About Us
The Vision of Kids Count in Alachua County, Inc., a nonprofit organization, is that all elementary children in the community who need extra support to succeed in school and life will have that opportunity. To work towards this vision, Kids Count partners with schools, churches and other organizations to offer highly effective programs that inspire hope, enhance learning, improve confidence and build life skills. Kids Count provides qualified staff, volunteers and expertise for the programs it supports.
History
In the past three years Kids Count has focused on children who attend Rawlings Elementary.This school has a student population with over 90% of the children on free or reduced lunch and with substantially lower test scores.Kids Count has partnered with individuals, churches, civic organizations, UF, and Rawlings to :
Kids Count
Newsletters
Click on the links
below to see our previous newsletters to learn
more about Kids Count.
Newsletters
Click on the links
below to see our previous newsletters to learn
more about Kids Count.
Board of Directors
Ward Simonton, Ph.D, President
Kathy Vance, Vice President
Carole Kassi, Treasurer
Dorene Ross, Ed.D, Secretary
Chris Brown, Director
Joel Houston, Ph.D, Director
Kim Beach, Ex Officio Director/Co-Founder
Ward Simonton, Ph.D, President
Kathy Vance, Vice President
Carole Kassi, Treasurer
Dorene Ross, Ed.D, Secretary
Chris Brown, Director
Joel Houston, Ph.D, Director
Kim Beach, Ex Officio Director/Co-Founder
Founded in 2007, the mission of Kids Count is to create, grow, and support highly effective after school programs.There are four core principles that provide direction to Kids Count in Alachua County's service to children.We will work with organizations, with families, and with children in a way that demonstrates hope over despair, passion over apathy, persuasion over power, reason over emotion, and trust over suspicion. We will work to continuously improve our understanding of the educational, social, emotional, and physical needs of at-risk children in our community. We will partner with public, private faith-based, non-profit organizations and individuals to extend our reach, to leverage resources, and to broaden expertise. Lastly, we will maintain a high level of stewardship in the management of financial resources.
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· Build weekly enrichment programs for k - 3rd graders.
· Build and support a Rawlings community garden for 2nd graders
· Enhance awareness of the needs of at-risk children in east Gainesville
· Raise over $140,000 to support our efforts to serve children
· Build and support a Rawlings community garden for 2nd graders
· Enhance awareness of the needs of at-risk children in east Gainesville
· Raise over $140,000 to support our efforts to serve children
While the above activities were each important as Kids Count began to establish itself, the focus of the organization has been to build an intensive after school program that can be used as a model for many programs around Alachua County.In partnership with Faith United Methodist Church in 2008, Kids Count established Kids Count at Faith UMC, an after school program serving low-income, at-risk children who attend Rawlings Elementary.The Kids Count at Faith UMC program uses a whole child approach with strong academics, life skills sessions, and enrichment to help each child develop his/her full potential.
Kids Count at Faith UMC is a collaborative endeavor between Kids Count in Alachua County and Faith United Methodist Church.Kids Count in Alachua County provides funding, organizational leadership, staffing, and volunteers to Faith UMC for this program.Faith UMC provides infrastructure and supports the program as an on-site mission of the church.Kids Count has simultaneously served children through this program and used the program as a pilot to develop a model that will be highly effective, sustainable, and reproducible for at-risk elementary students in Alachua County.
Kids Count in Alachua County's vision is that all elementary children who need extra support to succeed in school and life will have that opportunity in our community.Kids Count believes strongly in the pipeline concept for consistently supporting children throughout their growth and development.Kids Count is working to be one part of that continuum of support, serving children in the elementary grades to ensure they have the opportunity to reach their full potential.
Kids Count in Alachua County, Inc., PO Box 358272 Gainesville, FL 32635-8272 P: 352.372.0038 a 501(c)3 not-for-profit corporation
Administration
About the Kids Count People
Elizabeth Jacobbe, Executive Director
Elizabeth is the new Executive Director at Kids Count. She is a wife and mother of two wonderful children she adores. Elizabeth is a strong advocate for children and families in our community and is dedicated to providing fun and worthwhile learning experiences for those that need help the most. She believes in establishing positive relationships with students, parents, volunteers, and tutors and is easily approachable and helpful. Elizabeth has a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education and a Master's degree in the Art of Teaching. She has 7 years of experience teaching in Hawaii, Ohio, and Florida. In addition, she has taught courses at the university level and supervised student teachers. Through teaching and parenting, Elizabeth realizes the importance of providing children with a safe, loving, nurturing, and engaging learning environment. Her educational philosophy is based on the idea that "all children can learn" and that "good partnerships between families, schools, and communities can and do make a difference in the lives of children". In addition to Kids Count, Elizabeth is also dedicated to helping children who suffer from cancer and other life threatening diseases through Caleb's Pitch.
Elizabeth is the new Executive Director at Kids Count. She is a wife and mother of two wonderful children she adores. Elizabeth is a strong advocate for children and families in our community and is dedicated to providing fun and worthwhile learning experiences for those that need help the most. She believes in establishing positive relationships with students, parents, volunteers, and tutors and is easily approachable and helpful. Elizabeth has a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education and a Master's degree in the Art of Teaching. She has 7 years of experience teaching in Hawaii, Ohio, and Florida. In addition, she has taught courses at the university level and supervised student teachers. Through teaching and parenting, Elizabeth realizes the importance of providing children with a safe, loving, nurturing, and engaging learning environment. Her educational philosophy is based on the idea that "all children can learn" and that "good partnerships between families, schools, and communities can and do make a difference in the lives of children". In addition to Kids Count, Elizabeth is also dedicated to helping children who suffer from cancer and other life threatening diseases through Caleb's Pitch.
Jairus Foster, Program Director:
I was born and raised in Jackson, MS. I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Services from Belhaven University, also in Jackson, MS. I moved to Gainesville this summer and was given the opportunity to become a part of the Kid's Count organization! I immediately took the position, because working with children is something that has always been a passion of mine. I believe in providing children with a strong foundation to ensure that they succeed in life as teenagers and adults. Kid's Count does just that! I am so glad to be a part of this family!
I was born and raised in Jackson, MS. I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Services from Belhaven University, also in Jackson, MS. I moved to Gainesville this summer and was given the opportunity to become a part of the Kid's Count organization! I immediately took the position, because working with children is something that has always been a passion of mine. I believe in providing children with a strong foundation to ensure that they succeed in life as teenagers and adults. Kid's Count does just that! I am so glad to be a part of this family!