APPLY BEFORE 9/29: bit.ly/CEOsInSchools2026
Sarasota County Schools is proud to bring back our CEOs in Schools initiative this year!
What does it take to lead a school? From supporting students and staff to managing budgets, operations, safety, and community partnerships, school principals balance an extraordinary range of responsibilities every day. Through this initiative, local business and community leaders are invited to experience those responsibilities firsthand.
This unique program pairs a business leader with a Sarasota County Schools principal for either a half-day or full-day shadowing experience. Participants will have the opportunity to observe the daily operations of a school, interact with students and staff, attend meetings, and gain an inside look at the challenges and opportunities facing public education today.
While the experience offers valuable insight into the work of educational leadership, it is designed to be much more than a job shadow. CEOs in Schools creates an opportunity for meaningful dialogue between education and industry leaders. Principals and business executives often share many of the same responsibilities: building strong teams, managing resources, solving complex problems, fostering innovation, and developing future leaders. Through this exchange, participants can share ideas, discuss best practices, and learn from one another's experiences.
The program also serves as a catalyst for stronger community partnerships. By building relationships with school leaders, business professionals can discover new ways to support students through mentorship, internships, career exploration opportunities, classroom partnerships, workforce development initiatives, and other innovative collaborations that help prepare students for success beyond graduation.
Whether you are a leader of a small business, a major corporation, a nonprofit organization, or a community institution, your perspective and expertise can make a difference. At the same time, you may find that the experience provides a new appreciation for the incredible work taking place in our schools every day and the dedicated educators who make it possible.
This initiative isn’t just limited to CEOs. We invite business and community leaders who are interested in participating to join us for this exciting opportunity to connect education and industry, strengthen community partnerships, and help shape the future of our students.
This event will consist of a meet & greet breakfast followed by a Day of Impact at your paired school. If you are interested in participating, you can register here. Spaces are limited, as we can only pair one leader with each school.
Together, we can build stronger connections between our schools and our business community while creating even greater opportunities for student success.