The Sarasota Paradise, the newest soccer team to touch down on the Gulf Coast, have just moved into first place in their division after beating Weston FC 3-0 this past Sunday. The Paradise, a member of the pre-professional United Soccer League 2 (USL2), leapfrogged Miami AC to take the lead in the six-team South Florida division with their victory. With just four regular season games remaining, the Paradise are fighting for their first ever postseason berth. Winning their division would make that goal a reality.

At 5-1-2, the upstart Paradise have already tied their win total from their inaugural 2023 season. They’ve managed to do so through a balanced attack, strong defense and good chemistry in the locker room. “We’ve had a lot of returning players as well as a lot of new players. Everybody’s quickly gelled together, everybody’s gotten along well,” says Captain Felipe Rojas. “We have a very healthy relationship amongst the squad and coaching staff. So the vibes are very good– obviously, the team winning helps that. Everyone’s feeling really optimistic about not only the future of the rest of the season but of the club as well.”

The Paradise’s explosive offense is led by striker Seth Mahlmeister, a standout from Purdue Fort Wayne University who signed with the club this spring. Mahlmeister, who scored two goals in Sunday’s victory, leads the Paradise with eight goals on the season and has paved the way for the team’s turnaround in 2024. Last season the Paradise were held scoreless in five different contests–this year, however, the Paradise have been shut out just once. The Paradise play their next game at home this Saturday against St. Petersburg FC. 

Pictured: Sarasota Paradise striker Kai Tamashiro during Sunday's match against Weston FC. Photo courtesy of Sarasota Paradise.

Making a difference is no small feat but Carrie Koontz, a second-grade teacher at Taylor Ranch Elementary, reminds her students every year that it only takes one positive action to make a difference in someone’s life.

The Ripple Effect Teacher Award was created by the Barancik Foundation to celebrate the passionate and innovative Sarasota County public school teachers for their dedication to helping their students, peers and the community grow in different areas. Carrie Koontz begins every school year by telling her students the story about the kid and the starfish: “As a kid and a man are walking along the beach, the man notices the kid picking up starfish and throwing them back into the water. The guy tells the kid, ‘There are starfish everywhere, it’s not going to make a difference. You can’t save them all.’ The kid picks up another one, throws it back into the water, and responds, ‘It made a difference to that one’.” That small act of kindness is at the heart of Koontz’s teaching. Her dedication to fostering a nurturing, engaging and community-oriented learning environment has enriched her students' academic lives and instilled in them a sense of social responsibility and compassion.

In her classroom, Koontz emphasizes character education alongside academic learning. Each day, she introduces a "friendship quality" like amiable, charitable, or generous, which serves as both a vocabulary lesson and a discussion point for personal development. But it doesn’t stop there. “We do a fundraiser every year for Southeastern Guide Dogs. Our whole school comes together and we fundraise enough money to sponsor a puppy. The kids get to name the puppy and then they get to meet the puppy” says Koontz. These practices encourage students to embody these qualities in their interactions, fostering a positive and thoughtful attitude everywhere they go. Koontz's approach to education is holistic, focusing on academic achievement and developing students into kind, thoughtful, and community-minded individuals.

Outside the classroom, Koontz’s creative spirit is hard at work finding innovative ways to continue the learning process. She wrote and published a children’s book called Scooter and the Muttering Monster. “The book teaches kids how to overcome negative thoughts. Each counselor in Sarasota County has a copy that they can use” Koontz explains. Her dedication to extending education beyond the classroom ensures that her positive influence reaches even more children and supports their emotional well-being. One of the many anecdotes that highlight Koontz's impact is the story of a student who, inspired by the K Kids Club's ethos, set up a lemonade stand to raise money for sea turtles. This initiative, though small, exemplifies the ripple effect of Koontz's teachings on environmental stewardship and community service. It embodies the philosophy behind the starfish story she shares with her students, illustrating how even small actions can make a significant difference.

Carrie Koontz's recognition with the Ripple Effect Teacher Award is a testament to her unwavering dedication to her students and her community. Her innovative programs, mentorship, and emphasis on character education have created a lasting impact, making her a true exemplar of the positive influence teachers can have. Koontz's ability to inspire, engage, and nurture her students ensures that her legacy will continue to ripple through the lives she has touched. 

Pictured: Ripple Effect Teacher Award winner Carrie Koontz (back center) is surrounded by Taylor Ranch Elementary School students. Photo courtesy of Barancik Foundation.

 The Princeton Review® has recognized New College of Florida as one of America's Best Value Colleges for 2024. In their newly released rankings, New College ranked 20th among all public colleges nationwide — following a list comprised entirely of large universities — and first among small public liberal arts colleges. New College, one of the nation's best colleges for students seeking a rigorous education with excellent career preparation, highlights the powerful return on investment that Florida’s reasonable public university tuition makes possible. The education services company named New College of Florida as one of its Best Value Colleges for 2024 on June 20. Topics covered everything from academics, cost, and financial aid to graduation rates, and student debt. New College rated third among public universities for financial aid.The full list of The Princeton Review’s Best Value Colleges for 2024 and the project’s seven categories of ranking lists, as well as the company’s profiles of the schools, is accessible at https://www.princetonreview.com/college-rankings/best-value-colleges/. The company also factored in data from its surveys of students attending the schools as well as data from PayScale.com’s surveys of alumni of the schools about their starting and mid-career salaries and job satisfaction. In all, The Princeton Review crunched more than 40 data points to tally ROI ratings of the colleges that were the bases for the Best Value Colleges school selections, giving New College an ROI rating score of 91/99. In its profile of New College, the company’s editors praise the school for its rigorous academics and quoted from several students they surveyed who described the importance of narrative evaluations and senior theses to the academic fabric of the College. 

Graduation is one of Dr. Karen Peck’s proudest moments of the year. As the head of school of State College of Florida Collegiate School-Venice located in Wellen Park, she attends two ceremonies– one conferring high school diplomas to her graduating seniors, the other presenting college associate in arts degrees to 97% of those same graduates. To Dr. Peck, graduation symbolizes four years of hard work, sheer determination and perseverance each graduate has achieved to walk the stage, completing the demanding high school dual enrollment program where students earn a high school diploma while also earning an associate in arts degree from State College of Florida. Not only does the degree count toward college credits, but it also qualifies students for tuition-free scholarships at New College of Florida and Florida Gulf Coast University. The Collegiate School has been blazing its own trail since welcoming the first students in 2019. Student scores in math, civics, reading and science outdistance those of their peers in the Sarasota County district and in Florida. This year 89% of the Collegiate School’s students passed the Florida Assessment of Student Thinking exam in geometry, compared to 64% in the district and 51% statewide. The school has scored A’s on Florida’s annual report card since 2022. A free public charter school, SCFCS Venice draws students from Venice, North Port and Englewood. Many also live close to campus and walk or bike to school from Wellen Park. The school’s growing popularity is reflected by a steady rise in applications (available online at scfcs.scf.edu/venice). “This year we have the most applications we’ve ever had,” said Dr. Peck. With a capacity of 100 students in each grade and a present-day student enrollment of 317, seats are assigned by an open lottery from January through March. There’s currently a record 40-student waiting list for August’s incoming freshman class. The school has openings in 10th and 11th grades for the 2024-2025 school year; juniors must have an unweighted 3.0 grade point average and pass the Post-secondary Education Readiness Test. Students work to meet academic criteria for full-time dual enrollment in 11th and 12th grades. Completing high school graduation requirements early gives seniors flexibility to explore electives and complete computer and other certifications, making them eligible for good jobs right out of high school. Popular electives include computer classes, theater and music appreciation, astronomy and marine biology. The school also offers canoeing and backpacking electives. To date, 120 students have graduated from SCFCS Venice since 2021; 114 with associate degrees. And 98% attend a four-year college, mostly in-state schools. Statewide, only 65% of Florida’s high school graduates opt for postsecondary education. Dr. Peck said members of this year’s class plan to pursue bachelor’s degrees in business, engineering, advertising, marketing, theater – “the whole gamut.” As for graduation, Dr. Peck’s favorite activity of the year, it’s a time to acknowledge the successes of every student, some who required occasional pep talks, encouragement and handholding. Additional schools throughout Wellen Park cater to the educational needs of area students. College Preparatory Academy, a tuition-free K-8 charter school, welcomed its first students in 2023. Prodigy Early Learning, a preschool for 200 children, expects to open this fall. Sarasota County Schools is building a new high school and K-8 school in Wellen Park. Children in Wellen Park are also eligible to attend Sarasota Schools’ A-rated Taylor Ranch Elementary, Venice Middle and Venice High schools.  

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At the Florida Court Clerks and Comptrollers (FCCC) summer conference, the FCCC Best Practices Committee awarded the Office of Angelina "Angel" Colonneso, Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller for Manatee County, with a Recognition of Excellence in all ten categories of the FCCC's Best Practices in Excellence Program for the fourth consecutive year. The Manatee County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller was one of 47 out of 58 participating offices to receive recognition in every category. FCCC established the Best Practices Program as an opportunity for Clerks to receive Recognition of Excellence certificates for completing assessments that evaluate the acceptance of specific best practices. Each Best Practice category provides guidance to Clerks and Comptrollers statewide and assists in achieving consistency in interpretation of the law and in practice. This year's program categories included Appeals, Civil Contraband Forfeiture, Court Record Retention and Destruction, Department of Revenue Parenting Plan Fee Waivers, Determination of Indigency, Marriage License, Public Records Requests, Service of Documents by Clerks for Pro Se Litigants, Risk Protection Orders, and Vexatious Litigants. Angel Colonneso, Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller for Manatee County, accepted the certificate on behalf of the Clerk’s Office. "I am proud of my staff for their efforts to meet the professional standards described within the Best Practices Program," said Colonneso. "This recognition signifies my office's continued commitment to protecting the public trust through integrity and transparency." In addition to the Best Practices recognition, 2023-2024 FCCC President and Suwannee County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller honored Clerk Colonneso with the Courage Under Fire award for her outstanding courage, leadership, and initiative for the last program year. For more information about the Manatee County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller, please visit their website at www.ManateeClerk.com. 

SRQ is pleased to release that American Airlines will launch daily nonstop service to New York City, NY (LGA) beginning November 5, 2024.  “We are thrilled to announce that American Airlines will be adding New York City, NY (LGA) as their sixth nonstop destination from SRQ. Currently, American Airlines offers nonstop service from SRQ to Charlotte, NC (CLT), Washington, D.C. (DCA), Dallas/Fort Worth, TX (DFW), Chicago, IL (ORD), and Philadelphia, PA (PHL),” stated Rick Piccolo, President, CEO of the Sarasota Bradenton International Airport.  “American looks forward to beginning service to New York LaGuardia Airport starting this November,” said Joe Sottile, American’s Director of Domestic Network Planning. “With up to 10 daily flights from SRQ, American’s schedule offers customers convenient one-stop access to more than 200 destinations across our comprehensive global network.”