About Us
The Education Foundation of Sarasota County is a non-profit organization dedicated to quality public education for all children. Through the generosity of a caring community, we fund programs and initiatives that go beyond what tax dollars can provide and help elevate our public schools to the top of Florida’s education system.
BOARD OFFICERS
Peter Hayes - Chairman
Michael Bryant - Immediate Past Chair
Cheryl L. Gordon - Vice Chairman
Gregory E. Banach - Secretary
Fred Strammer - Treasurer
BOARD MEMBERS
Taylor T. Collins
Dean Crowley
Tricia Fulton
Philip N. Hammersley
Ronald D. Karp
F. John LaCivita
Michael Longworth
Candice McElyea
Susan Morris
Jason Swift
Constance White-Davis
Kimberly P. Walker, Esq.
Caitlin M. Williams
EX-OFFICIO
Caroline Zucker - School Board Chair
Lori White, Superintendent - Sarasota County Schools
BOARD EMERITUS
Wilma Hamilton
Walter G. Mills
Shirley A. Ritchey
Jon F. Swift
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Susan Scott
ADVANCEMENT DIRECTOR
Laura Breeze
PROGRAM DIRECTOR
Michelle D'Aiuto
TEXCELLENCE PROGRAM MANAGER
Michelle Frau
DONOR & PROGRAM SERVICES COORDINATOR
Chanelle Strammer
Our Mission
We invest in every child’s success through the generosity of our community.
Our Vision
Every child will be prepared for tomorrow’s world.
Our Goals
- To increase the graduation rate
- To help all students become better readers
- To prepare students for success in the work place and global economy
- To serve as the leading advocate for Sarasota County’s public schools
Our Core Values
These are the principles that guide our organization's work, our standards for how we treat one another and our constituents. Our constituents include our community at large, made up of students and their families, teachers, administrators and other district personnel, school board members, donors, future donors and volunteers.
- We value excellence in education, serving as good listeners who are responsive to the needs of students, educators and the community.
- We believe that private philanthropy is essential for the success of our public schools, now and in the future.
- We are dedicated to providing equal access to educational opportunities for all students in our community's public schools.
- We conduct ourselves with integrity and honesty and adhere to the highest standards of transparency and accountability to safeguard the public's trust in our work.
- We manage our relationships with respect and compassion.
- We continually develop our knowledge and skills so that our achievements will better serve others.