Less than six weeks from today, the Education Foundation of Sarasota County and Sarasota County Schools will host its annual Teacher of the Year recognition event in a newly revamped format titled Ignite Education. On Wednesday, December 13, 40 nominated finalists representing elementary, middle and high schools will convene at the Westin for a celebratory brunch to salute their individual accomplishments and accolades as professional educators.

The Education Foundation invites our community to join us in this celebration to amplify our appreciation for these teachers who, because of their commitment, passion and expertise, help ignite a love for learning in our youth. Ignite Education allows the community to highlight the nearly 2,500 educators in Sarasota County whose incredible value directly correlates to the success of our students and schools.

Sarasota County Schools is one of only two districts in the state of Florida that has achieved an A-rating for 14 years in a row. The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the National School Boards Association have recognized the district for outstanding arts education, Pine View School was recently recognized as the top Florida High School by US News & World Report, Booker High School Principal Dr. Rachel Shelley was crowned this year’s Florida Principal of the Year, and 39 Sarasota County Schools recently received Golden School Awards by the Florida Department of Education, two of which have been Five Star Schools since the award began in 1994: Bay Haven School of Basics Plus and Venice Elementary School. The list of accomplishments is applaudable.

The Education Foundation will also present the inaugural Alumni of Distinction award during the Ignite Education celebration, honoring an alumnus of Sarasota County Schools. Nominations are now open at http://tinyurl.com/ignitealumni and we encourage you to submit the nomination of a graduate who is deserving of this honor. All alumni nominated will be recognized and will provide additional affirmation of the indelible imprint teachers make. We will uncover powerful stories of teachers who went beyond the textbook and connected in amazing ways with these accomplished men and women during their school years. Sarasota County has produced many accomplished graduates and on this day, we will tip our hats to the teachers who made the early investments in these students.

The challenges of being a teacher today are immense, yet the rewards of impacting students and changing lives is priceless. On December 13, the Education Foundation, together with your support, will shower these well-deserving teachers with deep gratitude from our alumni, district leaders, donors and community. By uniting and celebrating together, we can return the very love they sparked in students and powerfully validate the difference they are making each day.

Jennifer Vigne is president of the Education Foundation of Sarasota County. 

“Billionaire Bacon with brioche french toast. Need I say more?” MADE stole the hearts (and appetites) of our readers as 2017’s Best Local Brunch. Vote for your favorite spot to brunch in the 2018 Best of SRQ Local Competition below. 

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The Jewish Housing Council Foundation's 7th Annual Keep the Dream Alive event will be held for the first time on the Aviva Campus (1951 N. Honore Ave., Sarasota) on November 13 at 7pm and feature a bountiful dessert extravaganza by Chef Paul Mattison and his crew. Benefitting the Jewish Housing Council Foundation's Benevolent Care Program, Keep the Dream Alive will allow JHCF to continue honoring the founders’ dream of assuring that qualified residents can age in place, even if they have exhausted their financial resources. Last year’s Keep The Dream Alive drew both a record crowd and earned record revenues, and this year promises to be even better. Tickets for Keep The Dream Alive are $150 per person and can be purchased by contacting the JHCF at (941) 203-6237 or by emailing Director of Development Johnette Cappadona at jcappadona@jewishhcf.org 

Jewish Housing Council Foundation

CareerEdge Funders Collaborative has completed another “express” training course with the graduation of 16 individuals in Manatee Technical College’s pilot program in Plumbing and Electrical service. CareerEdge partnered with Manatee Technical College on the Plumbing and Electrician programs by helping to recruit individuals, providing funding for the courses and offering a soft skills training for the students.  Graduates of the 3-month program receive certifications in the following industry-recognized credentials: NCCER, CPR, Forklift and OSHA. Starting wages for these entry-level plumbing and electrical technician positions are approximately $15 per hour, with average wages between $40,000 and $50,000.  At the end of the program, CareerEdge organized a job fair with 10 local employers participating in the recruitment of the students. 

CareerEdge

Artist and sculptor Reuben Margolin joins the list of speakers to make an appearing at the annual PINC conference on December 7. In 1999, he became obsessed with the movement of a little green caterpillar. It was an unexpected start to an interesting journey, as he set out to make wave-like sculptures. Known for his kinetic sculptures of waveforms, some of his sculptures are hand-cranked and small, while others are large and mechanical, often suspended from the ceiling. One thing they all have in common regardless of size or shape is that they all leave an impression on the viewer; come listen to him onstage at the Sarasota Opera House! 

PINC

As one of the nation’s top 10 Head Start programs, Children First knows that reading to children from an early age matters and has a huge impact on future success. Interaction with professionals from the larger community, especially the law enforcement who serve their communities every day, also makes a difference. This past October was National Head Start Awareness Month, and as part of the Books Building Bridges initiative, Head Start programs across the nation partnerd with local police departments to ensure that reading and understanding each other are a part of their everyday lives. The Sarasota Police Department joined Children First in this effort and on October 30, officers read books to children in Head Start classrooms. 

Children First

In advance of Veterans Day, Goodwill Manasota’s Veterans Services Program will host a Breakfast and Open House on Friday, November 10, from 8:30-10:30am at the Veterans Services Program office (8490 Lockwood Ridge Rd., Sarasota). Guests will have the opportunity to learn about the programs and services Goodwill offers for the benefit of area veterans. There will be a live broadcast by 92.1 CTQ radio personalities Maverick and Lulu, who are both Goodwill Ambassadors. Additionally, Veterans Services Program director C.J. Bannister will make a guest appearance as “Rosie the Riveter.” Event sponsor is Brown & Brown of Sarasota. Launched in 2013, Goodwill Manasota’s Veterans Services Program was created to help eliminate barriers to employment, provide opportunities for higher-paying positions for veterans and their families, and connect veterans with needed social services. Free and open the public but RSVP requested: (941) 355-2721, ext. 165. 

Goodwill Manasota

The Orioles and the Mayors’ Feed the Hungry Program are teaming up again this year to collect and distribute food to help people in need in Sarasota. The Orioles will collect non-perishable food items at Ed Smith Stadium beginning on Monday, November 6, and will host the charity’s Thanksgiving Sorting Day at the ballpark on Friday, November 17. Non-perishable food items may be dropped off at Ed Smith Stadium, located at 2700 12th Street, on weekdays from 9:00am to 5:00pm. The collection station is located inside Café 54 on Euclid Avenue. Additionally, volunteers are needed to sort food collected from locations throughout the community on Friday, November 17. Sorting will take place in the ballpark’s East Lot between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm. Volunteers do not need to sign up in advance. 

Baltimore Orioles