AWARDS
& Recognitions
Hometown Hero
EBella Magazine recognized Ettie Zaklos as a “Hometown Hero” for her dedicated response to the community in light of the COVID-19 crisis. The magazine noted that Ettie overhauled POTA’s programs to prioritize the children’s best interests of getting back to in-person learning, all while implementing the highest level of safety guidelines.
Preschool of the Arts has won the Official Community Choice Awards for the 12th year in a row!
It is an honor to be voted “Best” by local Naples parents again and again. We are grateful for the recognition and are so proud of our staff and teachers!
Dear Naples Community,
This incredible journey wouldn't have been possible without our amazing staff, dedicated parents, and most importantly, our wonderful children who fill our days with joy and laughter! Thank you to all our families for voting for us. Your trust and support mean the world to us, and we are committed to providing top-notch care, education, and unforgettable summer experiences for your precious children.
Sincerely,
Ettie Zaklos
Founder & Director
Shine Award
Preschool of the Arts’ director, Ettie Zaklos, is one of the select Florida educators presented with the esteemed Shine Award from Governor Rick Scott. The Shine Award is presented to Florida educators who have impacted the lives of students with exceptional love, care and devotion .
Blue Zones Certified
POTA is proud to be a Blue Zones certified school. Blue Zones is an NCH-sponsored program that recognizes places that support a healthy and environmentally friendly lifestyle. The goal of the Blue Zones designation is to help communities transform people’s lives to be healthier, happier and more connected to one another.
Our preschool strives to foster a positive environment that offers nutritious foods and plenty of opportunity for physical activity. Our state-of-the-art outdoor playground allows children to develop physical strength, coordination and balance. Our professionally landscaped Garden of the Arts and greenhouse offer a comprehensive, natural outdoor space that lets children play an active role in planting our vegetable and sensory garden. In addition to enjoying fresh, nutritious lunches that are prepared on site, our students even pick their own fresh snacks from our Garden of the Arts and enjoy using the herbs and vegetables that they grow to prepare healthy dishes in our Little Chefs program. In yoga, gym, music and more, children have fun as they gain strength, balance, coordination, agility and flexibility while also developing social skills, confidence and self-esteem.
Preschool of the Arts is proud to be the first - and only - preschool in Collier County to be certified green by the Eco-Healthy Child Care (EHCC) program. EHCC is a national program that seeks to improve the environmental health of children by partnering with childcare professionals to eliminate or reduce environmental health hazards found in childcare facilities. We are proud to provide an environment that is safe, healthy and green.