The College of the Florida Keys (CFK) announced 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.
Veldheer has 17 years of K-12 education experience with specialization in curriculum and instruction, English Language Learning (ELL) and educational leadership. She is currently an assistant principal at Key West High School and held the same role at Marathon High School. Veldheer started her career as an elementary school teacher in Blue Springs, Missouri 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 in educational leadership from Baker University.
Veldheer and her husband Thomas have 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. More information is at cfk.edu/CFKAcademy.
