Michelle Avola-Reese is the Director of Marketing and Development with The Foundation for Lee County Public Schools. The Foundation is a non-profit education foundation which enhances and enriches the quality of public education for students and educators through programs, resources and experiences. This is made possible through corporate, individual and educational partnerships. Some of their programs include Student Advocacy and Mentoring Partnership (STAMP), STEM@Work, ArtSpeak, Take Stock in Children, Dancing Classrooms, the Education Resource Center, Golden Apple Teacher Award Recognition, Collegium Quality Teacher Education, Classroom Grants, Anti-Bullying Initiatives and more. Their goal is to help students achieve at their highest potential and equip educators with the resources they need to be the best.
Prior to joining The Foundation, Michelle was the Executive Director of a local non-profit advocacy group, making a tremendous impact in Collier County for the past seven years. She also spent seven years with Xerox Corporation as the National Sales Training Manager. She has three sons currently enrolled in Lee County Public Schools. Her love for these boys is the major driving force behind her passion to further The Foundation’s efforts. “Quality education and enrichment activities today help shape and grow the leaders of tomorrow. My boys have big dreams, and I want to do everything I can to help them, and their peers, be everything they can be!”
Since joining The Foundation for Lee County Public Schools in June, Michelle has immersed herself in planning, marketing and fundraising for the many programs and events for the new school year, and has brought on the Florida Everblades / Germain Arena as a new partner.