Center for Community Partnerships

4/6/12
Director Nancy Ellis and Administrative Coordinator Heather Lambert of the Center for Community Partnerships, along with Amy Ellis and Charlene Sears-Tolbert of Evans Community School, are among a group of panelists who will discuss leadership and governance of a developing community school at the 2012 Community Schools National Forum, planned for May 9-12 in San Francisco. Their presentation is scheduled for Thurs., May 10, from 2:15 to 3:30 p.m. (Concurrent Workshop Session I). Learn more

1/20/12
The joint UCF, Children's Home Society of Florida and Orange County Public School Communications Committee has produced the first printed materials designed to promote the Evans Community School. The materials include a tri-fold pamphlet with two inserts, one for parents of Evans students and one for community members. Click on the links below to view the materials.
Tri-fold pamphlet    Parent insert    Community insert

10/17/11
Published by the West Orlando News:

The official grand opening of Evans full-service school in Pine Hills is not until August 2012, but already there’s lots of excitement and strong positive energy emanating from the community, says Charlene Sears-Tolbert, director of Central Florida’s first community school. Even those who don’t fully understand the community concept, just seeing the visible building rising out of the ground, there’s excitement that something new is going on at Evans. Read the full article

10/13/11
On Tuesday, September 27, 2011, the Orange County School Board approved a Memorandum of Understanding between the University of Central Florida, Children’s Home Society of Florida and Orange County Public Schools. Afterwards, leaders of these organizations signed the agreement, which commits each organization to a long-term partnership to create, develop and sustain a Community School at Evans High School. The signees were Dean Michael Frumkin, UCF College of Health and Public Affairs; Superintendent Ronald Blocker and School Board Chair Bill Sublette, Orange County Public Schools; and Executive Director Tara Hormel, Children’s Home Society of Florida.

According to Bill Sublette, this agreement represents a “watershed moment” that paves the way for Evans to become Central Florida’s first community school — a place that will engage students, parents and other community members by offering before and after-school enrichment, adult education programs, health, mental health, dental and social services in addition to the regular school curriculum.

The goal is to create an environment where students can succeed, draw the Pine Hills community closer together and position Evans Community School as the “hub” of neighborhood activities, resulting in an increase in student success and improved neighborhood stability, safety and prosperity.

Click photo to enlarge and view caption

7/28/11
A federal grant has been awarded to build medical and dental clinics for students at the new campus for Evans High School in Orlando. The grant was awarded to Community Health Centers, Inc., a local nonprofit, and comes after two years of research and planning by the University of Central Florida, Children’s Home Society of Florida and Orange County Public Schools. The clinics will be a key component of a community school the three partners are working to establish at Evans. Read the full article

5/23/11
Michael Frumkin, dean of the College of Health and Public Affairs; Nancy Ellis, director of the Center for Community Partnerships; and Rex Culp, associate dean for research and graduate studies in the College of Education, received a "Certificate of Appreciation" in May 2011 from Orange County Public Schools in recognition of their commitment to develop the Evans High Community School in Orlando.

4/17/11
Published by the Orlando Sentinel:

The College of Health and Public Affairs at UCF is getting involved in the Central Florida community in an initiative that includes two schools with strong ethnic identities, low-income families and school-based clinics ... Read the full article