CCE Announces Promotion

Jonathon Ortiz-Smykla (CCE)

(PRESS RELEASE)_​Nov. 11, 2022 (WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.) — The Center for Creative Education is excited to announce that Jonathon Ortiz-Smykla has stepped into a new role as the 28-year-old nonprofit’s Chief Advancement Officer, effective this November.

In the position, Ortiz-Smykla will oversee all philanthropic and community outreach as CCE continues to grow as a local leader in education.

CCE’s mission is to transform teaching and learning through creativity and the arts. In addition to providing extended learning opportunities across Palm Beach County, CCE also operates The Foundations School, a K-5 independent school that focuses on improving literacy and breaking the barriers of traditional education through the arts. The Foundations School gives students from underserved communities an opportunity at a high-quality education and a brighter future by incorporating the arts and creativity into daily learning. The school uses a sliding fee scale based on household size and income, and no one is turned away for inability to pay.  

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​“We started The Foundations School in January 2021, with the goal of combatting the literacy crisis plaguing our communities and using arts-based curriculum to teach academic subjects,” said Robert L. Hamon, President and CEO of CCE. “Jonathon has played a central role in securing funding for our new campus, and his efforts to provide our community with this beautiful new learning setting are having an impact. After our first year, we are already seeing positive literacy results in our students.”

Prior to the promotion, Ortiz-Smykla served as CCE’s Director of Development, providing leadership, direction, and coordination for all fundraising activities to support the organization’s programs.

With over 20 years of experience in design, art, and education, Ortiz-Smykla continues to be instrumental in supporting CCE’s ongoing capital campaign to expand the organization through a brand-new campus in West Palm Beach that houses The Foundations School and is the future site of the Susan and Dom Telesco Arts and Science Center.

“I am honored to continue serving CCE in this new capacity,” he said. “This organization has played a pivotal role in my career and personal values. I look forward to this next chapter as we continue expanding, improving academic success with creativity at The Foundations School, and transforming the lives of Palm Beach County students and families that need it most.”

Ortiz-Smykla began his career at CCE in 2015 as the Gallery and Events Manager, followed by a consistent increase of duties and responsibilities that included Marketing Manager, Director of In-House Operations, and Director of Development.

“I love helping people understand how much the arts can impact communities. Last year, just 33 percent of our third-grade students were reading on or above grade level. By the end of the school year, that number increased to 67 percent through our unique approach to education at The Foundations School. These success stories will only continue to grow as we expand to serve new grades and more students.”

Ortiz-Smykla holds a bachelor’s in environmental design and a master’s in landscape architecture from Auburn University. He is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and holds professional development certificates from Indiana University’s Lilly Family School of Philanthropy.

Prospective students and their families are invited to a complimentary Open House on Nov. 16 and 19 to see The Foundations School at Center for Creative Education’s impact up close. For more information, please visit www.cceflorida.org.