School ended a week ago, and while many students and teachers are beginning to settle into a much-needed break, Sarasota County Schools is preparing to conduct important business during the month of June: the hiring of its next superintendent.

Twenty candidates have applied for this critical leadership position, and finalists will be selected before June 12. The school board identified the qualifications that will distinguish their next superintendent, and through town hall meetings and online surveys, many in the community have shared their preferences.  

For 35 years, the Education Foundation of Sarasota County has been a part of our community, supporting students and teachers. We remain an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization and we have a unique perspective, especially as we’ve witnessed six different leaders serve in the capacity of superintendent in the past seven years, some temporarily and two who were terminated. We’ve seen what has worked and what hasn’t. We’ve also grappled with the remarkable ways in which our world has changed in the past several years alone, exacerbating pervasive challenges to levels previously unseen. 

A constant thread through these last several years has been the inconsistency of leadership in the top position at the district. With the disruptions and changes in our society, the school board and the community must approach this next hiring decision with careful consideration and due diligence. 

Like so many across the nation, our school district faces significant challenges. The lingering effects of the pandemic and Hurricane Ian along with other forces continue to manifest in alarming ways, from an increase in behavioral issues across grade levels to stagnating and declining test scores. Last year, graduation rates at five area high schools dropped. Teachers, citing burnout and low morale, are leaving the profession in droves. 

If you attend or watch any school board meeting, you hear the acrimonious debate that has divided our community. Public comments cover the spectrum, from preservation of schools to reformation of education. People advocate on these issues with passion and concern from many perspectives, some more vitriolic and unhealthy than others.

The recent town hall meetings further illuminate these challenges as new realities in public education have set in, including increased politicization, legislative mandates and broad expansion of school choice that have many cheering or crying. People have deeply emotional experiences as these changes take place. Yet, despite all these differences, one common theme remains: our community cares about our kids.

In the face of so many contrary forces, is it reasonable to expect the next superintendent will be the wonder elixir who can solve all these complex problems? What does it really look like to have a strong visionary leader with the adaptability to create positive change, a tenet prescribed by the current school board, if the challenges require more than technical solutions, and if stakeholders haven’t yet agreed on what the change should be? How can systemic challenges be solved when one solution alone may not provide the best return on investment or have a direct cause-and-effect relationship without addressing multiple connecting factors?

Questions like these highlight the challenges awaiting the next superintendent and underscore the importance of hiring a great leader, one who demonstrates the capacity to think boldly, innovate courageously and harness the collective energy from all vested stakeholders. The superintendent is, after all, the CEO of one of Sarasota County’s largest employers. This person will play a key role in setting the vision that will affect thousands of students, who are the next generation.

The next superintendent must have demonstrable experience in building strong teams and empowering team members to accomplish a greater vision. If the district believes we have an exceptional chief academic officer, then let him lead. That is not to say there shouldn’t be oversight, but the most critical aspects of a superintendent are to set a vision, build morale, develop a high performing team and be accountable to the community through transparency and open dialogue.

While hiring a strong leader who will help guide the district is essential, one person can’t solve all these problems. Public education is at a crossroads, moving from what it has been to what it can be. It remains grounded in democratic principles, and it demands everyone involved in public education ensure each and every student is regarded, valued and supported. 

Solutions will be difficult. Many people throughout our community have or might lose faith. But when I think of the many great minds and amazing organizations and stakeholders across our community, of the exceptional educators in Sarasota County Schools and our own creative capacities to innovate, I remain hopeful we can work together to create a vibrant, adaptive educational ecosystem in which all students can thrive. 

That starts with a community working productively to find common ground and strike a shared vision with all stakeholders. We must unite to create better conditions for the superintendent to succeed. After all, the next generation, those young learners who have just begun to recharge for the upcoming school year, depend upon it.

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

Photo by Tracy Lundgren courtesy PixaBay..

The last bells of the school year are a sound that many people connect with joyful pursuits outfitted with beach trips and backyard barbecues. 

But the reality for many families is that the final day of the school year is a harbinger of challenging times—difficult disruptions to workers’ schedules to provide safe childcare options, an absence of regular nutritious school-provided meals brings on spikes in food insecurity, and weeks without formal instruction causes many of our most vulnerable students to face an academic backslide. All of this makes the demands of summer difficult for many of our community’s families. 

Many students, regardless of their race or family income, experienced pandemic-related learning loss following the Covid pandemic and Hurricane Ian’s disruptions, but students from income-constrained households were disproportionately affected. These last few years have truly been a series of tests for school-aged children and their families, widening existing learning gaps. 

Fortunately, our community has several nonprofit organizations with expertise in youth development. These organizations are crafting innovative programs that meet students where they are to amplify the impact of summer programs and mitigate challenges of the season. 

The Community Foundation of Sarasota County has provided grant support to local nonprofit providers of summer programs for local youth who would benefit from extra help and whose families rely on the safety and support summer programs supply. Through $170,000 in grants, we’re helping these organizations serve nearly 600 of our most vulnerable students attending K-12 public schools. Here’s a look at some of the programs and their unique approaches for empowering young at-risk people.

Girls Incorporated of Sarasota County (Girls Inc.) offers plenty of academic programs, from literacy to STEM, in an all-girl setting that can foster character building in a nurturing environment. This support will provide access through scholarships to ensure that there is no financial barrier for any girl to attend.  Along with supporting the healthy development of girls, all students have access to the Family Strengthening Program, which provides social-emotional group instruction that can be critical for girls and their support systems. Girls Inc. provides healthy meals to children onsite and sends girls home with meals for their families. 

The Great Futures Academy at Boys and Girls Club of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties gives students from low-income houses access to quality instruction led by board-certified teachers. The instructional aspect of the program is designed to offer students a seamless educational experience, with diagnostic learning assessments and appropriate curriculum implemented by teachers. Field trips and other activities—art projects, structured play, and college and career exploration—round out their days. Students receive breakfast, lunch, and snacks daily. 

J5 Experience serves a small cohort of students referred by their regular classroom teacher or family. Small group or one-on-one instruction can support this group of vulnerable students while providing them with a safe space to learn with their peers. 

For many students living in public housing, it’s not just the cost of summer programming but also transportation that provides a barrier to access. The Sarasota Housing Authority’s Youth Thrive Summer Program addresses the challenge by providing onsite youth education and enrichment programs for youth living in public housing, the surrounding Newtown area, and homeless youth. Connected to a network of community partners, such as Suncoast Black Arts Collaborative and The Ringling Museum, the Youth Thrive program offers more than standard academic curriculum. 

In a changing world that is becoming reliant on technology at a breathtaking pace, instruction in the STEAM (Science, Technology, Arts, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields is a vital component of preparing youth for their future. FUNducation, a program that gives access to hands-on STEAM activities, partners with programs that serve underrepresented communities, like Youth Thrive and J5 Experience. To build on their existing summer experience, these students will have a chance to learn about robotics, esports, and other areas of innovation that will extend into the school year.

Investing in our youth is investing in our future, with a high return on investment. Ensuring that all of our community’s children can achieve their potential is a priority we can’t neglect, especially in the wake of events that have severely shaken their educational foundation. How fortunate we are to live in a community of generous people committed to safeguarding our future, and the organizations that can see their commitment to fruition. Today’s children are key to tomorrow’s community strength. 

Roxie Jerde is president and CEO of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County. 

Photo courtesy J5 Experience/Facebook.