UCF’s Center for Community Schools and Child Welfare Innovation聽recently聽honored聽Sen. David Simmons as a champion of community schools聽for the state of Florida.
Leaders from the center and聽College of Health and Public Affairs recognized Simmons at聽the Sept. 25 board meeting聽of the聽Children’s Home Society of Florida in Orlando. CHSF and UCF聽partnered to help聽establish Evans High School in聽Pine Hills聽as the first community school of its kind the state.
Center Director David Bundy, former president of聽CHSF,聽thanked Simmons for his聽support of proposals in 2014 and 2015聽to establish the center and award the state’s聽first聽community-school planning grants. The Legislature聽funded聽.
Simmons’ interest聽in community schools grew聽out of a聽2013 meeting with Bundy and college Dean Michael Frumkin.聽After their meeting the senator聽requested a聽binder filled with聽information about community schools to review.
“The聽community-school concept was very much in keeping with his educational philosophy,”聽said Bundy. “He聽liked that community schools are an efficient use of resources and聽that聽they bring people together and remove barriers to student success.”
At the Sept. 25 meeting, Simmons聽received a black and gold recognition plate from Marklyne Joachim, an Evans’ graduate who聽benefitted from聽the community school programs. She is now a sophomore at UCF.
Simmons later wrote of his joy in working with the partners and appreciation of the recognition. He also made note of his pleasure in meeting Joachim.
“Marklyne did such a great job sharing,”聽he wrote.聽“[It] made it聽really special that she was there too.”
In addition to being recognized by the center, Simmons was honored as Legislator of the Year by CHSF.
PHOTO (Left to right) Rob Matschner (CHSF-CF Board), Tara Hormell (CHSF), Charles Cromer (CHSF Board), Amy Ellis (UCF), Michael Frumkin (UCF), David Simmons, Marklyne Joachim (UCF), David Bundy (UCF), Jarvis Wheeler (Evans) and Summer Pfeiffer (CHSF)