Title: 1) Content Expert; 2) Educational Consultant; 3) Consultant; 4) President and Chief Executive Officer
Company: 1) Grand Canyon University; 2) Nova Southeastern University; 3) Miami-Dade County Public Schools; 4) Valerie B. Ward & Associates, PLLC
Location: Pembroke Pines, Florida, United States
Valerie B. Ward, EdD, Content Expert at Grand Canyon University, Educational Consultant at Nova Southeastern University, and Consultant at Miami-Dade County Public Schools, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Educators for dedication, achievements and leadership in Public School Education.
Dr. Ward has established a notable career spanning four decades in education, marked by her expertise in motivating and inspiring others to achieve their best. Since 2023, she has served as a content expert at Grand Canyon University, contributing her extensive knowledge to curriculum development and academic programming.
Leveraging her extensive expertise in the field, Dr. Ward also holds several other notable roles. Beginning in 2021, she became an educational consultant for Nova Southeastern University, providing guidance and mentorship to aspiring educational leaders. Since 2013, she has also served as a consultant for Miami-Dade County Public Schools in Miami, Florida, utilizing her experience to mentor and prepare new principals and assistant principals. Dr. Ward’s efforts focus on cultivating strong, effective school leaders equipped to address contemporary educational challenges.
Additionally, Dr. Ward has spent over a decade as the president and chief executive officer of Valerie B. Ward & Associates, PLLC, since 2013. Based in Pembroke Pines, Florida, she provides leadership training and consulting services within the field.
Among her previous roles, Dr. Ward taught graduate-level leadership courses as an adjunct professor at Lynn University from 2013 to 2015, serving as a field experience advisor for students pursuing their master’s degree in educational leadership. She was also employed by the Southern Regional Education Board and the Council for Educational Change from 2013 to 2014 as an educational consultant, where she was instrumental in initiatives to improve school performance and foster leadership excellence. Dr. Ward’s foundational experience was shaped by her long-standing service as a principal within Miami-Dade County Public Schools between 1985 and 2012.
Apart from her work in consulting and education, Dr. Ward expanded her professional reach in 2015 as an international author with VBW Consulting Inc., publishing works that reflect her commitment to personal growth and empowerment. She contributed a chapter to “The Self-Esteem Guide for Women,” published by Barnes & Noble in 2015. She then authored “The Power of Prayer: Pray Your Way Through” in 2016, available through Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
Dr. Ward’s academic achievements have been instrumental in shaping her professional journey. She earned a Bachelor of Science in speech language pathology from Florida A&M University in 1977, a Master of Science in speech language pathology from Nova Southeastern University in 1986, and a Doctor of Education in educational leadership and administration from Nova Southeastern University in 2023. Dr. Ward also completed coursework in educational leadership and administration at Harvard Graduate School of Education in 2003.
Throughout her career, Dr. Ward has maintained active membership in several professional organizations, including the Dade County Association of School Administrators. Beyond her professional commitments, she is deeply involved in civic activities. She has served on the advisory board for Women in Leadership since 2025. She is also a board member of the City of Miami Gardens Educational Compact and volunteers with Antioch Missionary Baptist Church in Miami Gardens, Florida. Recently, Dr. Ward completed a six-month project to develop a church curriculum for small-group ministry, including training materials and a study guide, set to launch this month.
Dr. Ward’s hard work and transformative leadership in turning around two schools earned her significant recognition, including the Leonard Miller Principal Leadership Award from the Council for Educational Change in 2009 and being named a finalist for Miami-Dade’s Principal of the Year for the 2009-2010 academic year. She also received the Norland Feeder Pattern Principal of the Year award in 2009 and was honored as the Principal of the Year by the League of City Mayors in 2010.
Looking ahead, Dr. Ward aims to continue excelling in her profession while making a meaningful impact in her community by expanding the small-group ministry she recently launched at her church, with aspirations to empower women through faith-based connections and broader support.
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