Andy Harshman named 2026 Sarasota County Teacher of the Year
Andy Harshman of Sarasota High School was named the 2026 Sarasota County Teacher of the Year at the Ignite Education Teacher of the Year Award Celebration hosted by the Education Foundation of Sarasota County in partnership with Sarasota County Schools on Dec. 11, 2025.
Harshman is the visionary leader of Sarasota High School’s MaST Research Institute- a program recognized as one of the most prestigious high school science research initiatives in Florida and across the nation. He will represent district educators throughout the 2026 calendar year and will serve as Sarasota County’s nominee for state Teacher of the Year.
“We are thrilled to recognize Mr. Harshman as the 2026 Sarasota County Teacher of the Year,” said Terry Connor, Superintendent of Schools. “He has had a tremendous impact on the lives of his students and the school community. We are also proud to celebrate all of this year’s nominees for their contributions towards advancing student success and elevating the field of education.”
This year’s event was held at the Ora, where Harshman was joined by his wife, Krissy Harshman, and fellow Sarasota County Teacher of the Year finalists, 5th-grade teacher Becky Hoffman from Pine View School, and art teacher Holly Pisaturo from McIntosh Middle School.