"My vision is to make quality education accessible to every student.”
Dr. Kim Abel
Head of School, Optima Academy Online
Meet Our
Head of School Dr. Kim Abel
Head of School, Optima Academy Online
Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) Learning & Leadership Organizations
Master of Education (M.Ed.)
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Elementary Education
National Board Certified Teacher
Published Author
Teacher Consultant
Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) Learning & Leadership Organizations
Master of Education (M.Ed.)
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Elementary Education
National Board Certified Teacher
Published Author
Teacher Consultant
“Our use of virtual reality has significantly broadened the teaching horizon, allowing us to engage students in ways traditional methods cannot.”
Welcome to Optima Academy Online! Whether you’re joining us for the first time or returning to our community, we’re thrilled to have you here. We believe in an environment that’s both challenging and supportive — one where every student is encouraged to reach their full potential.
Our approach blends a classically aligned curriculum — great books, Socratic discussion, and mathematical conversation — with virtual reality as a core learning tool, broadening what’s possible in a virtual classroom. At the center of it all are the virtues we teach: courage, courtesy, honesty, perseverance, self-government, service, and responsibility.
Kim Abel serves as Head of School at Optima Academy Online, a pioneering virtual reality K-12 and growing school. Passionate about cultivating rich and rewarding thinking among students and faculty, Kim brings to the role a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Utah State University, a Master’s in Education from William Carey University, and National Board Teacher Certification. Earning her Ed.D. in Learning and Leadership Organizations from Vanderbilt University in 2024, Kim’s dedication to educational excellence and continual learning is unwavering.
Driven by a commitment to finding effective ways to support students in reaching their educational goals, Kim actively promotes diversifying education to meet varied student needs and lifestyles. She leverages technology, particularly virtual reality, to enhance classroom instruction, guiding teachers to innovative applications of immersive learning experiences. Kim’s expertise has been instrumental as a Teacher Consultant for the South Mississippi Writing Project and has influenced the National Writing Project. Her contributions as a classroom instructor garnered state-wide recognition culminating in state recognition awards. Additionally, Kim is a published author through the Waterford Institute. Continually working to elevate student learning, Kim challenges herself and her colleagues at Optima Academy Online to push the boundaries of educational excellence. Her vision is to make quality education accessible to all students.
In Her Own Words
Explore Dr. Abel’s writing and recent conversations on education, virtual reality learning, and leading a school built for the future.
With AI a prompt away, Dr. Abel explores grading how students think, not just their final answer.
It’s not whether students use AI — it’s whether it sends them back into their own thinking.
A VR moon lesson shows how the right virtual space can teach as much as the activity itself.
Dr. Abel on what it takes to teach well in a classroom with no walls.
Kim Abel serves as Head of School at Optima Academy Online, a pioneering virtual reality K-12 and growing school. Passionate about cultivating rich and rewarding thinking among students and faculty, Kim brings to the role a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Utah State University, a Master’s in Education from William Carey University, and National Board Teacher Certification. Earning her Ed.D. in Learning and Leadership Organizations from Vanderbilt University in 2024, Kim’s dedication to educational excellence and continual learning is unwavering.
Driven by a commitment to finding effective ways to support students in reaching their educational goals, Kim actively promotes diversifying education to meet varied student needs and lifestyles. She leverages technology, particularly virtual reality, to enhance classroom instruction, guiding teachers to innovative applications of immersive learning experiences. Kim’s expertise has been instrumental as a Teacher Consultant for the South Mississippi Writing Project and has influenced the National Writing Project. Her contributions as a classroom instructor garnered state-wide recognition culminating in state recognition awards. Additionally, Kim is a published author through the Waterford Institute. Continually working to elevate student learning, Kim challenges herself and her colleagues at Optima Academy Online to push the boundaries of educational excellence. Her vision is to make quality education accessible to all students.
