Krista McKinney-King is the strategic and innovative leader of Randolph Career Technical Center, a DPSCD school that primarily offers skilled trades programs to high school aged youth. As a result of a partnership with DPSCD and the City of Detroit Workforce Development Board, Principal King contributed to the resurgence of Randolph Career Tech. Changing the perception of the skilled trades industry while increasing the value in gaining a career technical education, helping youth to explore and pursue career pathways particularly apprenticeships, increasing work-based learning experiences and mentorship opportunities for her students, and supporting the workforce initiative in metro Detroit, have been her priorities during her leadership thus far.
In 2020, King was 1 of 24 fellows selected for the Detroit Workforce Leadership Academy to improve local economic mobility, strengthen workforce development efforts, and create innovative solutions to the challenges faced by workers and businesses. She is also the 2019 recipient of the Spirit of Detroit award for her dedication to improving the quality of life of youth, and under her leadership, Randolph CTC received the IMPACT Award from Michigan Works! for implementation of high-quality apprenticeship programs capable of developing skilled talent. She was recently invited to be a member of the Michigan Apprenticeship Steering Committee (MASCI).
She graduated from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, and earned a Master’s Degree from Wayne State University, and an Educational Specialist Degree from Eastern Michigan University.