TKA History

Standing, Left to Right: Stan Fredrick, James Erneston, Al Brown, Lewis Jones, Lloyd Prouty, Donald Tillman, James Kelly, C Earnest Tatham
Seated, Left to Right: Kye Harris, Raymond Shiplet, M Nelson Loveland, Ken Whitlock 

In 1969, a group of businessmen began to meet and pray about the need for a centrally located interdenominational Christian school to serve all of Palm Beach County, Florida. Dr. Kye Harris was enlisted to spearhead the efforts to begin a school. Dr. Harris had extensive experience in the Christian school movement. At Dr. Harris’ recommendation, Mr. William H. Vimont was hired as the first headmaster. Mr. Vimont had written The Victory Drill Book and had many years of academic experience. Following Mr. Vimont, a succession of gifted educators led The King’s Academy to full accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) and the Florida Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (FACCS). Established in 1970, under the leadership of the original Board of Governors, The King’s Academy began in a rented church building. Classes began in the fall of 1970 in the Belvedere Baptist Church on Cherry Road in West Palm Beach, Florida. The student body was comprised of 196 students from junior kindergarten through grade 11. In 1971, the school’s first senior class graduated. Today, almost 4,000 alumni have earned diplomas from The King’s Academy. From 1971 to 2005, the Academy enjoyed growth on a twenty-acre campus located on Cherry Road, the Roger Dean estate at the west end of Cherry Road. Classes opened on the school’s first permanent campus in the fall of that year. In 2001, the Palm Beach County Airport Authority purchased the Cherry Road campus. In 2005, the Lord blessed King’s with a new campus on the northeast corner of Belvedere Road and Sansbury’s Way. The King’s Academy opened its 65 acre campus in August 2005.

Since its founding, The King’s Academy has been led by a self-perpetuating Board of Governors. Four presidents have overseen the day-to-day operations of the school; Dr. Kye Harris (1970-1974), Mr. M. Nelson Loveland (1974-1999), Mr. Jeffrey M. Loveland (1999-2016), and Mr. Randal L. Martin (2016 – Present). The School is dedicated to the King of kings and Lord of lords.

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