(Naples, FL) – May 18, 2021 – Fun Time Early Childhood Academy (FTA) has named veteran Collier County educator Jessica Campbell as its Executive Director, effective June 1, 2021. Mrs. Campbell’s most recent position was as principal of recently established eCollier Academy, Collier County’s first all-virtual school created in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Her background includes assignments at seven different Collier County schools. She served as assistant principal at Big Cypress Elementary and Parkside Elementary School, principal at Avalon Elementary School, as well as holding several titles at Shadowlawn Elementary School including teacher, math intervention specialist and, extended day program director reading coach.
Mrs. Campbell’s work to improve Parkside and Avalon, both Title I schools, garnered much recognition, including Gold School Status for Avalon for positive behavior support from 2018-2020, Parkside’s school grade improvement from an F to a C in 2014, and a letter from the Florida Governor for Avalon’s improvement in ELA Achievement in 2016 and Math Achievement in 2017.
Mrs. Campbell is Florida Child Care Staff credentialed, has completed emergent literacy training for VPK instructors and is ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) certified for grades K-12.
A native Floridian, Mrs. Campbell has worked with Collier County Public Schools for 20 years. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education and a Master of Education degree in Educational Leadership, both from Florida Gulf Coast University. She possesses a solid understanding of early childhood education and community resources to serve at-risk children and their families and continues to learn by participating in and presenting at varied professional development programs.
Mrs. Campbell stated, “I am excited for the opportunity to work together with all stakeholders to ensure that children receive a strong preschool education in language skills, listening comprehension and attention management skills, as well as having a positive attitude toward learning. I look forward to working with parents to build a collaborative partnership between home and school and to developing community partnerships in order to guarantee student success.”
Fun Time Academy board chair Ann Olson added, “We are confident that Mrs. Campbell’s extensive training and knowledge of early childhood development, especially at Title I schools, will greatly enhance the programs at Fun Time Academy, where students come from low-income families and face numerous obstacles.”