Student Leadership Academy of Venice, Florida

Admin Staff
Principal Vickie Marble email Back to Top	Prior to becoming involved in the Florida charter school movement, I spent 20 years as an elementary school teacher having taught in public and private schools. I am a founding board member of the Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools and served for seven years as a Governor’s appointee to the Florida Charter School Review Panel. In 1996, I was instrumental in the creation and operation of the Police Athletic League (PAL) Academy Charter School, The Opportunity Charter School and the Manatee County Juvenile Justice Charter School all charter schools for high risk youth. I graduated from the University of South Florida in 1978 and have attended both Fordham and Columbia University in New York. I was the Director of Advocacy and Strategic Partnerships for the Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools until taking a position as the Regional Resource Specialist for the National Cooperative Bank Development Corporation providing technical assistance in the area of finance and facilities for Florida and Georgia’s charter schools; and working in concert with the Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools. I have two sons who are grown and live in Bradenton.
Assistant to the Principal Carolyn Smugorzewski SLA email Back to Top	Carolyn has a background in business and data management. She started her career with the School District teaching music at the Taylor Ranch Elementary School. Her experience includes 9 combined years in student data management at Venice Middle School and Big Bend College in Germany. She also has 8 years experience in business management and finance. Her interests are music, travel, art, home renovation and church activities. She is married with one son.
Administrative Assistant Barbara Foster SLA email Back to Top	Barbara was born in Windsor, Ontario and raised in suburban Detroit, Michigan. She worked for a Michigan steel corporation for 30 years and held various clerical positions at that company over my years of employment. Barbara started working for the Florida school system as a secretary for the assistant principal at Venice Middle School four years ago, and came to SLA in 2006. Her hobbies include traveling, walking the beach, dancing and going to the movies with friends.
Receptionist Nancy Vogelsong SLA email Back to Top	Nancy grew up in Sarasota and had been a secretary at various businesses until 1992 when she became a stay at home mom for the next 14 years. She came to Student Leadership Academy as a volunteer the year the school started, and began working in the office in 2006. Nancy is married and has three children. Her daughter, Sarah, graduated from Venice High and is a freshman at the Burnett Honors College at the University of Central Florida. When not traveling the world, her two sons, Stephen and Timothy, reside in Hawaii.
Dean of Students David Aker SLA email Back to Top	Dave Aker is pleased to join the staff of SLA as Dean of Students, focusing on security and maintenance of a safe and orderly learning environment for all students. He recently retired from Venice Police Department; he served the last three years as the School Resource Officer at Venice High School. He looks forward using his law enforcement expertise and his experience working with teens to guide and direct students at SLA. Dave is married and has two sons and one granddaughter. His wife Trina is the 8th Grade Honors Academy teacher at SLA. His son Nathan lives in Punta Gorda with his wife Sarah and their daughter Sadie. His son Ashton recently graduated from Venice High School and is a freshman at the Burnett Honors College at University of Central Florida.