The Children’s Trust of Alachua County (CTAC) board announced Kristy Goldwire as acting executive director on Tuesday, a role she will fill until the selection of a permanent leader.
“We have faith in Kristy to lead the Trust and to be laser-focused on our upcoming summer programs and to lead the Trust in greater engagement with the community,” Dr. Maggie Labarta, the board chair, said in a statement.
CTAC hired Goldwire, a High Springs native, as the director of program operations in November 2020. In that role, she has provided programs for the children of Alachua County, including summer programs that benefited over 1,000 children.
According to the CTAC release, Goldwire prepares and administers the annual funding contract management, fund distribution, program monitoring, and evaluation. She personally visits program sites and engages firsthand with kids and the providers. Goldwire directs the implementation of the Children’s Trust’s strategic funding plan and manages the Pritzker Children’s Initiative, coordinating with other systems leaders, including the Early Learning Coalition of Alachua County, Well Florida-Healthy Start Coalition and other early childcare providers.
Before joining CTAC, Goldwire worked for the Partnership for Strong Families in contract management where she managed and oversaw operations of the SWAG Family Resource Center.
Goldwire is the former executive director for Capital Area Healthy Start Coalition (CAHSC) in Tallahassee, where she was responsible for the day-to-day administration, staff, programs, sustainability, and execution of the coalition’s mission. Goldwire worked with the CAHSC for 11 years and has over 13 years of maternal child health experience.
Goldwire earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work and social work administration at Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University.
Earlier this month the board fired executive director Colin Murphy following an investigation into his treatment of employees. The Gainesville Sun reported that a complaint from Goldwire sparked the investigation into Murphy.
Alachua County residents voted to create the Children’s Trust in 2018 to provide children’s services in the county. It has a roughly $8 million budget, which is supported by taxpayers.