Kenan Tyner-Smith

Kenan was born in Alexandria, VA, and raised in the Northern Virginia suburbs.  She attended George Mason University where she earned both a BA in English and a master’s in Education: Curriculum and Instruction.  For the next 8 years, she worked as a high school English teacher for Fairfax County Public Schools. In 2004, Kenan moved to Southside and worked as an English teacher for both Mecklenburg and Halifax County Public Schools.

Since 2018, Kenan has been managing prevention services at Southside Behavioral Health. This position allows her to utilize her communication skills in new and challenging ways while addresses tobacco retailer education, suicide prevention and substance use education in our local communities. Kenan is a certified Youth and Adult Mental Health First Aid trainer, SafeTALK Trainer, REVIVE! Opioid Overdose and Naloxone Education for VA Trainer and an ACE Interface Master Trainer and serves as the fiscal agent  for the Southside Wellness Coalition and the local trauma informed care network, Trauma Awareness and Resilience Partners.

 Kenan currently lives in Clarksville with her husband Michael.