Principal who resigned from Clemente in disgrace to be given new charter school... 'During Kenebrew’s time at Clemente, the school’s enrollment dropped from over 2500 students in 2007, to 1800 students in 2010...'
Chicago Teachers Union organizer Marty Ritter (left) stood with Leonard Kenebrew during the November 21, 2016 hearing on the proposed "Kemet Leadership Academy" charter school. No one at the hearing mentioned that Kenebrew had been forced out as principal of Clemente High School a decade ago because of major corruption issues. Substance photo by Jean Schwab. On Monday, November 21, the Chicago Public Schools held a public meeting to discuss the possibility of opening a new charter school, “Kemet Leadership Academy”, on the south side. (Two possible locations were discussed: the former Garrett Morgan Elementary School building at 8407 S. Kerfoot Ave., and the former St. Benedictine the African school building at 6547 S. Stewart Ave.).
At that meeting, the “CEO” of Kemet was introduced: Leonard Kenebrew.
Kenebrew was a former principal of Roberto Clemente Community Academy high school. Those who know anything of Clemente during his tenure (school years 2006-2010) know that Kenebrew was forced to resign at the end of the 2009-2010 school year. This was a surprising fall for a once-favored principal, who had worked as an assistant to Arne Duncan while Duncan was the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Chicago Public Schools. Many members of the Clemente community believed that Kenebrew was “untouchable”, due to his connections to the former CEO of CPS, who then was made the Secretary of Education under President Barak Obama.
Despite his connections, members of the Clemente staff reported to the CPS Inspector General a number of ethical concerns about Kenebrew’s administration, including misuse of funds, conflicts of interest, nepotism, and questionable hiring and promotion practices.
Once the investigation was complete, CPS gave Kenebrew a choice: resign, or face further consequences including prosecution. He resigned in June of 2010.
During the last two years of Kenebrew’s tenure at Clemente, he used school funds, time, and resources to promote his business selling an unregulated energy drink/dietary supplement. Clemente staff members and students were encouraged to buy, use, and become salespeople for these supplements sold under the brand name “Tunguska”. Kenebrew even went so far as to set aside professional development time to market his business to the staff. Essentially, Kenebrew was recruiting members of the Clemente community to enter into the lower rungs of a pyramid scheme, which would further enrich this principal.
Additionally, Kenebrew hired friends and family members into key staff positions at Clemente, violating the CPS code of ethics on nepotism. Several of these friends and family members were placed in positions that could provide cover for Kenebrew’s unethical behavior, including installing a cousin as business manager.
Kenebrew used his position as principal of Roberto Clemente Community Academy to enrich himself, friends, and family, while neglecting the responsibilities of actually running this once proud school in Humboldt Park. During Kenebrew’s time at Clemente, the school’s enrollment dropped from over 2500 students in 2007, to 1800 students in 2010. In three short years as contract principal, Kenebrew oversaw the loss of over 700 students at Clemente.
Kenebrew now wants to return to the Chicago Public Schools, attempting to pick up where he left off in 2010, funneling funds meant for students into the pockets of his friends and family. The lack of local school councils and other oversight measures at charter schools will make it even easier for this man to enrich himself at the expense of the children of Chicago. The question remains whether the Chicago Public Schools will give this man, proven to lack the integrity or competence necessary to run any business, another school to run into the ground.
