Children’s Home Society of Florida (CHS) announced the appointment of Charlene Sears-Tolbert as director of Central Florida’s first community school, set to open at the newly reconstructed Maynard Evans High School in the fall of 2011.
A native of Central Florida, Sears-Tolbert’s career in social services spans 25 years, during which she has worked with a number of community-based agencies. “When I graduated from Evans High School, I knew that I wanted to work with communities to help better people’s lives. I feel I have come full circle and am incredibly excited at the opportunity to pour my passion into the new CHS Community School at Evans.”
Sears-Tolbert attended the University of Massachusetts where she majored in the management of human services. She holds a master’s degree in psychology from National Louis University and is currently working toward a Doctorate in Organizational Psychology with a focus on community-based organizations.
“We have great expectations of the new community school at Evans and believe that Charlene is a perfect fit for the project,” said David Bundy, President and CEO of CHS. “While her primary role is to work side-by-side with community leaders to guide the Evans’ project toward success, Charlene’s work will also serve as a blueprint for future community schools across the state of Florida.”
Evans’ community school is the result of a partnership developed by Bundy and MikeFrumkin, Dean of the University of Central Florida’s College of Health and Public Affairs. The full-service school will be a hub for community development and neighborhood activities.
In addition to regular curriculum, community schools offer enrichment during non-school hours, adult education and training, and vital health and social services. Inspired by the work of the National Center for Community Schools created in 1994 to advance such partnerships, CHS and UCF hope to engage organizations in the effort to promote academic achievement, youth development and family and community well-being.
