When Wendy McPherson, the principal of CFK Academy, the newest high school in Key West, revealed last week that she was leaving the school and the Keys, the students received some unfavorable news.
The veteran teacher and former administrator of Marathon High School informed the kids that she would be leaving on December 6th because her parents’ health issues force them to move to the Florida mainland.
“McPherson’s departure is part of a larger and troubling trend of locals leaving the Keys for medical and economic reasons,” Jonathan Gueverra, president of the College of the Florida Keys, told the Keys Weekly.
After hearing the news last week, Jack Mitchell, a ninth student at CFK Academy, told the Keys Weekly, “She’s really great, and I’m sorry to see her go.”
“We’re all sorry to see her go, as she has accomplished so much for the Academy in such a short time,” Stephanie Mitchell, Jack’s mother, continued.
When the charter high school debuted in August 2023 in a brand-new building on the college’s Key West campus, McPherson served as its first principal.
With a curriculum that emphasizes STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) and career technical education, CFK Academy focuses on preparing students for college and the workforce. Through project-based learning, students can participate actively in the educational process outside of the traditional classroom and hone their communication, critical-thinking, and communication skills.
Academy students are invited to enroll in college courses on the same campus and earn college credit through the college’s dual-enrollment program. In addition to their high school diploma, motivated students can get an associate’s degree, certificate, and/or industry certification.
After serving as the principal of Marathon High School for nine years, McPherson assumed leadership of CFK Academy.
After 11 years of teaching at Sigsbee Elementary, McPherson started her more than 30-year career as a district administrator and coordinator of English and language arts. Before taking over as head of Marathon High School, she worked as an assistant principal at Sugarloaf School and Marathon High School. In 2016 and 2022, McPherson received two Principal of the Year awards from the Monroe County School District. She graduated from Florida State University with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education, the University of West Florida with a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction and educational leadership, and Southeastern University with a doctorate in educational leadership.
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