FGCU grad honored for dedication to social work in local schools
- Don Manley
- August 29, 2024
- Alumni
- Contributors: James Greco, Photography
5 – minute read
Helping others is essential to Judes Sétalaire Albert’s character, a quality developed during his youth in a small Haitian commune or township called Petite Rivière de l’Artibonite. There, he was influenced by his mother’s unwavering dedication to assisting their neighbors and community whenever possible.
Her example inspired a passion that ultimately led him to Florida Gulf Coast University, where he earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work in 2014 and 2016, respectively. Today Albert is employed by the School District of Lee County, where his compassion, devotion and expertise led to him being selected as its 2024 School Social Worker of the Year.
The honor celebrates his service to students outside the classroom, which ensures they and their families have the resources necessary for academic success.
At Harns Marsh Middle School in Lehigh Acres, Albert has developed several initiatives to further that cause. Through a partnership with Harry Chapin Food Bank, he created the district’s largest campus food pantry, which serves 150 students, family and staff members each week. He also created the school’s “No Excuses” program, which uses incentives to improve attendance.
“This program has resulted in many of the students who were once failing now becoming students who have earned credits to go to high school and be successful,” said Harns Marsh Principal Alex Dworzanski.
Albert sees his role as linking home, school and community.
“My goal is to make sure that every student gets to school and that they have what they need to be able to do that,” he said.
“For example, if a student doesn’t have the proper nutrition, electricity or running water, those things can prevent the student from attending. So I work with parents, teachers, students, administrators and local organizations to make sure they have what’s needed to be successful. I’m also a member of the school’s mental health team to make sure student needs in that area are met.”
He credits his time at FGCU with providing the inspiration, platform and knowledge that have led him to where he is today.
“I don’t say this enough, but FGCU really helped me become the person that I am today, not only in my personal life, but my professional life,” explained the Lehigh resident. “The social work program really shapes you to become a professional by the guidance, counseling and emotional support they provide you with. Going through the program could be very hard, especially for someone whose primary language isn’t English. But everything was there for me when I needed to go over a paper, or when I need to understand psychology, understand human behavior, all those things. It was a really good, supportive program.”
After emigrating to the U.S. 24 years ago on the cusp of his 20th birthday, Albert began furthering his education, first earning a GED at an Immokalee-based adult education program, Bethune Education Center. Then it was on to what is now Florida SouthWestern State College in Fort Myers. He earned an associate’s degree there, but was unable to settle on a career objective.
That uncertainty was erased once he began classes at FGCU and sought career guidance from an academic adviser. The adviser’s question — “What have you been doing?” — sparked the desired clarity.
He’d been employed in 2002 as an HIV counselor/case manager for Marion E. Feather Medical Center, which is now Healthcare Network of Southwest Florida.
In 2007, he worked for the Florida Department of Health in Collier County as a disease intervention specialist. Sexually transmitted diseases, case management, community outreach and mental health education were his focus. He was involved in a lot of community engagement related to health fairs, domestic violence prevention, substance abuse and HIV counseling and testing clinics.
“After I told her all those things, she said, ‘You’re a social worker,’” recalled Albert. “I didn’t even know what a social worker was. She started telling me more about it and she said, ‘Take this class, take that class and go from there.’ So I signed up for those classes, and I started learning about social work.”
Albert praised several social work professors for providing invaluable mentorship during his time at FGCU and afterward, including the late Belinda Bruster. He also singled out Tom Felke, associate dean for academics and an associate professor in Marieb College of Health & Human Services.
Felke expressed high regard for his former student as a professional and as a person.
“Judes is remarkable,” he said. “He just sees what needs to be done and he does it. I think back to when he was a student. He’s learned to become analytical in his work and to be able to see what the challenges are that students and communities face. He looks at that and says, ‘OK, now I’m going to do something about it.’ Then he takes the next step and he looks at how he can affect that issue. He’s an excellent practitioner, from all accounts. He’s just an all-around, well-rounded individual and a great human being. I don’t think there’s anything more you can ask than that.”