Sarasota County Schools is pleased to announce the following leadership changes within the school district:
Mr. Ryan Chase – the current Principal of Sarasota High School – has been selected to serve in a district-level leadership role.
Mr. Sean Donovan – the current Principal of Oak Park School – has been selected to serve as the new Principal of Sarasota High School.
Mr. Dustin Coleman – currently an Assistant Principal at Oak Park School – has been selected to serve as the new Principal of Oak Park School.
Mr. Ryan Chase earned a Bachelor’s Degree in History from the University of Florida, a Master’s Degree in Social Studies Education from the University of Florida, and an Educational Specialist Degree in Educational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University. Prior to assuming his new leadership role, Chase had served as the Principal of Sarasota High School since September 2023. He has also served as the Principal of Brookside Middle School, the Assistant Principal of Curriculum at Sarasota High School, an Assistant Principal at Woodland Middle School, and an Assistant Principal at McIntosh Middle School, among other prior roles.
“I am excited and grateful to continue growing in my career with Sarasota County Schools,” said Chase. “I look forward to championing student wellbeing and success throughout the district, as well as supporting the needs of families and employees, through my new role. I will forever be thankful for the support, trust, and partnership that the Sarasota High community has shown me during my tenure there.”
Mr. Sean Donovan earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Studies – with a minor in Spanish – from Florida State University and a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from Western Governors University. Before assuming his new role as the Principal of Sarasota High School, Donovan had served as the Principal of Oak Park School since July 2024. He has also served as the Assistant Principal of Exceptional Student Education at Sarasota High School and a Mathematics teacher at Venice High School, among other prior roles.
“I am honored to be returning to Sarasota High School as its new principal,” commented Donovan. “I know firsthand how engaged and focused all of the Sailor students, families, teachers, and staff members are. Working together, I am confident we will build new achievements and memories upon the school’s already strong foundation. My time at Oak Park School has helped shape me as a leader and as a person, and I will always be grateful for the opportunity to have served such an incredible school community.”
Mr. Dustin Coleman earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of Colorado Boulder and a Master’s Degree in Special Education from the University of Colorado Denver. He completed the Principal Licensure Program at the University of Phoenix (Westminster, CO) and a National Principals Academy Fellowship at the Relay Graduate School of Education. Before assuming his new role as the Principal of Oak Park School, Coleman had served as an Assistant Principal at Oak Park School since April 2024. He has also served as the Director of Exceptional Student Education for Sarasota County Schools and the Deputy Director of Exceptional Student Education Services for Santa Rosa County District Schools (Milton, FL). Additionally, Coleman has served as the Dean of Instruction for Meeting Street Elementary School (North Charleston, SC), an Assistant Principal at Ashley Elementary (Denver, CO), the Principal of Devereux Cleo Wallace (Westminster, CO), and an adjunct professor at the University of Denver, among other prior roles.
“I am overjoyed to be selected as the new Principal of Oak Park School,” noted Coleman. “The Oak Park community is the epitome of student-centric collaboration – families, teachers, and staff all work in concert to help our students thrive. I will continue to lead the Panthers by adhering to best practices and encouraging a standard of excellence that supports our team members and helps to instill a joyful love of learning in all our students and families.”