GOLISANO CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF NAPLES ANNOUNCES BOARD APPOINTMENT, NAMES NEW MUSEUM EDUCATION MANAGER

NAPLES, Florida (August 7, 2023) – The Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples (CMON) announces the appointment of Dr. Alise Bartley to its Board of Directors and the hiring of Kelly Lee as its museum Education Manager. Dr. Bartley joined the board in July, which is when Lee started her position.

Dr. Bartley brings a plethora of exceptional experiences to CMON with her background in education, human development, and counseling. She received her doctorate in Counselor Education and Supervision from Akron University and has spent nearly two decades breaking down barriers to receiving quality mental health services with the collaboration of other community organizations. Dr. Bartley maintains licenses in both clinical mental health counseling/supervision and marriage and family therapy/supervision in Ohio and Florida. Driven by the desire for mental health and wellness for all, she founded Counseling for Community Wellness in response to the need to receive quality mental health counseling services along with the development of a strong and supportive program for new counselors.

Dr. Bartley’s local community involvement and commitment to education are as impressive as they are extensive. She was recently featured as one of the Forces of Philanthropy in Gulf Shore Life in 2021 and currently serves as a board member for Boys and Girls Club of Collier County, Child’s Path, and Better Together, and serves on the Healthy Lee Behavioral Health Coalition. She is also a member of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, an AAMFT Approved Supervisor, and an AAMFT Clinical Fellow and maintains licenses in both Ohio and Florida.
“By creating a space where children can engage in play, you are fostering their imagination, cognitive abilities, social skills, and emotional well-being, ” said Dr. Bartley. “Play allows children to discover their interests, build friendships, solve problems, and develop important life skills.”

At CMON, Dr. Bartley is also credited with helping launch the “Shine On” educational program in partnership with Florida Gulf Coast University and CMON. The program partnered with Master’s level clinicians in FGCU’s clinical mental health counseling program after a need was identified for small-group programming for young children who may not have had socialization opportunities due to the pandemic.

“Alise’s commitment to children and families in Southwest Florida is evident not only in her professional work as a counselor but in her board service across several organizations,” said Jonathan Foerster, CEO of CMON. “We are excited for her to bring her expertise to help us make CMON a leading resource for early childhood education and resiliency.”

Lee joins CMON to lead its educational programming, creating classes and in-museum learning experiences as well as overseeing CMON camps and community educational outreach. Lee has more than a decade of experience in early childhood education, both in public schools and private preschools.

Prior to moving to Naples with her family in 2021, Lee spent the previous eight years working as a preschool teacher and then director, serving more than 150 students annually. She has a degree in education from the University of North Florida.

“Kelly’s experience and enthusiasm will both be tremendous assets to CMON as we look to further develop our educational programming,” Foerster said. “In her short time with us, she has already helped implement a broad array of new educational experiences at the museum.”

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About the Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples
The Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples is a brain-building powerhouse and Southwest Florida’s first museum devoted for children and families to learn through play. With hands-on exhibit galleries, the accessible museum invites visitors of all ages to journey through the swamps of the Everglades, weave through a maze, climb a two-story banyan tree, or experiment with the water play station. Children can become a weather forecaster, a farmer, a chef, a fisherman, an artist, an architect, or a veterinarian; explore the cold of an igloo, the whoosh of the wind, the sound of the sea, and the effects of gravity. Throughout the day special activities encourage our guests to get involved, try something new and be energized. CMON offers a variety of interactive exhibits providing kids with education, play, learning, science, technology, engineering, inventions, space exploration, art, math, storybooks, creation, building, sensory, and child development.