Sarasota County Schools

Join us for a special back-to-school conversation with Superintendent Connor as we kick off an exciting new school year, including the grand opening of Skye Ranch School, our first new school in 15 years! Hear about what's ahead, from academic goals and student safety updates to cell phone policy changes and how families can best support student success. Let's make 2025-2026 our best year yet! 🍎✨

https://youtu.be/2ErTK53hAgw

📢 You’re invited to the first InSight Community Connection event of the 2025–26 school year!

Join Superintendent Connor and members of the School Board on Wednesday, September 3 from 6:00 to 7:30 PM at Woodland Middle School for an evening of open conversation and collaboration.

These events are designed to foster connection between district leadership and our community. Families, staff, students, and community members are encouraged to attend, ask questions, and share feedback.

Submit your questions in advance at www.sarasotacountyschools.net/insight.
If you cannot attend in person, the event will be livestreamed on the Sarasota County Schools YouTube channel.

We hope to see you there!

Welcome to a brand-new school year! The August edition of In Touch is packed with key updates to help students and families get off to a great start. In this issue: review updated personal device policies, meet our newest school and leadership team, and explore helpful resources designed to support families all year long.

https://bit.ly/InTouchAugust2025

YOU'RE INVITED! Ms. Katie Greer—a national expert on internet and technology safety— is presenting at our district-wide Parent University on Thursday, September 25 from 6-7 PM.

Parents Will Learn How To:

• Stay informed about the latest technology trends and apps popular among children
• Engage in meaningful conversations with their children about online safety and responsible digital behavior
• Conduct digital health checks to help children maintain a safe and balanced online presence

In-person and virtual options are available. Register at https://bit.ly/3TZt8Jg.

Mr. Daniel Leal – currently an Assistant Principal of Booker Middle School – has been appointed as the new Principal of Booker Middle School. Congratulations, Mr. Leal!! 🎉

As we prepare to approve the tentative budget for the 2025–26 school year, school districts across Florida are facing a variety of financial pressures. In Sarasota County Schools, we’re taking proactive steps to protect our long-term financial stability. Learn more about where we stand, the actions we’ve taken, and how we’re moving forward, together at www.sarasotacountyschools.net/inform.

Florida Blue is giving away FREE BACKPACKS on Saturday, August 2nd from 10:00-1:00 p.m. while supplies last.
RSVP at: https://bit.ly/453m6Iq

Florida Blue Center — Sarasota
285 N Cattlemen Rd.
Sarasota, FL 34243

Starting high school? Eligible incoming 9th-grade students at North Port High School and Booker High School can now apply for the Early College Magnet Pathway. This is an exciting opportunity to earn college credits and even an associate degree while completing high school. There are still seats available for 2025-26! ✨

Courses are taught by State College of Florida faculty and integrated into the school day. This pathway offers focused tracks in STEM and General Business for students who have completed Algebra I.

Start strong. Graduate with more. Learn more at https://www.sarasotacountyschools.net/earlycollegemagnetpathway

Big congratulations to our Class of 2025 Summer Graduates! 🎓🎉 Your hard work paid off, and we can’t wait to see where life takes you next. Way to go!

View all the photos at www.sarasotacountyschools.net/o/scs/page/high-school-education

The ribbon is cut and the future is bright at Skye Ranch School! ✂️🎉

We are SO excited to celebrate the opening of Skye Ranch School! The state-of-the-art K-8 facility will open its doors to students this August and serve as both a hub for learning and a vital community resource for years to come.

With adaptable learning spaces, enhanced safety features, and a STEAM-focused curriculum, Skye Ranch School is designed to empower students to explore science, technology, engineering, the arts, agriculture, and mathematics.

Superintendent Terry Connor, School Board Chair Tim Enos, Commissioner Teresa Mast, Principal Jaime Hannon, and many others shared their excitement and gratitude as we marked this incredible milestone together.

Special thanks to Tandem Construction and Harvard Jolly Architecture for helping bring this vision to life. We can’t wait to welcome the Skye Ranch Storm this fall! ⚡📚

We are pleased to announce that Dr. Lashawn Frost – the current Principal of Booker Middle School – has been selected as the new Executive Director of Student Services.

🎉 BIG NEWS! Sarasota County Schools has once again earned an overall "A" rating from the Florida Department of Education — marking 22 consecutive years of top performance! 💪🍎 This year, the district also improved by 9 points in the state's overall accountability system, highlighting our continued focus on student growth, instructional quality, and system-wide success. Even more to celebrate: ✅ 95% of district-managed schools earned "A" or "B" grades for the second year in a row 🏫 Several schools major gains, including: • Sarasota High: B ➡️ A • Englewood Elementary: B ➡️ A • Booker High: C ➡️ B • Booker Middle: C ➡️ B • College Preparatory Academy at Wellen Park (Charter): B ➡️ A • Imagine School at North Port (Charter): B ➡️ A • Sarasota Academy of the Arts (Charter): C ➡️ A These results reflect the dedication of our students, teachers, leaders, and community. Thank you for helping us continue to raise the bar! 👏

Special MONSTER JAM OFFER for SCS families, staff, and friends! 🎉 Enjoy 20% off Monster Jam tickets for the August 15 & 16 shows at Amalie Arena. Don’t miss this action-packed event featuring your favorite trucks and stunts! 🚛💨 Grab your discounted tickets here: https://www.gofevo.com/group/TicketOffers-SarasotaCounty

For the 2025-2026 school year, SCS will undergo the 9-12 Financial Literacy and Money Management (FLMM) Textbook Adoption process. If you are a parent or guardian interested in serving on the Committee, please visit https://www.sarasotacountyschools.net/o/scs/page/9-12-flmm-textbook-adoption.

For the 2025-2026 school year, SCS will undergo the K-12 ELA Textbook Adoption process. If you are a parent or guardian interested in serving on the Committee, please visit https://www.sarasotacountyschools.net/o/scs/page/k-12-ela-textbook-adoption.

Sarasota and Manatee STEM/Research teachers dove into a 4-day Advancing STEM Research Teaching (ASRT) workshop this summer. Teachers were able to collaborate and form new connections, leaving with curriculum and resources to support students. 🙌 Kudos to these dedicated educators and Michael Blueglass (veteran STEM educator and ASRT director) for leading the way. A big thank you to Mote Marine Aquarium and the Ed Foundation for making this event such a success.

The school year may be over, but there’s still plenty to celebrate in this summer edition of In Touch! Inside this issue: a spotlight on SCS’ summer learning programs, a message from Superintendent Connor, key legislative updates, and the announcement of the new principal for Wellen Park High School. We’re also featuring Brentwood, Suncoast Polytechnical, and Toledo Blade Elementary, highlighting free summer meals, and wrapping up the year with a special shoutout to the Class of 2025. https://bit.ly/InTouchJune2025

Mr. Trenton Terry – currently an Assistant Principal at Woodland Middle School – has been selected as the new Principal of Woodland Middle School. He will assume his new role effective Tuesday, July 1. Congratulations, Mr. Terry!! Learn more: https://www.sarasotacountyschools.net/article/2247883

Mr. Eric Idoyaga – currently an Assistant Principal at Heron Creek Middle School – has been selected as the new Principal of Englewood Elementary. He will assume his new role effective Tuesday, July 1. Congratulations, Mr. Idoyaga!! Learn more: https://www.sarasotacountyschools.net/article/2247880