Leadership Legacy Event Celebrated Leadership of the Past, Present and Future

The Leadership Legacy event celebrated Sarasota County School Board leadership from the past, present and future with a dinner, dance and auction last week at the Chelsea Center.

Lori White, the Sarasota County School Board’s Superintendent; Barbara Shirley, Sarasota’s first Principal of the Year; and Beverly Girard, Florida’s Southeastern Region Director of the Year, were among the leaders that were recognized at the event. Wendy Katz, interim director of Temple Beth Sholom Schools, was also honored for her contributions to the leadership development programming over the past decade. Sarasota County principals, assistant principals and the Sarasota County Leadership Academy graduates were also acknowledged.

Business and community leaders across Sarasota County attended the 2014 Leadership Legacy event on Saturday, Nov. 1 to celebrate the district’s accomplishments and support the development of dynamic school leaders.

Proceeds from the Leadership Legacy event benefits the Wilma Hamilton Leadership Fund, which underwrites the Leadership Academy and other professional development for administrators. The fund was established when Hamilton, a retired former superintendent (2000-03), retired to sustain funding for continued leadership development and programming.

In 2003, the Sarasota County Public Schools developed a comprehensive leadership program for our teacher leaders, aspiring administrators, principals, assistant principals and district administrators. The program focused on recruiting, training, recognizing and retaining leaders from within the district.

“Strong school leaders are the key in determining whether children succeed in school,” said Wendy Katz, interim director of Temple Beth Sholom Schools and a retired school district administrator who serves as an executive coach and facilitator for the program. “This fundraiser is meant to recognize the success and the quality of the district. “Without the support of our community, we wouldn’t have the excellent and proven leaders within our schools and departments.”

In the state’s 2014 school district rankings, Sarasota County was ranked No. 2 out of 67 school districts in student achievement. It is also one of 10 districts in the state to receive an “A” rating in 2014.

The Leadership Academy is a two-year intensive program for aspiring school and district-based administrators who have completed an advanced degree in educational leadership or a related field. The current cohort includes 32 participants who serve in positions including assistant principal interns, countywide curriculum specialists, classroom teachers, behavior specialists and special education liaisons.

The program emphasizes the application of learning in a real-world context. The engaging curriculum is problem-based and interactive and involves action research. The program model incorporates a coaching emphasis, shadowing opportunities, monthly seminars with guest speakers, mock interviews, book studies, scenarios and a school-based action research project.

Approximately 60 percent of all Sarasota County School District leaders are graduates of the Leadership Academy. Over the past eight years, 12 of the new principals and 33 of the new assistant principals hired in the district have been Leadership Academy graduates.

The Wilma Hamilton Leadership Fund is currently housed at the Community Foundation of Sarasota County to support the components of the Leadership Academy.