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Darin Kenley, a graduate of Friendly High School in Fort Washington and a Prince George's County school board candidate, wants to see more alumni involvement and mentoring in public schools.

"I'm thankful for the education I received here, and I want to make sure students continue to have the opportunities I had," said Kenley, a former teacher and current alumni affairs director at Washington, D.C.-based College Summit, a national nonprofit that works with high schools to increase college attendance.

Kenley, 37, of Upper Marlboro said if he is elected to represent District 6, which includes Capitol Heights, Seat Pleasant and parts of Landover, he would create an alumni network that would allow graduates to get back into their schools and mentor students.

Working at College Summit, Kenley said he has seen the effectiveness of nonprofits working to educate students on educational opportunities in higher education — and has dealt with tough economic times.

After severe budget cuts this year, the county school system axed College Summit from its budget, and high schools who still wish to participate must raise their own funds.

"I think it's going to affect some students tremendously and negatively, because that's one less resource students are going to have," he said. "In the schools where it has been successful, they've really started to change the culture of the schools."

The program now serves 1,000 students at five county schools, as compared to 4,000 students at 11 schools last year.

Crossland High School in Temple Hills, Surrattsville High School in Clinton, Largo High School, Charles H. Flowers High School in Springdale and Forestville Military Academy are planning to continue working with College Summit this year and are currently looking for ways to fund the partnership, he said.

Kenley, a former teacher through Teach for America, a nonprofit that recruits recent college graduates to teach in low-income school districts, said transparency is needed for an effective school district.

As a school board member, Kenley said he would work to construct a citizens advisory group made up of students, residents and parents to work with and advise the board.

Kenley also said he would work to monitor teacher effectiveness to ensure students are graduating with the skills they need.

Oudete Swan, a youth training specialist at College Summit who has worked with Kenley since 2002, called him a "true advocate."

Swan, of Washington, D.C., said Kenley works daily with students to build confidence and help them carve a path to college.

Last year, Kenley started the Alumni Ambassador Program at College Summit, which works to recruit recent College Summit alumni to mentor students.

The alumni program is currently only available in South Carolina, Florida and Missouri schools.

Swan said she went to a program event in Florida this summer and was amazed to see the students' enthusiasm.

"He is having [students] look at themselves to believe in their greatness," she said.

Darin Kenley

Place of residence: Upper Marlboro

Age: 37

Time in county: 26 years

Place of birth: Pittsburgh

Current occupation: National director of alumni affairs for College Summit in Washington, D.C.

Education: Bachelor's of science in political science and Africana studies from Colgate University in Hamilton, N.Y.; master's degree in education from Harvard Graduate School of Education in Cambridge, Mass.

Community associations: Member of the Largo Kettering Homeowner's Association, member of First Baptist Church of Glenarden

Professional associations: Former teacher with Teach for America

Family: Married with one son, age 9

E-mail: friendsofdarinkenley@gmail.com

Website: votedarinkenley2010.com

mmckeever@gazette.net