It takes a Village: Community Partners Support Student Success at Estero High

By D. K. Christi / Photos by Elite MVP Media

 

The holiday season is known for gifts that surprise and delight. At Estero High School, under the leadership of Principal Jennifer Seluk, one of the most meaningful gifts has come wrapped in community spirit: a growing network of partnerships between students, businesses and the greater Estero community.

“Ms. Seluk has completely transformed how Estero High connects with the community,” said teacher Kea McElfresh. “Under her leadership, Estero has become a place where students don’t just learn about careers — they live them.”

Students get real-world experiences to prepare them for life beyond high school, thanks to partnerships Seluk has developed with local business and organizations including My Shower Door, Bonita Video and the Center for the Arts Bonita Springs, just to name a few. These relationships have strengthened the bond between Estero High School and the community.

Now in her second year as principal, Seluk continues to build momentum. She has united staff, parents and local businesses around a shared vision that has evolved through nearly two decades of her service to Estero High, including 11 years as assistant principal.

“Principal Seluk has worked tirelessly to make everything happen for the new Career and Technical Education (CTE) Department at Estero High School,” said McElfresh. “She’s written grants and has enabled this department to be built from the ground up. She doesn’t just talk about career and technical education; she builds the bridges that make it possible.”

My Shower Door owners Bill and Donna Daubmann are proud to be the first sponsors of the CTE portion of the campus. “We chose to name the entrepreneurship room that is taught by Kevin Schell,” said Bill Daubmann. “It’s important to support these students and help get their careers off to an amazing start.”

Teachers and administrators describe these partnerships as far more than donations or career-day visits. Local partners provide funding, mentorship and on-site experiences that take learning beyond the classroom. Businesses also sponsor individual classrooms, each recognized by a plaque at the door.

Through a dual-enrollment partnership with Florida Gulf Coast University, students can take entrepreneurship courses at the college level and earn up to six free credits toward a bachelor’s degree before high school graduation. The experience bridges classroom learning with practical, real-world applications that can shape future careers.

Seluk radiates optimism and sees Estero High as a community hub where learning and opportunity intersect. One of the first practical applications of that vision is found in the sports field shared by Estero High School and the community.

“I am a proud product of Lee County schools,” she said. “I have four children at Estero High and share the hopes and dreams of our parents and community members. I’m a proud mom and a proud principal. There’s something to be said for loving to go to school.”

That sense of joy, she said, is what she wants for each of the school’s roughly 1,600 students.

“I was lucky to spend years teaching before becoming principal, which gave me time to reflect on what Estero needed to be the best in Florida,” Seluk said.

“I realized the community piece was missing,” she said. “Every child needs a chance for success. Success isn’t defined only by a college degree. We have strong college-prep and advanced student programs, but we’re also building new bridges for those heading directly into the workforce. Some students choose both paths.”

The Estero Entrepreneurship Academy, known as EEA, serves as one of those bridges that link students with local industries and trades. It provides internship experiences that may be paid, field trips, and community-based learning supported by classroom sponsors. Even small gestures, such as sponsor-funded classroom T-shirts, create a sense of unity and pride.

Business support comes in many forms. Cliff Brand, branch manager of Lake Michigan Credit Union, recently treated Estero’s cheerleaders to dinner at a football game to ensure they received the same recognition as players.

“I’m nearing 50 and thinking about the footprint I’ll leave on my community,” Brand said. “I’d encourage other businesspeople to do the same. The personal and professional gains are priceless.”

Kevin Schell, who teaches entrepreneurship and directs the EEA, said Seluk’s energy lured him from another school.

“After 37 years in one school, the excitement of this program was enough to move me,” he said. “The opportunities students have through these partnerships are amazing, just like Jennifer’s leadership that puts career choice and community involvement at the top of her list.”

Seluk credits her team of assistant principals, administrators and teachers for turning vision into action.

“I’m fortunate to have colleagues who make change and innovation feel normal,” she said. “Our parents, many of whom are small business owners and tradespeople, share that vision at home, school and work.”

Timothy Dougherty, assistant principal for curriculum, helps integrate that vision into students’ four-year academic plans, balancing graduation requirements with individual goals. At least 10 new related courses have been added to student course selections. A team of counselors meet the challenges innovation introduces.

The goal is for every student to visualize success after graduation.

“Bill Daubmann provides experiences at his My Shower Door manufacturing facilities where robotics and AI extend what’s taught in high school classrooms to the future,” Dougherty said as an example.

EEA events have included behind-the-scenes looks at careers with the Miami Dolphins and the Florida Everblades, introducing students to the business side of sports along with meeting the pros.

Local business leaders who have joined the effort include Dani Beach, marketing officer at NeoGenomics, who hosts symposia to empower young women in entrepreneurship. Marketing professional Teri Hansen, finance expert Alfie Tounjian, local real estate professionals and others share their expertise in sales, marketing, accounting and management to give students hands-on experiences relevant to today’s workplace.

Nearly 50 business partners contribute to the momentum and more join each day.

Student teams now design and market their own products. Manufacturing, digital promotion, accounting and sales guidance come from both Estero instructors and business partners. Videography and storytelling related to their products is also on the educational agenda.

Kaitlyn Mancini, a busy senior looking forward to following graduation with law school, is enrolled in the Entrepreneurship program at Estero High School and will be receiving six college credits when she graduates. She praised the EEA program for the engagement with other students in a program where she’s learning from the bottom up how to build her own business.

“Another student in the program has already started her own makeup brand,” Mancini said. “We are learning early the importance of branding and knowing who we are in order to succeed in life. I’m learning valuable life skills in addition to business skills.”

Estero’s partnerships with FGCU include Entrepreneurship and Teaching Academies, dual-enrollment programs and $1,000 scholarships for eligible students.

“Our goal is for every student to find their passion for learning and classes that prepare them to pursue their hopes and dreams,” Dougherty said. “Knowing our students better than ever helps us make sure they don’t miss out on opportunities to love going to school.”

Teachers and administrators alike say this focus on career-connected learning has already lifted attendance, engagement and academic performance, and they fully expect the school to ascend from a “B” to an “A” in the Florida Department of Education ratings.

According to Schell, something innovative is happening every week. Keeping the community informed led to another exciting venture: the “Estero Wildcast” podcast, released every 15 days to highlight what’s new and exciting and to recognize students and business partners of the month. The premier Wildcast podcasts were taped November 13 and will be ready for broadcast mid-December. Watch for the announcements at est.leeschools.net and youtube.com/@EsteroHSWildcast.

For Seluk, the measure of success is much deeper than grades. It’s found in the growing number of Estero students and community members who are thinking collaboratively about their futures and the footprints they’ll leave — and how they can help make the world a better place together.