Gov. Ron DeSantis appoints Karen Rose to Sarasota School Board

Gov. Ron DeSantis has appointed Karen Rose to the School Board of Sarasota County to fill the vacancy left by the resignation of board Chair Tim Enos, who is returning to the role of chief of police for the school district's police department.

The appointment is effective starting Aug. 25. 

Photo by Ian Swaby

A former member of the School Board of Sarasota County, Rose represented District 2 before losing her seat to Liz Barker in the Nov. 2024 election.

A former educator, special education teacher, principal and executive director of middle schools, Rose emphasized in her campaign a focus on academic achievement, including reading scores.

She criticized what she described as an emphasis on social justice issues in the school district, stating that it detracted from the district's mission of ensuring the best education for all students.

Rose was instrumental in the ousting of the district's previous superintendent, Brennan Asplen, in 2022, and advocated for the hiring of Terry Connor, who has held the role since 2023.

Rose will serve out the rest of Enos' term, which lasts until 2026.

She is a member of the State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota District Board of Trustees, and previously served as a member of the Florida Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.

She earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Youngstown State University in Ohio, and her master’s degree in education from the University of South Florida.