Parent partners you can trust.

Integrity. Authenticity. Equity.

If reading a college essay about Rooted, I would expect these three core values to shine through. The first part of coaching focuses on identifying each student’s foundational drivers, the things that help them convey who they are and want to be. It’s not enough to name these things. A student has to be positioned to apply the lessons they’ve learned in how they’ve been raised to pursue a rooted life.

Learn more about the hearts behind Rooted below!

FOUNDER & LEAD COUNSELOR, CERTIFIED IN COLLABORATIVE COACHING

Karman Kent, MA

Karman has nearly 20 years of experience working with and supporting families of 14-22-year-olds. She has been reading applications for undergraduate admissions and conducting interviews for the nation’s most selective scholarship programs, including the Morehead-Cain, Gates Foundation, and James B. Duke Scholarships, since 2010. She served on High School Advisory Boards at Furman University, Mercer University, and Belmont University.

She holds a master’s degree magna cum laude, Higher Education Administration, The University of Louisville

  • Graduate assistant for the Carolina Covenant in the Office of Scholarships and Student Aid at UNC-Chapel Hill, College of Education and Human Development Peer Advisor

Bachelor’s degree cum laude, Sociology and Anthropology, Kalamazoo College

  • Division III Varsity Volleyball and Varsity Softball player

  • Fieldwork teaching at Universidad Autónoma Benito Juárez de Oaxaca

ASSOCIATE COUNSELOR FOR 9th/10th, CERTIFIED LIFE COACH

Jenn Groff

Jenn leads our 9th and 10th graders with foundational exercises to keep students engaged and on track. Her Clifton Strengths show the value she places on developing students, making connections, and doing so with empathy. This preliminary work with Jenn sets students up for a smooth transition into working with Karman Kent, leading into the Junior year of high school.

Jenn studied Education and Psychology at UNC-Chapel Hill. Her 20 years of experience in education include time in Costa Rica and New Jersey before settling in North Carolina, tutoring and differentiating instruction for students with learning differences as a Learning Specialist. 

Jenn is also the parent of a rising senior navigating this process. She has enjoyed the college search process, personally experiencing the incredible value that Karman brings to families navigating the college search.  She looks forward to helping students and families on their own college search journey.

Qualified and competent

In building a relationship that directs value-based decision-making, Rooted commits to the following aspirations:

  • To further develop skills to be successful college students, productive community members, and lifelong learners.

  • To reflect an inclusive process that will value, affirm, and respect each individual as an independent adult.

  • To promote the growth and development of the student as a whole person.

    Both Karman and Jenn have extensive training in collaborative coaching methods and leadership development

Professional affiliations

Giving back to the Community

To live in accordance with our values, we also support lower-income students and those who will be the first generation to attend college. Access to high-quality services to support all students is crucial to success, which is why we are committed to supporting organizations like The Emily Krzyzewski Center and initiatives like The Matchlighters program. If you’re interested in having Karman speak at a community event, please send us an email with more information.

  • "Thank you from the bottom of my heart for helping us get through this application process. This has truly been the most enjoyable application process we have had! It was pure joy for my son to work with you step by step during this process and we are so happy that he followed through with everything you asked of him. I think he actually enjoyed this process, and felt much less pressure due to your assistance and ongoing deadlines!"

    Parent of ‘25 graduate

  • "You’ve been such a great gift to our daughter this year. She’s had such an amazing senior year with lots of personal and public wins, and you’ve been a cheerleader, coach, guide, sounding board, director, and more. "

    Parent of ‘24 graduate

  • "I read through the last bit of work you did and it looks just fantastic. She’s happy and feels confident, and I see her voice throughout, which is awesome."

    Parent of ‘25 graduate

  • "I'm pleased that my daughter made her choices and executed her decision process with a lot of personal agency and self-confidence. This resulted in significant clarity for her regarding her interests, fit, and what she wants regarding her academic experience, professional outcomes and personal health/relationships. She will be able to bank this experience and draw on it as she makes future decisions with similar confidence. I sense that she has a lot of personal excitement about her decision, pride in choosing a path that's a bit unique with respect to conventional wisdom/peers, and a strong belief that she will thrive where she's going. We are very proud of her and thankful for your guidance to help her accomplish this in such a healthy, empowering, and spirit-filled way."

    Parent of ‘23 graduate

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