About

This gift began to find its place as her passion grew to make disciples both in the local church as well as in over 14 nations around the world. In 2003 Debbie received a very direct call to full-time ministry while on a short-term mission trip in Haiti.  Vance and Debbie have two daughters, Amber and April, and two grandchildren, who all love and serve the Lord.

Debbie has earned a Master of Divinity Degree as well as a Doctor of Ministry Degree and currently serves Grace World Outreach Church as the teaching and equipping pastor.  Her ministry oversight includes Professor and Advisor for the Nature Coast Cohort of SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary as well as Grace Leadership Academy K-8 School.

They served as youth pastors together for 22 years in Florida and Indiana, leading student ministries, youth camps, retreats, mission trips, and events that gave opportunity for students to experience spiritual transformation.  Sam and Amber have two children, Judah and Naomi, who are both committed followers of Christ. 

Sam is passionate about discipling young people to become world changing leaders and was instrumental in serving on the launch team for Grace Leadership Academy.  This led to his joining the pastoral team at Grace World Outreach Church in 2023 as the School Principal.

Jessica is devoted to the calling of sharing the love and hope of Jesus and encouraging others through the knowledge of who they are according to their heavenly identity. 

Jessica has been serving the community as a music minister and a private music teacher for 25 years. Jessica has her bachelor’s degree from Saint Leo University in Clinical Counseling Psychology. In 2018, she was called to further her ministry and brought her love for teaching God’s word and music into the corporate classroom. She has since served as a teacher at 2 private Christian schools as well as in the Hernando County School District.

Jennifer received a BS of Science from Ashworth College and studied Personal Development and Foundations for Christian Growth at Liberty University.  She maintains her teaching accreditations from both ICAA and ASCI.  As a Christian educator, I am committed to creating a fun, safe, and Biblical learning environment for all Students.

When Jennifer is not teaching, she enjoys time outdoors with family and friends and DIY home projects with Rob.  Serving in Christian education is the reason Jennifer became an educator, and serving in various volunteer positions in her home church allows her to share her story and love for The Lord.

Now living in sunny Florida, the King family serves together at Grace World Outreach Church as Children’s Pastors, passionately helping kids experience the love, power, and presence of God in real and lasting ways.

Recently, Jeverna felt the Lord leading her back into the classroom—to teach, encourage, and inspire a new generation. Her heart beats to see students discover who God created them to be, thrive in a joyful and engaging environment, and grow into bold, Holy Spirit-filled leaders who make a real difference in the world.

When she’s not teaching or ministering, you’ll find Jeverna soaking up sunshine, planning her next travel adventure, savoring dark chocolate, or making sweet memories with her family. She’s so excited for this next chapter with her amazing 2nd graders—it’s going to be a blast!

At the heart of Carla’s teaching is her unwavering faith. Jesus is the center of her life, and she believes He has called her to pour love, truth, and purpose into the lives of children. Her classroom is a place where faith and learning come together, encouraging curiosity, creativity, and a deep love for both God and knowledge. Carla is thrilled to be joining the GLA family as the third-grade teacher, where she hopes to guide, support, inspire, and spark a love for learning in every child entrusted to her care.

Her approach to teaching is rooted in biblical truth and the belief that all children are uniquely designed with purpose and potential. When she’s not in the classroom, Carla enjoys reading, exploring farmer’s markets, diving into crafty projects, and spending time with her two beloved fur babies, Sophie and Montana. With a heart full of passion and purpose, Miss Carla is ready for an amazing year, pointing hearts to the cross and minds toward a bright future!

In 2024, Eddie proudly graduated with his Bachelor of Arts in Theology and Ministry, equipped with both knowledge and faith to guide his students on their own paths. Beyond his role in the classroom, Eddie finds joy in music, particularly as a skilled clarinet player, and indulges in his newfound love for coffee, often fueling his passion for teaching with a good cup.

Eddie’s commitment to continuous learning and growth is evident as he currently pursues his master’s degree in Ministerial Leadership at South Eastern University. With each step of his journey, Eddie remains steadfast in his mission to inspire, guide, and support the next generation, both academically and spiritually.

Jessica felt led by the Holy Spirit to apply and be a part of the great things happening at Grace Leadership Academy, so she and her husband moved from New York to join the team. Jessica is married with four grown children and three grandchildren and is enjoying the new adventure of living in Spring Hill, Florida.

She is passionate about seeing students reach their full potential. Jessica has prior experience teaching students with multiple disabilities and in a private Christian school. She is dually certified and has a master’s degree from Malloy University General and Special Education. 

Upon graduating from high school David married his middle-school sweetheart Carmen, and they are still going strong today after 43 years of marriage. After trying college and several majors, he decided to join the military, from which he retired after 20 years in Army aviation as a First Sergeant (E-8). 

David returned to college and earned his bachelor’s degree in Middle Grades Education. This opened the door for him to teach soldiers basic skills in reading and math, as well as work in the public school system as an In-School suspension teacher.  After an early retirement and a move to Florida, David realized that God was not ready for him to put his teaching skills to rest.  He now uses these unique skills to influence the next generation of leaders at Grace Leadership Academy.

Emily was born and raised in New York, where she met her husband, Fredy. They married in October 2011 and have three children: Annalise, Alex, and Annabelle. Emily and her family moved to Florida in 2013. In 2009, right before her oldest daughter was born, Emily answered Jesus’s call, and her life has never been the same.

By God’s grace and will, Emily returned to school, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Human Services from Rasmussen University. She is currently finishing her Master’s in Human Services with a major in Trauma and Crisis Counseling at Regent University. Emily is passionate about learning, teaching, and helping others.

Amber has been married to her husband, Sam, since 2003 and has served alongside him in youth ministry for most of those years. She has served as a worship leader, children’s pastor, and youth pastor, working alongside Sam to develop the next generation into leaders whose foundation is Jesus. Amber and Sam have two children: Judah, a college student here at SEU at Grace World, and Naomi, who is enrolled in high school here at Grace Leadership Academy. 

After teaching a year of High School Bible at a Christian private school in West Palm, she knew God was drawing her to complete her bachelor’s degree so she could fulfill her calling. She went back to school and graduated with her Bachelor’s in Theology and Ministry, putting her degree to work as she teaches Middle and High School English and Bible.

Sandi grew up in Brooksville, Florida and has been married to her husband Ed for 38 years. They have 8 children and 21 grandchildren. Sandi attended Asbury College and then earned her Master of Counseling Degree from Life Christian University. She is continuing her studies and will soon graduate from SUM Bible College and Seminary with a Master of Biblical Studies Degree.

In 1995, the Lord called Sandi to homeschool; her journey ended 24 years later upon graduating her youngest – twin sons. She also discovered her love for teaching others during that time and spent 24 years teaching in homeschool co-ops and various stand-alone classes for the homeschool community.

A.S from Everest University in Business

Mike has been married to his wife, Victoria, for 20 years, and they have one daughter who is currently attending GLA. Mike worked in the information technology department at a Christian church and school for 14 years. His responsibilities included training teachers on technology and assisting in the deployment of hundreds of different types of computers, security cameras, and phones. Mike earned an Associate of Science degree in Business from Everest University.  Mike knows and loves the Lord and has served in whatever church he was part of in various ways, including leading groups, singing, and serving as an ordained deacon. When he is not serving at GLA, he enjoys gardening and spending time with his family.