GOLISANO CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF NAPLES ANNOUNCES JESSICA CAMPBELL
Published on September 04, 2025
NAPLES, Florida (September 4, 2025) – Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples (CMON) is proud to announce the appointment of Jessica Campbell as the founding director of its highly anticipated early learning center, set to open in August 2026. Campbell will officially begin her new role on September 8, 2025.
With more than two decades of leadership in education and nonprofit management, Campbell brings a proven record of innovation, community engagement, and a deep commitment to advancing early childhood education in Southwest Florida. Most recently, she served as the Executive Director of Fun Time Early Childhood Academy, where she oversaw a transformational expansion from one to four locations, increasing capacity from 96 to more than 350 children and growing the organization’s annual budget from $1 million to $6 million.
Prior to her nonprofit leadership, Campbell spent 20 years with Collier County Public Schools in roles ranging from teacher to principal. She notably launched Collier County’s first virtual school in 2020 and led Avalon Elementary, a Title I school, through measurable performance gains.
“Jessica’s experience, vision, and passion for ensuring all children have access to high-quality early learning make her the perfect leader to bring our early learning center to life,” said Jonathan Foerster, CEO of CMON. “Her leadership will help us create a one-of-a-kind educational environment that blends traditional classroom instruction with the power of play and exploration.”
A native Floridian, Campbell holds both a Bachelor of Arts in Education and a Master of Education in Educational Leadership from Florida Gulf Coast University. She also completed the Strategic Perspectives in Nonprofit Management program at Harvard Business School. Beyond her professional accomplishments, she is a proud graduate of the Greater Naples Leadership program and is deeply involved in community partnerships and initiatives that support children and families.
“I am honored to join CMON at such an exciting time,” said Campbell. “The early learning center represents a bold step forward for early childhood education in our region, and I look forward to working with families, educators, and community partners to ensure every child has the foundation they need to thrive.”
CMON’s Early Learning Center will provide full-day, full-year programming for PreK3 and PreK4 students, combining museum-based exploration with a curriculum focused on kindergarten readiness. Scholarships will be available for qualifying families, ensuring access to high-quality education for children across the community. Owen-Ames-Kimball is scheduled to begin construction on the renovation for the early learning center in October using designs by MHK Architecture and Planning. The $3.1 million project will convert former administrative space, play space and classrooms into six new classrooms designed to serve approximately 90 students.
For more information on the early learning center, please visit cmon.org or email jfoerster@cmon.org.
About the Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples
A 501(C)(3) not-for-profit charitable organization founded in 2002, Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples is a brain-building powerhouse and Southwest Florida’s first museum devoted to children and families. CMON is a two-story, 30,000 square foot cultural institution with hands-on and fully accessible exhibits developed by experts in child psychology, including 8,000 square feet of outdoor play space. With hands-on exhibits, the accessible museum invites children and their caregivers to journey through the swamps of the Everglades, climb a two-story banyan tree, or experiment with the water play station. Children can become weather forecasters, farmers, chefs, artists, architects, veterinarians or anything else they can imagine. They will experience 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 make memories. CMON provides an exciting, inspiring environment where children and their families play, learn, and dream together.
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For more information about Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples, or to make a contribution, visit cmon.org or call 239-260-1707.