Dr. Ken Coley

Ken Coley has enjoyed an exciting career in teaching and educational leadership for over 30 years. A native of Raleigh, NC, Dr. Coley graduated from Wake Forest University in 1974 with a B.A. in English and began his teaching career at Queens Lake Intermediate School in Williamsburg, VA. During his first five years of teaching he studied school administration at the College of William and Mary while teaching English in grades 7 through 12. After completing his degree and moving to Maryland, he taught two more years of high school English before God called him to begin his career in administration of Christian schools.

With a master’s degree in administration and seven years’ teaching experience, Ken became the principal of Montrose Christian School in Rockville, MD, where he was blessed to serve for 15 years. During his ministry the school grew to its capacity of over 700 students. He continued his academic studies at the University of Maryland at College Park and earned his Doctor of Education degree in 1993.

The next big career change came in 1996 when Dr. Coley began his teaching career at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, NC. During the last 11 years he has helped develop and teach classes in church education and administration, youth ministry, and teacher education. His primary assignment has been to train Christian school administrators. Three highlights include the publication of his textbook, The Helmsman: Leading with Courage and Wisdom; the presentation of his faculty lecture, “Pastor, How Should We Educate Our Children”; and the development of a new Ed.D. program, which he directs.