PEER Parents

I have worked in the field of education and have lived in Collier County since 2005. I have two elementary school children in CCPS and a culturally diverse family. I am the Department Chair of Education at Ave Maria University. With a professional background in educational leadership and special education, I have also navigated school and community resources for special services and accommodations as a parent. I hold a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education with a minor in Special Education from Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania, a master’s degree in educational leadership from Florida Gulf Coast University, and a Doctorate degree in School Administration from the University of Florida. I am a volunteer with the American Special Hockey Association, the Tim Tebow Foundation’s Night to Shine, CCPS, and The Shelter for Abused Women & Children. If you think I could be of assistance to you and your family, please reach out to me!

I am a mom of four boys enrolled in CCPS with different exceptionalities ranging from Autism, Gifted & Speech Impairment. I signed up to become a PEER parent for Lely Elementary and surrounding south Naples elementary schools because I remember feeling completely overwhelmed, underinformed, frustrated and invisible when my children were in elementary school. It was an explosive learning curve just to wrap my head around the diagnosis itself and simultaneously learn about all the services and supports my boys need with no one else beside me to help. My head started to spin a whole lot less when I found other parents to learn from. Parents just like me shared information they learned from their own experiences. Those moments of meaningful connection radically changed the whole family's quality of life, in and out of the classroom. I would like to pay that forward. If you have an exceptional elementary aged student in Lely Elementary and surrounding schools and would like to talk to another parent to help  offer resource information and support. Reach out and let’s collaborate together. 

I was born and raised in Naples, Florida. I graduated from Barron Collier High School and returned after acquiring a master’s in education from the University of Florida. My husband of 25 years, also a CCPS Graduate, and I have two young sons. 

Both of our sons have their individual needs. Our 10-year-old son deals with Anxiety and has ADHD with extreme impulsiveness. This has affected his behavior everywhere, especially in school along with his ability to learn. Our 8-year-old son was born with Myelomeningocele Spina Bifida, the most severe form. He has hydrocephalus (no shunt), neurogenic bladder and bowels (nightly enemas & wears pull-ups), Chiari II Malformation, paralysis from the knees to feet, and has severe hip dysphasia. He is wheelchair bound and unable to stand. He has had 10 surgeries with more to come. Most of his care is in the hands of doctors from Nicklaus Children’s Hospital in Miami, Florida. We used Early Steps until the age of 3 when he transitioned into Collier County Public Schools. He has also had private therapy since he was born.

I am familiar with most areas of town, as I have lived here all my life, however I am most familiar with the North Naples area along with the East Trail area near Collier Blvd. I only speak English but am willing to use a device and/or interpreter to communicate. 

Cynthia Sharpe is the proud parent of Jack who is in 7th grade attending North Naples Middle School. He was born with Down syndrome and had open heart surgery at five months. At age six, he was diagnosed with Apraxia. 

Cynthia was enthusiastic to become a CCPS PEER parent so that she could pay it forward and assist families expediting their learning process letting each family know they are supported.

Cynthia lives with her family, and their dog Marshmallow, in East Naples. When she is not busy either advocating for Jack or working as a Biofeedback specialist, Cynthia and her husband Doug feature Jack on their show SharpeLivin on Sundays. SharpeLivin is a media extension of the non-profit Additional Needs Inc., which her husband Doug developed as a national one-stop resource website for individuals with additional needs and their caregivers.

I have lived in Collier County for the last 23 years and raised four kids with my husband, Tim.  My kids have gone to both public and private schools along the way.  For the last 15 years, I have worked as a special education teacher in both elementary and middle school for CCPS. I work with kids who have learning disabilities in the general education classroom, advocate for their accommodations, and write IEPs. Before that, I was lucky enough to stay at home with my kids and volunteer at their schools. My youngest child, Jack, is now twenty-one, and is currently in the transition program (life skills and job coaching) at Naples High School. He has Autism, along with other co-morbidities. It has been a long journey navigating his path in both his education and direction in life. We recently have been through the legal system with regards to guardianship and conservatorship as well as SSI benefits. Jack is involved in activities and organizations outside of school and I have learned a lot from other parents along the way. I volunteered as a Peer Parent because I, myself, wear two hats as a teacher in ESE and as a parent. I understand both perspectives. I also have had to become knowledgeable about after high school life with a special needs child. There have been so many wonderful moms in my life that have helped me along the way, and I hope to “pay it forward”.  Please contact me if you have any questions about CCPS, local private schools, and “next step” information.