2026 Alumni Spotlight: Venessa King

Welcome to the American College of Education (ACE) Alumni Spotlight, where we highlight our alumni and share how choosing smarter education leads to meaningful outcomes.

Dr. Venessa King is an experienced, impactful educational leader in K-12 education. She earned three degrees from ACE – an M.Ed. in Educational Leadership in 2014, an Ed.S. in Educational Leadership in 2016 (now known as an Ed.S. in Leadership) and an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership in 2019 (now known as the Ed.D. in Leadership).

King has served in her current role as the principal of Treadway Elementary School for seven years after being the assistant principal for three years. Her principalship recently made history in the Lake County School District as she led Treadway to jump two letter grades in one year. We were thrilled to learn more about her influential and meaningful career.

ACE: Tell us about Treadway earning an A rating from a C rating in Florida’s school accountability system in just one year.

Dr. Venessa King (VK): The journey to earning an A was built on years of intentional focus, strategic planning and relentless commitment to student success. When I began at Treadway, our school was at 44%, just three points from a D. Over the years, we steadily climbed to 52%, then 54% and ultimately to 62%, achieving an A rating.

Years of intentional work included systems and ongoing data-driven conversations that allowed us to respond quickly to student needs. We leaned heavily into data, especially during mid-year conversations, so we could make real-time instructional adjustments.

Most importantly, our staff united around a shared vision called “Take Action on the Road to Greatness.” That collective commitment is what transformed not just our data, but our entire school culture.

ACE: You’re affectionately known as “Mama Bear” at Treadway. What led to your passion for education?

VK: Being called “Mama Bear” is something I hold close to my heart because it truly reflects how I lead and care for the people in my school community. My passion for education comes from a deep desire to ensure that every child feels seen, supported and challenged to reach their fullest potential. I’ve always believed that students thrive when they know someone genuinely cares about them, believes in them and will advocate for them no matter what.

That belief was deeply shaped by my father, Titus King, who was an educator himself. He led with love, compassion and a true commitment to serving others. I had the privilege of watching that firsthand. He didn’t just teach – he connected, he uplifted and he made people feel valued. Those lessons stayed with me, and they guide me in how I lead every single day.

For me, education is personal. It’s about more than academics – it’s about building confidence, creating opportunities and helping children see possibilities for themselves that they may not have seen before. It’s about making sure every child knows they matter, have a voice and are capable of greatness.

Being “Mama Bear” means protecting that vision, nurturing growth, and pushing both students and staff to be their very best. It’s about leading with both strength and compassion while creating an environment where everyone feels safe, supported and inspired to succeed. That belief is at the core of who I am, and it drives everything I do as a leader.

ACE: You earned three degrees from ACE – a master’s, specialist and doctoral degree. What made choosing these programs a smart choice for your educational leadership journey?

VK: My experience at ACE played a significant role in shaping my leadership. Each program strengthened my ability to think strategically, lead with purpose and implement systems that directly impact student achievement. The coursework emphasized real-world application, which allowed me to immediately bring those practices into my school setting. More importantly, it reinforced the importance of continuous growth and reflection as a leader.

The programs also challenged me to think deeply through real-life scenarios, discussions and problem-solving experiences that I still reflect on today. Those moments helped shape how I respond to challenges, how I lead others and how I stay grounded in my purpose. As a principal, you are faced with decisions daily, and ACE helped prepare me to navigate those moments with clarity and confidence.

ACE: What are some of the most significant takeaways you have from your ACE degrees?

VK: What stood out most to me was the level of perseverance the programs required and the commitment to becoming my very best. I entered the programs with a strong desire to lead at the highest level possible, knowing that principalship requires both skill and endurance.

Through ACE, I learned that developing as a leader takes time, that you must be intentional in building systems, implementing them effectively and refining them along the way. It taught me how to move with urgency but also with patience, understanding that meaningful change does not happen overnight.

Since graduating, I have recommended many educators to pursue degrees at ACE because it truly pushes you to grow, reflect and challenge yourself. Leadership is not easy. You are tested daily, but the foundation I built through these programs continues to guide me. It constantly reminds me to stay rooted in my “why,” lead with intention and never stop striving to grow. This is something that I carry with me every day as a principal.

ACE: Treadway’s school motto is “Take Action on the Road to Greatness.” What’s your vision for years to come?

VK: Our vision is to continue building on the strong foundation we’ve created while pushing toward even greater levels of excellence. This vision began in the 2019–2020 school year, my first year as principal, and it truly set the tone for who we are today. From there, we have grown into a culture grounded in “One Team, One Dream, One Goal,” with a mindset of continuing to “Level Up and Chase Greatness” in all that we do. That evolution didn’t happen overnight. It came from taking one step at a time, putting one foot in front of the other and staying committed to doing what is best for our students every single day.

One of the most important lessons we’ve learned is that you cannot reach greatness alone. Everyone in the building matters – our students, teachers, staff, parents and community. When we say, “One Team, One Dream, One Goal,” we truly mean that every person plays a role in our success. It wasn’t until we fully embraced that mindset that we were able to elevate to the level of excellence we see today.

Looking ahead, my vision is to continue chasing greatness while making the most of every opportunity in front of us. We will remain focused on ensuring that all students thrive academically, socially and emotionally, while also continuing to grow and develop the people within our building. Our goal is not just to maintain success, but to deepen our impact — making sure every child is cared for, challenged and supported as they level up along their own journey.

The road to greatness will continue, and as long as we stay committed to taking action, working together, and keeping our students at the center, I believe the best is yet to come.

ACE: What advice would you give to someone considering becoming a principal?

VK: My advice would be to lead with heart and purpose, while also maintaining a clear vision and strong systems. Stay grounded in your “why,” because that is what will guide you through both the challenges and the successes. Being a principal is about more than managing a school. It’s about inspiring people, building meaningful relationships and making decisions that impact children every single day.

You must be willing to do the hard work, remain focused on student outcomes and stay resilient when challenges arise. There will be moments when the work feels overwhelming, but those are the moments that define your leadership. You have to be able to navigate difficult decisions with confidence, while still leading with compassion and understanding.

Surround yourself with a strong team, because you cannot do this work alone. Invest in your people, build their capacity and trust them to lead alongside you. When you create a culture where everyone feels valued and empowered, you will begin to see true transformation. At the same time, never lose sight of why you started. When you keep students at the center of every decision, everything else will fall into place.

Ultimately, leadership is not about position, it’s about impact. It’s about the lives you touch, the opportunities you create and the legacy you leave behind. When you focus on serving others, lifting those around you and continuously striving to grow, the results will follow and more importantly, the impact will last far beyond your time in the role.

Being an American College of Education alum has its perks. When you return as an alum for another program, you receive discounted tuition with the Alumni Continuing Education Grant. That’s Smarter Ed.