Shimene Shepard was promoted to executive director of FUTURES Foundation for Volusia County Schools, effective July 1 upon the retirement of Cynthia Perrick Ramirez, the organization announced recently.
Shepard, a Port Orange resident, has served as FUTURES Foundation’s Take Stock in Children (TSIC) program coordinator since September 2016. In that role, she has achieved Luminary and Gold status for the Volusia TSIC program during the past four years. The Luminary Award recognizes the achievement of 100 percent on all metrics within the statewide TSIC program’s requirements, the foundation said.
An undergraduate of the University of Northern Iowa, Shepard received her Juris Doctorate from Florida Coastal School of Law in 2006. She has received awards for her pro bono service within the community, and has been an active member of the Junior League of Daytona Beach since 2010.
Ramirez served as executive director for the past eight years and volunteered on the board of directors from 2000 to 2014. She was president of the board 2005-06, the foundation noted.
FUTURES Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1985 to support Volusia County Schools. Its mission is to engage business and civic leaders to promote and achieve educational excellence for Volusia County public schools.
The foundation’s 32-member board of directors consists of local business and civic leaders who direct and raise funds to facilitate a variety of programs in the school district. In addition to the Volusia TSIC program, which offers scholarships, mentors, and hope to at-risk, low-income high-school students, the foundation funds teacher classroom mini-grants and facilitates a variety of recognition programs for teachers, students and staff.
For more information about FUTURES Foundation, please visit its website at www.FuturesVolusia.org or contact Shepard at 386-255-6475, ext. 50724, or sashepa1@volusia.K12.FL.US.
