This passionate educator took a leap of faith and created a truly unique learning environment for young women
For more than two decades, math teacher Karen Venable-Croft was focused on bringing big ideas and unique paths to learning to her students. Then, two years ago, she and her partner took the ultimate leap, founding Girls Global Academy in Washington, DC. A charter school emphasizing engineering and business education, GGA has enabled Karen, Co-Founder and Founding Executive Director of the school, to bring her powerful brand of passion and exploration front-and-center, while educating the next generation of leaders and innovators.
Prior to launch, Karen taught math in Prince George’s County. “It was an incredibly diverse district, with more than 40 languages spoken and students from many countries and parts of the U.S.,” she says. “I loved it—but the sheer size of the school and the classes made it tough to really have the environment I wanted for my students. I wanted an environment where girls felt confident and eager to participate—somewhere they could truly thrive.”
With that vision paired with her hands-on experience, Karen and her partner set to work with a vision of creating an all-girls public charter high school unlike any other.
“Every girl takes an engineering and a business class,” she explains. “We thought that was really important for our students because it provides them with the skills to be able to critically think and become powerful problem solvers.” Students with these skills, she notes, can easily translate them no matter the educational and career paths they choose, be it STEAM, business, humanities or creative pursuits.
The school’s rigorous academics and four pillars—sisterhood, scholarship, service and safety—help girls find their passion and purpose so, during their high school careers and beyond, they can do, experience and achieve even more.
“We wanted to have a space where girls can be challenged and where they can lift each other up,” Karen says. “They know exactly who they can go to to get support. And they understand the power of service.”
This mindset has been especially critical during COVID-19, when students were forced into remote learning. Despite the challenges, GGA’s tight-knit community rose to the occasion, continuing to maintain their connections and their commitment to learning and to one another.
“Some students are already speaking with our engineering teacher on what an outdoor space could look like,” Karen says. “They took the initiative because they want to be together, to be a community. What could it look like? How could they utilize recreation centers, outdoor space in the open areas? And what does that mean—and how could it change the trajectory of what school is?” This, she notes, is central to why she launched the school—to inspire this type of real-world excitement and problem-solving. Already, she adds, that theory has been put to practice.
Looking ahead, Karen is eager to return to in-person learning—and to future GGA classes. With the school’s supportive environment and empowerment-first messaging, it’s clear students and graduates will be ready for the future work and all that comes next. While it’s been a long journey to this point, Karen wouldn’t have it any other way—and she encourages both her students and her fellow educators to take a step back so they, too, can find and act on their passions.
“Don’t be afraid to explore,” she says. “If you have a dream, pursue it. Surround yourself with people who are supportive and will allow you to ask questions—because, through those questions, you’re going to be able to find answers that drive you ahead. And above all, don’t be afraid to dream and speak out loud with your fellow sisters.”
Prior to launch, Karen taught math in Prince George’s County. “It was an incredibly diverse district, with more than 40 languages spoken and students from many countries and parts of the U.S.,” she says. “I loved it—but the sheer size of the school and the classes made it tough to really have the environment I wanted for my students. I wanted an environment where girls felt confident and eager to participate—somewhere they could truly thrive.”
With that vision paired with her hands-on experience, Karen and her partner set to work with a vision of creating an all-girls public charter high school unlike any other.
“Every girl takes an engineering and a business class,” she explains. “We thought that was really important for our students because it provides them with the skills to be able to critically think and become powerful problem solvers.” Students with these skills, she notes, can easily translate them no matter the educational and career paths they choose, be it STEAM, business, humanities or creative pursuits.
The school’s rigorous academics and four pillars—sisterhood, scholarship, service and safety—help girls find their passion and purpose so, during their high school careers and beyond, they can do, experience and achieve even more.
“We wanted to have a space where girls can be challenged and where they can lift each other up,” Karen says. “They know exactly who they can go to to get support. And they understand the power of service.”
This mindset has been especially critical during COVID-19, when students were forced into remote learning. Despite the challenges, GGA’s tight-knit community rose to the occasion, continuing to maintain their connections and their commitment to learning and to one another.
“Some students are already speaking with our engineering teacher on what an outdoor space could look like,” Karen says. “They took the initiative because they want to be together, to be a community. What could it look like? How could they utilize recreation centers, outdoor space in the open areas? And what does that mean—and how could it change the trajectory of what school is?” This, she notes, is central to why she launched the school—to inspire this type of real-world excitement and problem-solving. Already, she adds, that theory has been put to practice.
Looking ahead, Karen is eager to return to in-person learning—and to future GGA classes. With the school’s supportive environment and empowerment-first messaging, it’s clear students and graduates will be ready for the future work and all that comes next. While it’s been a long journey to this point, Karen wouldn’t have it any other way—and she encourages both her students and her fellow educators to take a step back so they, too, can find and act on their passions.
“Don’t be afraid to explore,” she says. “If you have a dream, pursue it. Surround yourself with people who are supportive and will allow you to ask questions—because, through those questions, you’re going to be able to find answers that drive you ahead. And above all, don’t be afraid to dream and speak out loud with your fellow sisters.”
A true global sisterhood is about being able to discuss the universal struggles of womanhood. Shared language is used to celebrate, support, and uplift each other to ensure students are writing their own narratives for their futures both individually and as a collective.
The world is our backyard and “just as ripples spread out when a single pebble is dropped into water, the actions of individuals can have far-reaching effects.” Through service-learning you try on a range of leadership identities while supporting your community in both local and global contexts.
Safety starts with you by having compassion for yourself and others. Physical and emotional safety are critical for wellness. Confidence is fostered when students feel safe and is a skill that is taught, much like the development of muscle memory and supports moving thoughts to actions.
One of the best parts of working in education is getting to know students and their families. We have met with eight awesome students and their families thus far for one-to-one meetings and would love to get to know more of you. If you need interpreter services, then we will provide it to you. 
Parent Perspective
Check out the linked articles below to inspire and support our next generation of global leaders:
