We had the good fortune of connecting with Ronald King and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ronald, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
After working in various school settings and environments which included schools in the U.S. and abroad, I became frustrated with what I felt were inequities between what was available to black and brown students that I worked with at the start of my career compared to the predominantly white student populations that I became accustomed to working with over the past ten years. I decided to start an independent school because I felt that was the best way, given my background, to really address those inequities in a significant way. I saw the opportunity to do so when I moved to Atlanta three years ago, At that time, I took a job at a school that was still relatively young in its history. That experience along with meeting my now business partner, Tiffany Blassingame, was the last bit of motivation that I needed to feel confident enough to believe that I could start an educational institution.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I would say that my career as an educator has been pretty atypical. Early on I thought that I wanted to do the traditional thing and find a school and work there for 15, 20, or 30 years and retire. Unfortunately or fortunately depending on how you look at it, I tend to get bored easily with things and need to find the next thing. After 3 1/2 years of teaching public school, I became bored with teaching 6th grade and started looking for more. In December of that year, I was introduced to the idea of teaching overseas and it completely changed the trajectory of my career. I would say that the 4 years I spent overseas were some of the most exciting and challenging years of my life and career. I would definitely have to acknowledge that taking that leap to not live and work in a foreign country is what gave me the courage to be okay with taking more uncommon routes in my life and career.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I really enjoy how much you can get outdoors here in Atlanta and I take advantage of that by walking some of the trails and walking paths in the city. My two favorite places to walk are the Beltline of course and the Peachtree Creek Greenway in Brookhaven. I also go to some of the local park walking paths which tend to be smaller circular paths. I have done some of my best thinking…and praying while walking. Give me a walking trail, my headphones, and a good audible book and that’s a great day to me!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to dedicate this shoutout to my wife and kids. They have been instrumental in supporting and encouraging me through all of my various jobs and moves! I also want to acknowledge my parents because of the life and spiritual values that they taught me in life. There are tons of other people out there as well who have been instrumental in various ways that I wouldn’t have space to name.

Website: www.thevillageschools.org

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronald-king-8711a357/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wootenkingacademy

Other: https://www.facebook.com/The-Village-Schools-583590532320036

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