Caring in the classroom starts with teachers
Rebecca van der Bogert
The classroom is where the spark for learning happens for students, and it takes incredible teachers to light that spark.
For all of my professional life, whether as a school superintendent, university faculty member, or head of school, I have found that the key to an excellent school is identifying talented classroom teachers and making sure they were provided with the necessary resources to grow in their profession.
Taking care of teachers who take care of students became a mission and passion. That’s why, after retiring to this area, I found common cause with the Education Foundation of Sarasota County, with its strong commitment to supporting excellence in teaching and learning.
Kari Johnson, a kindergarten teacher at Fruitville Elementary School who described herself as the mom away from home was named the 2020-21 Sarasota County Teacher of the Year Thursday evening in a virtual ceremony hosted by the Education Foundation of Sarasota County.
Johnson will go on to represent the district in the statewide competition in July.
“It s an honor to be a teacher, she said, highlighting that teaching is one career where succeeding means helping others succeed.
Fruitville Principal Steven French said, “I have used her as an example many times” when helping teachers with older students realize that they could raise their expectations. He said he would take other teachers into her classroom, where Johnson s warm demeanor and high expectations serve as a model for others.
The $4,000 grant comes from the Florida Lottery.
By
Staff
12/23/2020 at 4:42pm
The Education Foundation of Sarasota has received a $4,000 grant from the Florida Lottery to encourage eligible students to apply for Bright Futures scholarships to fund their post-secondary education. Through the Lighting the Way to a Bright Future program, the Florida Lottery provides funds to the Consortium of Florida Education Foundation for grants to local education foundations in support of projects that help students prepare for their postsecondary education. The grant specifically aligns with the mission of PLANit Sarasota, a cross-sector group of educators, youth services organizations and funders convened by the Education Foundation and focused on increasing the rate of students, particularly those historically underrepresented in higher education, who pursue an education beyond high school.Â
Sarasota County names Sarasota Teacher of the Year finalists
Four educators were honored
Teachers in Sarasota County have had to reinvent their craft throughout the coronavirus pandemic, figuring out on the fly how to teach in unprecedented circumstances.
On Tuesday, four Sarasota County teachers were surprised when they were revealed as finalists for the district’s elementary, middle and high school Teacher of the Year honors.
The Education Foundation of Sarasota County sponsors the Ignite Education: Teacher of the Year annual recognition in partnership with Sarasota County Schools.
This year’s finalists are:
Kari Johnson, kindergarten teacher, Fruitville Elementary School.