Mark Kennedy is the author of two books with Holistic Education Press, and has written for Psychology Today, the International Memoirs Writers Association (2025 Showcase Honorable Mention), Reaching Today’s Youth, The Journal of At-Risk Issues, and Paths of Learning.

Retiring in 2020 after 30 award-winning years of teaching adjudicated teens, Kennedy began writing full-time in 2024 after receiving a diagnosis for a hidden disability—autism and ADHD (AuDHD)—after the age of 60. Suddenly he felt a surprising freedom as his hidden life-long foe was made plain.

In part to cope with the unseen adversary, long before a diagnosis and simultaneous with his teaching career, Kennedy cross-trained in Hapkido, Shaolin Kempo, American Kenpo, and Kung Fu San Soo, and taught martial arts to his high-risk teens, retiring as an 8th degree black belt instructor.

Now 25 years sober and retired from teaching and martial arts, Kennedy enjoys learning in all forms, reading, writing, Zumba, fellowship with like-minded friends, and time with his White Shepherd boss, Kona.