Local Leaders Come Together to Transform Education through the Arts in Palm Beach County
Above: Robert Hamon and Chelneca Templeton. Photo: courtesy of CCE.
(West Palm Beach, FL). The Center for Creative Education (CCE) recently welcomed members of its newest standing committee, the Educational Services Advisory Committee (ESAC), with a reception at its West Palm Beach campus on April 11. The group serves a vital role within CCE, with a clear focus on governing the organization’s independent school, The Foundations School (TFS).
“Our aim is to ensure that our educational services exceed expectations, not only offering strategic guidance to enrich the TFS student’s learning experience through creativity and the arts, but also serving as a model for the field of teaching and learning,” said CCE’s Chief Operating Officer, Jerry Crank. “This group’s unwavering commitment to revolutionizing education is impressive, as are their credentials. We are fortunate to have the benefit of their expertise, experience and guidance.”
ESAC members include Marcia Bedasse, Associate Professor/Dean at the School of Education and Behavioral Studies at Palm Beach Atlantic University; Anthony Bethel, CEO at Godspeed Academy; Susannah Brown, Professor of Visual Art Education, Department of Curriculum and Instruction, Florida Atlantic University; Fabiana DesRosiers, Chief Executive Officer at the Hispanic Human Resources Council; Charles Hagy, Head of Middle School at The Benjamin School; Tracy Haynes, Crisis Intervention Teacher at The School District of Palm Beach County; Grace M. Joyce, Development Service Operations Manager at The City of Riviera Beach; Timothy Ladd, Director of Teacher Education at Palm Beach Atlantic University; Eileen Lyons, Artist; Mary Moffett, Education Consultant; Eliana Mukherjee, Professor of Teacher Education at Palm Beach State College; Daniel Seager, Retired Lieutenant Commander of S.W.A.T. Team at the Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office; Sylvia L. Sharps, Legislative and Advocacy consultant; Pilar Forero Taylor, Director of Stiles-Nicholson STEM Teacher Academy at Florida Atlantic University; Eric Telchin, author and broker at The Telchin Group LLC; and Chelneca Templeton, retired Provost and Dean of the School of Education and Behavioral Studies at Palm Beach Atlantic University.
The Foundations School at CCE is a K-5 independent school focused on improving literacy and weaving the arts into academic subjects. At the end of the last year, 89% of third graders at The Foundations School were reading on or above grade level compared to 21.5% in surrounding schools and 33% of 4th grade students nationwide. The Foundations School aims to enroll students from underserved communities; the school uses a sliding fee scale to determine family contributions to tuition and applies significant scholarships to cover the balance. This ensures that no family is turned away for an inability to pay.
“Transforming teaching and learning is at the heart of what we do,” said CCE President and CEO Robert Hamon. “With the support of the ESAC, we’re making significant strides towards our vision of a world where every student, regardless of their circumstances, can achieve academic success.”
The committee’s responsibilities are wide-ranging, from ensuring that the CCE’s work remains aligned with its mission and vision to identifying beneficial partnerships that can enhance the organization’s impact. Members are selected to represent a diverse cross-section of the community, ensuring that a variety of perspectives are brought to the table, and that all stakeholders are represented, which is crucial for fostering an inclusive educational environment.
For additional information on The Foundations School or Center for Creative Education, visit cceflorida.org. To make a donation toward a scholarship, please call please call Jonathon Ortiz-Smykla at 561.805.9927; extension 106.
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