VILLAGE SCHOOL OF NAPLES ANNOUNCES EXPANSION of COMMUNITY OUTREACH

VILLAGE SCHOOL OF NAPLES ANNOUNCES TWO KEY STAFF AND FACULTY APPOINTMENTS TO EXPAND COMMUNITY OUTREACH

The Village School of Naples, an independent school serving students in Preschool through 12th grade, has announced the appointment of Andres Gonzalez as Director of Communications and Marketing and Mike Wexler as Director of Internships and Strategic Partnerships. In these positions, both Gonzalez and Wexler will be actively engaged in outreach to build partnerships with local community leaders and businesses.

“We are pleased to welcome Andres and Mike to our organization,” said Dennis Chapman, Head of School for The Village School. “Both of them bring a tremendous amount of experience and will play an important role in making sure The Village School remains the preferred educational choice for a broad range of students and families.”

Andres Gonzalez

Gonzalez has more than 20 years of experience in strategic marketing, communications, sales, branding and training program development. Prior to joining The Village School, he worked in Palm Beach County. Throughout his career, Gonzalez has worked in diverse industries, including financial services, healthcare and medical education.

Gonzalez began his business journey with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management from Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton and an MBA from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He also is a veteran of the United States Army.

Wexler has 19 years of experience in the Miami-Dade and Collier County School Districts teaching a diverse range of subjects, including general education, special education and career technical education. In his role with The Village School, Wexler will lead a new initiative to connect upper school students with local businesses for internship and employment opportunities, preparing them for college and future careers.

Mike Wexler

Wexler earned his Bachelor’s degree in Sports Management from Florida International University in Miami. He also holds a Master’s degree in Physical Education, Health and Recreation from Emporia State University in Emporia, Kansas, and a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers.

Founded nearly four decades ago as a private institution for pre-school students, The Village School of Naples introduced an Upper School division for high school students in 2017. Since then, the school’s leadership has been strategically renovating and expanding the academic, arts and athletic facilities to accommodate current and future growth.

Located at 6000 Goodlette-Frank Rd., The Village School of Naples originally began as The Caring Place Preschool in 1985 as an outreach at North Naples United Methodist Church. In 2000, the church relocated to the present campus location and added The Village School, beginning with K-2 and 37 students. In 2006, the school was accredited by the Florida Council of Independent Schools and the Florida Kindergarten Council.

In 2009, parents asked The Village School for a middle school to be added and soon after added the middle school one grade a year to complete the eighth grade. Four years later, the Board of Directors voted to add an upper school with 17 students in the fall of 2017.

In June 2020, The Village School celebrated its first-ever graduating class of seniors. The school currently has more than 135 upper school students and will graduate its largest senior class (35 students) this spring.

About Us:
The Village School of Naples is more than an institution; it is a vibrant community committed to shaping the future leaders of tomorrow. We are a private, co-educational, independent school offering PreK3-12th grade students an impactful educational experience in a nurturing Christian environment. Our commitment is to empower and inspire students to become critical thinkers and innovative problem solvers in the face of challenges in our ever-changing world. Founded in 2000, our educational approach is rooted in hands-on experiences, fostering an atmosphere where creativity and curiosity thrive. We believe in a holistic approach to education, emphasizing not only academic excellence but also the development of character, empathy, gratitude and a lifelong love of learning. Additionally, our Village Success Center, comprising The Learning Center, QUEST College Success, and the Bridge and Enrichment Programs, serves our students as a neurodiverse center designed to stretch the brightest, support those with language-based learning differences, and provide the very best in individualized college placement counseling. We are also fully accredited by the Florida Council of Independent Schools and affiliated with the National Association of Independent Schools. We are proud members of the National Honor Society and were recently recognized nationally by the College Board’s Advanced Placement Program Honor Roll as a Platinum level school.