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.

—

Nikki Nin

Marketing/Events Coordinator

Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples

239.260.1700

[email protected]

cmon.org

15080 Livingston RD., Naples, FL 34109