DeVonté Payton
Director of COMMUNITY SCHOOLS
DeVonté Payton is a native Memphian and a proud ambassador of the city. He is a passionate community leader who is an advocate for engagement and development in the community involving schools, families, nonprofits, and the private sector.
Prior to joining the Seeding Success team, DeVonté served as the Community Schools Manager for Memphis-Shelby County Schools, where he led the District’s Community Schools expansion through a coordinated “whole child, whole community” approach. He also previously led the charter authorization, interim, and renewal evaluation processes for the District’s portfolio of charter schools.
DeVonté earned his B.B.A. from the University of Memphis, has over 10 years of experience working in education, and has served on several youth-involved boards and non-profits in the Memphis community. As an education advocate, he has worked closely with schools to develop and implement strategic plans for community engagement, recruitment & retention of talent and students, and high school/college placement.
Of all of his accomplishments, DeVonté is most proud to be the husband to his wife, Alyssa who is also an educator, and dad to Dylan, Alyson, Alaina, and Dorian.