Austin Kent Vincent
CHECK Legislative Liaison
Topeka, KS

Kent has been married to Christy since 1975, and they have been blessed with 11 children. Their first two are married and they have three grandchildren.

After graduation from Kansas University, Kent and Christy were married and shortly thereafter, Kent became an infantry officer in the Marine Corps. Kent received a juris doctor from Washburn University School of Law. He has been in solo practice since 1982 in Topeka, specializing in adoption, wills and trusts, and probate law.

The Vincents started home education in the fall of 1981 when Kent was on the board of directors for Cair Paravel School, a private Christian day school in Topeka. Shortly thereafter, the Cair Paravel Satellite School was formed, which allowed home educated students to integrate some of their activities with the traditional school. However, the Vincent children have always been home educated except for some college courses. When the Satellite School became too large for continued oversight by the Cair Paravel school board, Cornerstone Family School was formed in the late 1980s. Kent continues to serve as the legal advisor to CFS.

The Vincent family enrolled in the pilot class for the Advanced Training Institute in 1984 and continue in the program to the present. ATI utilizes a unit study approach centered on Scriptural concepts along with curricula of choice for academics, character training, and apprenticeship. Several of their children have participated in ATI ministry and apprenticeship opportunities.

Kent has served as the Legislative Liaison for CHECK since its inception. His primary involvement has been to respond to issues that come up in the State Legislature or State Board of Education, and to establish positive relations with public officials. The main thrust of this effort has been through the Day Under the Dome, the annual legislative event for Kansas home educators, hosted by Cornerstone Family School. Kent also represents families in homeschooling disputes privately and as local counsel for HSLDA.

Kent and Christy have attempted to encourage home educators through presentations on parenting, legalities, organization, dad's/mom's role, marriage, and purity of relations between young adults.

The Vincents are members of the Christian Family Fellowship, a family-centered church in Topeka.