Rebecca and Dr. Alex King built their lives around two callings—education and animal care—and around one community that has become central to who they are: Del Ray.

They met in 2006 as undergraduates at Georgetown University, where Rebecca, who grew up in Arlington, was studying before beginning her teaching career. Alex, raised in Illinois, was double-majoring in economics and government. After several years of friendship, they began dating in 2009, married in 2013, and have now been together for 12 years.

Their children—Danny, 9; Maria, 6; and Cecilia, 4—are growing up in the heart of the Del Ray community, with the two oldest attending Mount Vernon Community School (MVCS), where Rebecca has taught since 2011. “It’s rare and special to get to see your children learning every day,” she says. “Teaching at the same school—and even the same grade level—as my own kids has been one of the most rewarding parts of my career.”

Rebecca, now a fourth-grade teacher, is passionate about helping struggling readers discover confidence. “MVCS really is like a family,” she says. “I’ve built relationships with staff, students and parents that have lasted long after they leave the classroom.” Rebecca also enjoys connecting her students to bilingual experiences such as field trips. A recent highlight was a visit to the GALA Hispanic Theater in DC where her students enjoyed a world-premiere play as well as a Q&A session in both English and Spanish with the cast and crew.

While Rebecca rooted herself in education, Alex made a bold career shift. After several years as an economist for the Department of Energy, he found himself unhappy working a desk job and returned to school to pursue veterinary medicine at Virginia Tech. He has worked as a mobile veterinarian since 2017 and launched King Veterinary Services in 2024. His practice focuses on acupuncture, physical therapy, wellness care, and hospice support—work he finds deeply fulfilling.

“Seeing pets in their own homes changes everything,” Alex says. “They’re calmer, their people are more relaxed, and it allows me to form real connections.” Many of those connections have turned into friendships. “It’s not uncommon for clients to become part of our wider network,” he adds.

Pulling the children into his work has only strengthened that sense of community. “My kids often come with me,” he says. “Danny helps translate for Spanish-speaking clients, and all three of them help comfort pets or organize supplies.”

Living in Del Ray has shaped the family’s daily rhythms and relationships. Their block, they say, is famously tight-knit. The Kings co-founded both the neighborhood’s men’s and women’s book clubs—rivalries kept mostly lighthearted. “Our kids walk out the front door and immediately find friends,” Rebecca says. “Luckily, so do we.”

The couple is equally committed to giving back. Rebecca coordinates MVCS’s Blessings in a Backpack program, which provides weekend food bags to students who need extra support. “The generosity in Del Ray is unbelievable,” she says. “We’ve never had to turn a family away.”

Alex’s contributions are felt across the community as well. His clients describe him as compassionate, knowledgeable, and deeply dedicated—particularly when supporting families with aging pets facing mobility issues, chronic pain, or end-of-life decisions. “Helping animals live comfortably, and helping their people through difficult times, is an honor,” he says.

With spring approaching, the Kings are looking forward to hiking and camping trips, plus their children’s first big adventure out West. “We’re taking them to the Tetons and Yellowstone,” Alex says. “The kids can’t wait to spot some wildlife.”

For the Kings, home isn’t just a place—it’s the people, the school, the pets, and the streets they walk every day. Del Ray has shaped their family, and in return, they’ve poured their hearts into it.