The College of the Florida Keys (CFK) welcomes Dr. Ja-Ronika Veldheer as the new Vice President of Secondary Education and Principal of CFK Academy. She will start full-time as the leader of the College’s tuition-free public charter high school in January 2025.

 

Dr. Veldheer will draw from 17 years of K-12 education experience with specialization in curriculum and instruction, English Language Learning (ELL), and educational leadership. She is currently serving as an Assistant Principal at Key West High School and held the same role at Marathon High School. Dr. Veldheer started her career as elementary school teacher in Blue Springs, MO and has 15 years of experience in the classroom, teaching and providing additional strategic support for students. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Missouri and a Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership from Baker University.

 

Dr. Veldheer is married to her husband Thomas and has one daughter. She has lived in the Keys for seven years. In her free time, she likes to travel with her family, beachcomb for sea glass, and try new coffee shops.

 

The CFK Academy, which opened in August 2023, offers a robust curriculum focused on science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) as well as Career Technical Education (CTE). With a project-based learning approach, the school provides students with hands-on engagement and real-world problem-solving experiences. Students also have the unique opportunity to enroll in college-level courses through CFK’s Dual Enrollment program, allowing them to earn both high school and college credits simultaneously, at no cost.

 

In July 2024, the CFK Academy earned an “A” grade by the Florida Department of Education (FDOE) for the 2023-24 school year. The school grading system pulls from various student success metrics, including student achievement, learning gains, graduation rates, acceleration success, and focus on students who need the most support.

More information about the CFK Academy can be found on the College’s website at http://www.cfk.edu/CFKAcademy.