Kimberly Neal

Kimberly Neal plans to launch the first campus of Believe Schools. Believe | Circle City will be a rigorous college and career preparatory high school designed to develop students’ identity, agency, efficacy, leadership and purpose. Believe | Circle City students will engage in a micro-society that will allow all students to develop the necessary skills to be successful in the college or career path of their choice.  

Kimberly Neal served as the Managing Director of Secondary Education for KIPP:DC, where her responsibilities included coaching and supporting middle school leaders, supporting network-wide curriculum initiatives, and implementing strong culture systems. Previously, she served as a principal of KIPP:DC’s largest middle school, AIM Academy, which she turned around to become the highest performing school in Ward 8. Prior to her work for KIPP, Neal founded Muchin College Prep, which remains the highest performing school in Noble Network of Charter Schools and one of Chicago’s best schools.

She holds an M.S.W. from Washington University, St. Louis, an M.Ed. from Teachers College-Columbia University, and is a graduate of Relay Graduate School of Education’s National Principal Supervisors Academy Fellowship.