Dr. Karen McCabe earned a Bachelor of Social Work degree from Marist College in New York, and the following year she completed the Advanced Standing Master of Social Work degree from Fordham University.  She completed a Certificate of Advanced Study in Educational Leadership and acquired the New York state school principal and superintendent license.  Dr. McCabe completed a doctoral degree in educational leadership at Liberty University.

 Dr. McCabe has a wealth of experience in secondary schools including as a social worker and an assistant principal.   Most recently, she served as the Director of the South Santa Rosa Center at Pensacola State College.  During her tenure at the South Santa Rosa Center, she worked with two of the largest local high schools to offer Dual Enrollment with the College.  Creating and fostering a strong relationship with the principals, guidance counselors, parents, and students, Dr. McCabe helped to increase participation in dual enrollment. 

Contact Dr. McCabe

E-mail: kmccabe@pensacolastate.edu  

Phone: (850) 484-2347 

Kathryn L. Larson will be working out of our new Pensacola  Charter Academy Campus located in Building 11, in rotation with Charter Academy Principal, Dr. Karen McCabe.

Kathryn Larson was born and raised in Pensacola, Florida. She earned her high school diploma at Pine Forest High School, and she returned to her alma mater for her very first teaching assignment as a 9th-grade English teacher.

Ms. Larson was awarded the President’s Scholarship to attend Pensacola State College, where she earned her Associate of Arts degree before transferring to Florida State University in Tallahassee. While at Florida State, she participated in internships with the United States Secret Service and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). She studied abroad for two semesters at the Florida State Panama Canal Campus in Panama City, Panama, before earning her Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs.

As an educator, she has taught English at Pine Forest High School and Warrington Middle School, and she was an Instructional Coach at Workman Middle School. Ms. Larson earned distinctions from the Florida Department of Education as a High Impact Teacher with highly effective VAM score ratings. Her certifications include Reading Endorsement, English, and Exceptional Student Education. She earned her master’s degree in Educational Leadership from the University of West Florida, where she is currently pursuing her second master’s in Instructional Design.

Contact Kathryn Larson, M.Ed.

E-mail: klarson@pensacolastate.edu 

Phone: (850) 484-1772

Dr. John Woods is originally from La Puente, California. He served in the United States Air Force for 30 years, retiring in 2007. After retiring from the Air Force, Dr. Woods completed his Florida Educator Certification through the Troops to Teachers program. He taught Middle and High School Social Studies in a program for at-risk youth in the Pensacola area. Prior to accepting the role as Assistant Principal at the Charter Academy, Dr. Woods served as the Director of Veterans Student Support Services at Pensacola State College

Dr. Woods holds two Associate of Applied Science degrees from the Community College of the Air Force, Bachelor of Science and Master of Public Administration degrees from Troy State University, Education Specialist and Doctor of Education degrees from the University of West Florida.

Dr. Woods co-authored the book Taste of Ginger: The 1975 Vietnamese Refugee Reception Center at Eglin AFB published through the University of West Florida. He also co-authored the Practical Parenting curriculum published by Family Integrity Training. Dr. Woods volunteers as a facilitator and mentor in Santa Rosa Correctional Institute Annex.

Contact Dr. John Woods

E-mail: jwoods@pensacolastate.edu

Phone: (850) 484-2335