Prior to joining the faculty as a visiting Assistant Professor, Dr. Ferguson served as the Chief Executive Officer of Grace Place for Children and Families, a not-for-profit educational agency located in the Golden Gate community. The organization provides services to Identified at risk children and families due to educational, socioeconomic and language factors. The organization provides comprehensive family literacy, early childhood education, out of school time programs and adult education services. Under Dr. Ferguson’s leadership, Grace Place for Children and Families was recognized in 2019 by the Barbara Bush Family Literacy Foundation as a National Program of Excellence. In 2018, Grace Place was recognized as the first not-for-profit educational agency to achieve Lighthouse Designation status through the Franklin-Covey Company for organization wide implementation of the 7 Habits of Highly Successful People and the “Leader in Me” leadership development framework in all educational programs. Prior to this position, Dr. Ferguson spent 33 years in public education serving as the Executive Director for Student Related Services overseeing Exceptional Student Education, Intervention Programs and Student Services with the Lee County School District. He spent 16 years as a district and school-based administrator in Collier County and was the founding Principal of Veterans Memorial Elementary School from 2007-2013. Established as a Professional Development School in partnership with Florida Gulf Coast University, the school serves as a research and design elementary school implementing research based innovative practices to support 21st Century teaching and learning. Additionally, the school was recognized as a “Leader in Me” school in 2012, achieving Lighthouse recognition in 2018 by the Franklin-Covey organization for implementation of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People program and the school’s commitment to leadership development of students in supporting 21st century learning skills. Dr. Ferguson served as an administrator with the District School Board of Collier County from 1997-2013. His other administrative appointments while in the district included Principal of Shadowlawn Elementary School (2000-2006), Assistant Principal at Pelican Marsh Elementary (1999-2000) and Elementary Exceptional Student Education Coordinator at the district office level (1996-1999). Prior to coming to Collier County, Tim spent thirteen years as a teacher in the Lee County School District. His teaching experiences included teaching kindergarten, fourth grade and special education at the preschool, elementary and secondary levels. Dr. Ferguson was recognized as a Golden Apple teacher in 1992, while teaching kindergarten at Diplomat Elementary School in Lee County. In 2004, he was recognized by the District School Board of Collier County Instructional Leadership Department as the “Innovative Principal of the Year” in recognition of his work in integrating technology into classroom instruction. While at Shadowlawn Elementary Dr. Ferguson worked closely with the Schlechty Center for Leadership in School Reform along with teachers, staff, parents and the community to facilitate and support increased student achievement.

Dr. Ferguson’s he is an educational consultant with the Franklin Covey organization providing certification in 7 Habits of Highly Successful People and “The Leader in Me” student leadership development process. Dr. Ferguson received national certification as a mentor principal through the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) in 2006. He completed his doctorate degree in Educational Leadership through an Executive Cohort Program in 2012 from the University of Florida LEAD Program. His dissertation research examined the impact of the integration of technology resources to support 21st Century teaching and learning.

Among his community service Dr. Ferguson is a graduate of the Leadership Collier Class of 2017, competed the 2017 Harvard Kennedy School Executive Program for Nonprofit Management, and has served on the Board of Directors for The Rotary Club of Naples and IMPACT Developmental Services for Infants and Toddlers. Dr. Ferguson served as a member of the Future Ready Collier Collective Impact Management Committee representing 60 organizations providing educational services and supports to children and families in Collier County as well as The Shelter for Abused Women and Children and The Collier County Education Foundation Board of Directors.