By Aaron Allen, The Seattle Medium
Keenen Allen Ladd, a student-family advocate and Kingmakers facilitator at Denny International Middle School, has been named a 2026 Washingtonian of the Year for his commitment to mentoring Black male students and strengthening families and communities throughout Seattle. Presented by the Washington State Leadership Board, the award is an official state honor recognizing residents who demonstrate leadership, selflessness, generosity and compassion through service to others. The recognition is part of the Washington Leadership Awards, a tradition dating to 1975.
In the hallways of Denny International Middle School, where Ladd works with young Black men through Kingmakers of Seattle, education is about more than textbooks, curricula and standardized testing. Operating under Seattle Public Schools’ Office of African American Male Achievement (AAMA), Kingmakers provides culturally relevant learning experiences that emphasize identity, emotional awareness, leadership and personal growth. For participating students, it is also about legacy and learning to stand confidently in who they are while envisioning possibilities for their futures.
For Ladd, whose work extends from school classrooms to community organizations and fatherhood initiatives, the recognition represents more than an individual achievement. He credits the students, families and community members who have helped shape his journey.
“Honestly, I’m just again truly grateful, I’m appreciative,” Ladd reflects. “One thing that I do know is that the work doesn’t stop. Even though, yes, my name is on the award, honestly, I was not able to receive any type of recognition if it wasn’t for the students, if it wasn’t for the community, if it wasn’t for my family.”
Through Kingmakers, students have opportunities to discuss their experiences, develop life skills, participate in workshops and engage in community service projects. The program also provides an environment where students can speak openly about challenges they encounter in school and beyond.
For Ladd, those conversations are an important part of building relationships with students. Through opportunities for open discussion and shared experiences, he seeks to establish trust and encourage young people to recognize their strengths, develop confidence and take pride in their identities.
Stephen Boney, community learning center coordinator at Denny International Middle School through Seattle Parks and Recreation, has worked closely with Ladd for six years and said the program gives students a place where they feel supported and understood.
“Working with the African American Male Achievement Office in Seattle Public Schools is extremely important, man,” Boney shares. “We provide so many outlets for our Black boys. We provide a safe space for them. They’re able to come in there to get things off their chest. They’re able to come in there and learn life skills. We put together workshops for them, different projects, community service learning projects, and these guys grow so much within this Kingmakers class with Mr. Allen.”
Boney said he has also witnessed Ladd’s development as an educator and community leader throughout their years working together.
“Just the growth that I’ve seen from Keenen over the years… his growth is tremendous. He’s well-deserving of that award. He’s one of those people who just gives to his community constantly.”
Long before he became a mentor to Seattle students, Ladd was navigating many of the same neighborhoods and school communities that shape the lives of young people today.
A Seattle native, Ladd attended Zion Prep Academy, Whitworth Elementary, Aki Kurose Middle School and Rainier Beach High School before graduating from West Seattle High School in 2008. His experiences growing up and attending schools throughout the city have helped shape his understanding of the communities and educational environments in which many of his students are growing up.
Ladd later attended North Seattle College, where he served as a commencement speaker, and is now pursuing a master’s degree in teaching at the University of Washington.
For Ladd, representation is central to his approach to education. He wants Black male students to see adults who share aspects of their experiences succeeding in education, leadership and community service while remaining true to themselves.
“Everyone always says this, man: representation matters,” Ladd explains. “Something that I move on every day is making sure I’m that example that my Black male students see in the school building, even outside of the school building. I want to be able to normalize what that looks like and being that beacon of hope and change that it is possible to do something other than the stereotypical things that people put upon us.”
Through Kingmakers, Ladd and other mentors seek to create a school environment where Black male students can explore their identities, discuss challenges, develop leadership skills and see examples of achievement that reflect their own experiences.
Ladd also emphasizes that success should not require students to change who they are to meet the expectations of others.
“I want to let the students know that you can be authentically yourself in any and every space, and it’s actually possible.”
That philosophy extends beyond his work at Denny International Middle School.
Ladd serves on the Seattle Public Schools Discipline Appeal Council, where he participates in a process involving student disciplinary matters. He also leads the Daddy Stroller Social Club, an initiative supporting local fathers through community gatherings and access to essential supplies, and serves as board president of the Rainier Vista Boys & Girls Club.
His involvement in those organizations reflects a broader commitment to supporting young people and families, including efforts to strengthen relationships between fathers, children and their communities.
Alongside his work in schools and community organizations, Ladd is pursuing a master’s degree in teaching while raising two young children, 3-year-old Ryan and 4-month-old Cade. His responsibilities as a father also connect to his involvement with the Daddy Stroller Social Club, which brings local fathers together through community events and support services.
While the Washingtonian of the Year recognition acknowledges his broader contributions, Ladd said some of the most meaningful moments in his work come through the relationships he develops with students and the ways those relationships continue after they leave middle school.
One such moment came when a former student, now approaching his senior year of high school, reached out after learning about Ladd’s award.
For Ladd, the message offered a personal reminder that the time spent mentoring students can have an impact long after they leave his classroom.
Recalling the student’s words, Ladd shared:
“Hey, Mr. Allen, I see you’ve got an award… I just wanted you to know that you are my favorite part of middle school and you’re the reason why I am who I am today.”
