Shlucha Honored by Florida Governor

Mrs. Ettie Zaklos, Chabad emissary to Naples and founder of a Hebrew school in Collier County, Florida, was one of six educators in the state honored Tuesday at a Florida Cabinet meeting with a Shine Award presented by Gov. Rick Scott.

The Shine Award goes to Floridians who have positively affected children through education.

Honored on Tuesday was Ettie Zaklos, founder and director of the Chabad Naples Hebrew School and the Naples Preschool of the Arts. She oversees content, curricula and both educational and social programs for the Chabad.

The governor’s office and Chabad officials said in prepared statements that she’s built the school up from just her own two children in 2011 to an enrollment of more than 90 students for the coming school year.

“Education is critical to providing opportunities for Florida’s future generations,” Scott, a Naples Republican, said in a prepared statement. “That’s why it’s so important that we recognize the contributions of educators who are building a Florida that provides limitless opportunities for our children.”

Chabad officials said that for nine years she’s been director of the Hebrew School and the Summer of the Arts programs, which this year served more than 130 children.

She is a member of the Chabad Early Childhood Education Network, holds a director’s credential from the Florida Department of Children and Families, and has child development association credentials in early childhood.

Three of the six educators honored by Scott and the Cabinet are from the Tampa Bay area; two others are from Sarasota County.