The Oakland Park City Commission appointed members of the community to its School Advisory Board on Aug. 4, including two newcomers.
The advisory board is responsible for keeping the commission in the loop with school happenings — especially important now with the pandemic and the ceiling collapse at Rickards Middle School.
The advisory board members are:
Jack Donnelly
A software manager for Nielsen Ratings/Scarborough, Donnelly maintains the mainframe computer systems all over the country, he wrote in his application. He graduated from Boston University with a degree in biology, chemistry and physics. His community involvement includes the Oakland Park Democratic Club, the Oakland Park Volunteer Corps, Kings Point Democratic Club, and Equality Florida. Donnelly was first recommended and appointed by Mayor Jane Bolin in 2020 and again this year.
Coby King
King works as a neighborhood support specialist for the Broward Sheriff’s Office, where he helps deputies form positive relationships with their community.
“I have worked in youth development for over 15 years, empowering young minds for better futures,” he wrote in his application.
He graduated from Florida Southwestern State College with a degree in business and is a part of the Unified Neighborhood Alliance of Central Broward. King was originally appointed to the board by then-Commissioner Tim Lonergan in 2020 and was recommended and reappointed by Vice Mayor Michael Carn.
Lewis Naylor
A broker and owner of Naylor Realty for three decades, Naylor has an Associate’s Degree in agricultural management (SUNY Cobleskill), computer science (Broward College) and accounting (FAU). He has been a memory of the Rotary Club for nine years and said he has been an education and community activity and advocate for more than 25 years. He was appointed by City Manager David Hebert in 2020 and recommended and appointed this year by Commissioner Matthew Sparks.
Sara Nunez
The executive director at the Pace Center for Girls, Nunez also shared on her application that she worked with the YMCA for 17 years and the Girl Scouts for six years.
“I am passionate about the education and development of youth.”
She is a member of the Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce and the Broward Women’s Alliance. Nunez earned her Master’s in psychology from Niagara University in Niagara Falls, New York. She was recommended and appointed by Commissioner Mitch Rosenwald, a professor of social work at Barry University.
Christopher Thomas
Thomas has been a program analyst for the Department of Veterans Affairs for a decade, where he oversees its managerial cost accounting program, performs financial and healthcare analytics, and creates technical tools and reports, according to this application. Thomas has a Master’s in public administration from Arizona State University, where he also earned a Bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. He currently serves as the treasurer/secretary of the Urbana Homeowners Association. He was recommended and appointed by Commissioner Aisha Gordon.
Alternate: Nathan Cherson
The Bank of America Merrill wealth management adviser was originally appointed to the board by then-Commissioner Sara Guevrekian, who resigned from the commission in October 2020. Cherson has a degree in international relations from Tufts University. He is involved in the community as a coach for Northeast Little League, was an Oakland Park soccer coach in 2017, and was appointed to the Broward School District’s Human Relations Council.
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