Vice Principal in 2021.  I value lifelong learning, so I am working on my doctoral degree from UMKC in Educational Administration.  In addition to working towards my Ed.D. I have a B.S. in Secondary Education - Social Studies from Kansas State University, and a M.S. in PreK-12 Educational Administration from Emporia State University. 

Outside of serving your students as vice principal, I enjoy spending time with my wife Jaclyn (chemistry teacher at Lincoln College Prep) and our two children.  I also enjoy traveling, watching sports, reading, and enjoying everything there is to do in Kansas City. 

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