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MYCP Seeks New Director

Contact MYCP about the Position

KEY WEST (674 words) - From the first day on campus at Marathon High School as the assistant principal in 2000, Sunny Booker became a volunteer for the movement that would later become the Monroe Youth Challenge Program (MYCP). “My first day I met Judy Greenman and worked together with her on the first Challenge Days in the Keys,” Booker said. For the last five years, while Booker has simultaneously been working as the school district’s Safe and Healthy Schools Coordinator, she has served as the volunteer director of MYCP. With her goal met of sustaining the program, she now plans to resign as its volunteer director. MYCP seeks new leadership.

“Judy was the founder and trusted me with her ‘baby.’ Now it’s time it moved on to a paid position so it can grow again to the next level,” Booker says.

MYCP Founder Judy Greenman, who continues to volunteer with the organization adds, “I appreciate that our Superintendant would like Sunny to dedicate her attention to some new projects for our school district because anything she touches, turns to gold. Sunny's commitment to excellence and her passion to help our kids is evident in the multitude of MYCP programs she runs year round on her volunteer time.”

In 10 years Monroe Youth Challenge Program has grown from a grass-roots parent-driven program at Marathon High School that brought in a one-day event, Challenge Day. Now it is county-wide and serves more than 8,000 youth and adults annually over all 12 months. A majority of the activities planned are created by youth.

MYCP sponsors programs to develop youth as leaders and empower adults to help raise safe and healthy youth through programs such as: Parent to Parent classes; splash events school-wide or to large audiences at prevention assemblies; crime and substance abuse/violence-prevention classes; life skills and Developmental Asset® classes; MYCP signature programs like Challenge Days, 8th-Grade Transition Programs (8TP); service learning and community service projects; experiential trips such as the Holocaust Museum and Student Awareness Day; Be the Change Playgroups for parents and babies; as well as the global action movement with PEACEJAM.

Booker is committed to help with the transition of MYCP’s leadership, which is expected to take four to six months. Her next personal goal is to continue her advanced education. Booker has a bachelor’s degree with a double major in English and theater arts with a minor in education from Nazareth College in Rochester, NY. Her master’s degree in educational leadership was earned at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Va. She also studied at the University of London.

Dr. Burke announces, “Monroe County School District will be asking Ms. Booker to take on new and significant duties which will directly impact our students. MYCP programs will be transitioned to a new leader who can devote the time necessary for continued success.”

MYCP seeks a new director available 70 hours a month. Responsibilities include: grant writing, reimbursements, and reporting; clerical duties and billing; plan and attend district-wide events; oversee publications and website; attend board meetings; and manage staff and volunteers.

“I wouldn’t leave MYCP unless everything was going right. The team members and scores of volunteers are experienced and strong enough to handle a transition and even expand under a paid leader’s direction. Doing this work has been one of the highlights of my life,” Booker said.

A committee of dedicated volunteers and MYCP team members plan to select the next leader. Anyone interested in the position as MYCP Director, may contact MCEF Board Member Katrina Wiatt at (305) 743-3684

Monroe Youth Challenge Program is a project of the Monroe County Education Foundation to build Developmental Assets® and create opportunities so every child in Monroe County can feel safe, loved, and celebrated. For more information visit http://mycp.keysschools.com/.