Sarasota Chamber connects school officials with business community

"You would be amazed at the heroes that are leading, working in our schools," Superintendent Terry Connor says.

By Ian Swaby
| 9:00 a.m. December 8, 2023

Sarasota Chamber president and CEO Heather Kasten and Superintendent of Schools Terry Connor

Sarasota
Business

Tara Poulton's first face-to-face meeting with Superintendent of Schools Terry Connor took place at the State of the Community Sarasota School Board Update lunch event.

“I’m just thrilled to meet the superintendent. … I’m very impressed with all they’re doing,” said Poulton, a product of the school system.

Held by the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce at the Carlisle Inn & Conference Center on Dec. 7 as part of its State of the Community lunch series, the event was intended to connect Sarasota’s school district and business community.

At one point during his presentation to the audience, Connor highlighted an initiative directly applicable to the business community, CEOs in Schools, currently in its planning phase.

The program would invite CEOs from the community to spend a day in the district’s schools, learning about their day-to-day operations.

“You would be amazed at the heroes that are leading, working in our schools, and the challenges that they overcome every single day,” Connor told attendees.

According to Heather Kasten, president and CEO of the Chamber, a relationship between the school district and business community is essential, as the district produces those individuals who drive the area’s businesses.

“Sarasota Schools has been an A-rated district, and a strong superintendent and strong leadership is more important than ever,” Kasten said.

The event was also attended by school board chair Karen Rose and board members Tom Edwards and Robyn Marinelli.

The Chamber holds the lunch annually, although it was not held in 2022 due to the departure of former Superintendent Brennan Asplen in November of that year.

Connor noted to the audience that Dec. 11 will mark the end of the 100-day plan he implemented upon entering office in June, and highlighted his initiatives in the district thus far.

Some of these include reorganization of the district’s staff, the establishment of an office of government affairs, development of the district’s legislative platform, adoption of a new math and social studies curriculum, revision of the principal and assistant principal evaluation system, and impact reviews based on visits to the district’s individual schools and classrooms.

Meghan Byrd, a senior admissions counselor at Keiser University and David Crawford, a representative of the REALTOR Association of Sarasota and Manatee, both representing partners of the event, also offered remarks.

Maggie Burton and Lisa Wood greet Craig Maniglia, communications and community relations director at Sarasota County Schools.

Terry Connor talks with Jonathan Evans and Craig Maniglia.

Kenji Trujillo, Jack Brill and Yolanda Mancha enjoy their lunch.

Meghan Byrd, a senior admissions counselor at Keiser University, one of the event's sponsors, speaks at the event.

Superintendent Terry Connor addresses the attendees at the 2023 State of the Community Sarasota School Board Update lunch event.

Susie Bowie listens to Terry Connor's presentation.

Superintendent Terry Connor addresses the attendees.

School board member Tom Edwards and school board chair Karen Rose watch Terry Connor's presentation.

Daniela Miartus listens to Superintendent Terry Connor's speech.

Terry Connor talks with David Crawford, a representative of the REALTOR Association of Sarasota and Manatee, which was a partner of the event.

author

Ian Swaby

Ian Swaby is the Sarasota neighbors writer for the Observer. Ian is a Florida State University graduate of Editing, Writing, and Media and previously worked in the publishing industry in the Cayman Islands.