A Good Education

Many people know Goodwill as a place to donate items they no longer want or somewhere to hunt for bargains.

While the nonprofit does use the sale of donated goods to help people with disabilities and employment barriers by providing job skills training and employment opportunities, Goodwill Manasota is also entering another sphere: running a school's business operations.

That school is The McKay Academy, previously known as Ave Maria Preparatory School. It's a private school that serves students from Sarasota, Manatee, DeSoto and Hardee counties. The school is tailored to students ages 6 to 22 with learning challenges such as autism, attention deficit disorder and Asperger's syndrome. The school's name change honors former Florida Senate President John McKay, a McKay Academy board member. (A Bradenton real estate executive, McKay was recently appointed to the board of Citizens Property Insurance Corp.)

Margie Genter, vice president of mission services for Goodwill Manasota, tells Coffee Talk the team at The McKay Academy excels at helping students learn differently by teaching to students' individual needs. It also provides career education, introducing students to employment opportunities and workplace skills. But, she says, the school's teaching and administrative staff of 10 needed assistance with support tasks, from insurance to fundraising.

Goodwill has helped with the school's fundraising and marketing in the past, Genter says, but in more of a consultant role. The nonprofit now provides more formal support and management services for the school. Employees in various departments at Goodwill Manasota's corporate office in Bradenton will assist with business operations. School Director Sister Gilchrist Cottrill will continue in her role at the school.

Goodwill Manasota is one of largest Goodwills in the region, and some of its programs have been a model used on a national basis. Genter says Goodwill used to run a charter school more than a decade ago. During that time, she says the organization did well with the employment aspect of the school, but less so the educational piece. The McKay Academy partnership allows them to “combine forces and have the waterfront covered,” she says.

To date, 70 students are enrolled for the upcoming school year. The school can accommodate about 100 students.