Sarasota business, education community welcomes Superintendent Bowden

Jon Thaxton, the senior vice president for community investment for Gulf Coast Community Foundation, said he was going to read from a script first and then tell members of the Argus Foundation, the Education Foundation of Sarasota County and the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce what he really thought about Sarasota County Public Schools Superintendent Todd Bowden. 

The three groups gathered March 1 at the Sarasota Opera House to welcome Bowden to his new role as leader of the public school district. He was sworn in earlier that day.

Thaxton gave a small synopsis of Bowden's background at Suncoast Technical College, and then he paused. 

"Doctor Bowden gets it," Thaxton said before handing the microphone to the new superintendent. 

Bowden thanked the Sarasota County School Board members in attendance for selecting him for the job.

"I'm standing here because Sarasota is unique. Sarasota is special," Bowden said. "Our board realized that we needed someone that knows our community ... and that's why I'm standing here today."