Children's Academy
of
Southwest Florida, Inc.
Our Administration
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Our Executive Director |
Our Board of Directors |
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Dr. Geraldine Pasquarella Dr. Geraldine H. Pasquarella, Executive Director, was born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Geri was educated in the Philadelphia school system, then attended West Chester University where she obtained her BA and MA in Psychology. Geri operated a successful private counseling practice in Philadelphia for many years before "retiring" to sunny Florida in the mid 1980s. Geri has since received her Doctorate in Education from NOVA Southeastern University, and is currently employed there as a dissertation advisor and instructor for doctoral students in Organizational Leadership. Employed with The Children's Academy of Southwest Florida, Inc. (formally Manatee County Nursery Schools) since August of 1989, Geri was first an assistant director then became Executive Director in 1991. She has served as Chair of the Women's Resource Center of Manatee County, Vice Chair of Altrusa International, twice Chaired the Pre K Children's Council, is a prior member of the South County Rotary Club and has been awarded numerous accolades from many local and state organizations. A firm believer in higher education and an avid learner, Geri frequently attends workshops and training seminars on topics including early childhood, childcare management and not-for-profit organizational leadership. Dr. Pasquarella is also currently teaching Foundation and advanced level Childcare Management courses and co-wrote the Advance Management course manuals and Non-Profit Leadership courses for NOVA Southeastern University. Geri is a People to People delegate working as an exchange educator assessing early childhood education worldwide. She has visited numerous countries including, but not limited to: China, Russia, Germany, Poland, Hungary and Romania. This well-rounded approach to childcare in the United States has immensely helped our organization to grow and nurture our children in new and innovative ways. Geri's philosophy is that all children will grow and learn to be successful given a commitment of time and energy. This begins with a developmentally challenging environment where well-trained educators facilitate and model appropriate interactions. When this facilitative learning is reinforced, children believe in themselves and have a higher self-esteem.
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Chairman Secretary Treasurer Immediate Past-Chairman Fundraising Chair Brandy Braver Mark Hightower Barbara Lasser Ruth Lawler
Vanessa Quintal
Dr. Huguette Salahuddin
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