Fernandina Faces

Robin Lentz

BY DICKIE ANDERSON PHOTO BY STEVE LEIMBERG, UNSEENIMAGES.COM

Robin Lentz, Executive Director of Take Stock in Children, brings a unique package of talents to her job. Her education and career track have been focused on helping children succeed. She is thankful that her skills and talents are bringing opportunities to the children of Amelia Island and Nassau County.

Lentz and her family first moved to the area while her husband was stationed at Kings Bay, Georgia. Her focus after college was on sports journalism. When she found that there were few opportunities in the Jacksonville area, she looked to her next love: teaching children. She taught in Nassau County schools while she pursued her master’s degree in counseling.

Her family loves to travel and they love sports. Robin and her husband are avid runners and have visited every state, including Hawaii, where they completed marathons. The trips were treasured family experiences. Professional baseball is another passion. The family has visited 24 Major League Baseball stadiums and plan to visit the remaining six, including Yankees, Mets, and Red Sox. Her favorite team? The Atlanta Braves!

In her position as middle school student counselor for 12 years, she helped students find the help they needed to succeed. She encouraged them to participate in successful programs like Take Stock in Children, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Nassau County, and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Nassau County. The programs coordinate their different services to offer students the best chance to succeed. Many participate in more than one program. She saw the difference the programs made in the lives of her students.

A woman of action, Lenz took her turn participating in city politics. Her concern about the missing representation of her generation in city government resulted in a three-year stint as City Commissioner. Her motivation was her concern about the condition of the city public library. She was determined to ensure that the library renovation would be supported and completed. Support for a new library was controversial and contentious. She was an effective advocate, and eventually the City Commission committed the funds for the renovation and expansion. It is now a thriving center of community activity.

In the fall of 2018, Take Stock in Children was looking for a new Executive Director. The organization was established in 1995 as a non-profit organization in Florida providing one-on-one support through volunteer mentors, professional college success services, and the opportunity to earn a college scholarship. Lentz felt it was the right time for her. The organization has recently relocated from its original home at Florida State College at Jacksonville to a suite of offices in the Peck Center.

Currently, the program has 163 students and 140 mentors. Mentors are as enthusiastic about the program as are the students. Mentors are quick to share that they are the ones enriched by their relationships with their students. Students in the program sign performance contracts agreeing to maintain good grades, exhibit positive behavior, and remain drug- and crime-free. If all program requirements are met, students are eligible to receive a college tuition scholarship when they graduate high school. Last year, 32 students received scholarships.

Lentz’s enthusiasm for her job is evident. “I truly believe that all my life experiences have led me to my position with Take Stock in Children,” she shares. Her enthusiasm is contagious. She is eager to recruit even more students and mentors.