After 25 years of educational excellence, the Schultz Center will transition operations to Duval County Public Schools (DCPS) on July 1, 2025.

The Schultz Center’s story began during what Deborah Gianoulis Heald, Schultz President Emeritus, described as “one of the most optimistic and hopeful periods in Jacksonville’s history of public education. Everyone was on the same page of the evidence-based concept that the best way to improve student achievement was to improve the teachers in the classroom.”

Born from Fred Schultz’s vision to create a state-of-the-art facility for Duval County educators, the Schultz Center was established through public-private partnerships, leveraging over $20 million in grants and gifts. Early programs included technology integration and video conferencing across Northeast Florida, with initiatives like the First Coast Scholars and North Florida Regional Career Academy Council.

First Coast Scholars was created by the Schultz Center and area higher education partners—Jacksonville University and the University of North Florida—along with DCPS and provided opportunities for over 200 Duval teachers to participate in the summer learning program to develop lesson plans for colleagues and students. Thirty-nine of the nearly 200 First Coast Scholars were selected for a Summer Learning Experience during a week-long academy at Princeton University funded by local Princeton alumni through nearly $100,000 in scholarships.

The North Florida Regional Career Academy Council, a six-county regional career academy, was the first in the nation and the only Career Academy Council in the country. Its funding partners included the Northeast Florida Regional Chamber of Commerce and Worksource, with more than $106,000 in program investments.  A business externship is established in 2009 to provide teachers with up to 40 hours with a business partner, and in total, 122 Career Academy teachers and 71 regional business partners participated.

In 2007, multi-tiered Leadership Academies were designed, developed, and delivered by Schultz to DCPS. Schultz’s application to the Florida Department of Education for their Aspiring Leadership Academy led to Duval County Public Schools being the only district in the State eligible to grant Ed-Leadership (Level I) certification. In 2012, the Schultz Center Principal Academies won the Outstanding Professional Learning Practices Award from the Florida Association for Staff Development (FASD).

Over the years, the Schultz Center expanded through the Schultz Institute, offering online endorsement courses in Reading, Gifted, and ESOL, early learning resources, and national consulting services. The quality of Schultz’s training offerings resulted in its being awarded accreditation by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET). With that award, Schultz joined less than 600 international accredited providers to offer IACET continuing education units (CEUs). Schultz extended its outreach beyond the city and developed partnerships and specialized training programs impacting educators nationwide.

“When the Schultz Center opened, it served as a beacon of growth, inspiration, and excellence—empowering teachers, shaping leaders, and transforming classrooms throughout Jacksonville,” said Dr. Simmie A. Raiford, the current Executive Director. “The impact it leaves behind will continue to echo in the lives of the educators who experienced the professional learning provided through the center.”

Over the course of its history, Schultz has supported professional learning for teachers in 47 counties throughout the state, supported teachers and leaders in over 620 schools, and trained over 10, 231 teachers. Schultz will live on through the endowment that was created by the generous donations from current and former Schultz Board members and other community members. These funds are being donated to two local non-profits–Read It Forward Jax Coalition, Inc., and the Community Foundation, whose missions align with the Schultz Center and whose work reflects their commitment to public service and the betterment of the lives of people in our community.

Press Contact:
Dr. Simmie Raiford
Executive Director, Schultz Center
[email protected]
schultzcenter.org