Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation

06/24/2026

The League of Women Voters of Sarasota County is live-streaming this evening's Sarasota County School Board candidate forum right now. The League is hosting the forum in partnership with Suncoast Searchlight. You can watch here live (5:30-6:30 p.m.), or watch the recording later:

The League of Women Voters Sarasota County and Suncoast Searchlight...

06/22/2026

Thank you to Kelly Romanoff, VP of Evaluation and Strategy with Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation, for serving as First 1,000 Days Steering Committee Chair for the last several years. Throughout her term as chair, she was instrumental in piloting new projects, expanding work into DeSoto County, advancing Unite Us adoption, securing additional funding for the initiative, while also acting as a sounding board for the First 1,000 Days team. Kelly is an incredible advocate for families, with both a passion for the work and a brilliant mind, that has lent itself to many creative ideas and strategies.

06/22/2026

The nonpartisan League of Women Voters of Sarasota County and nonprofit newsroom Suncoast Searchlight will host two forums this week for Sarasota County School Board candidates. Tuesday evening's forum will be held at Selby Library. To learn how you can attend in person or watch online, go here: https://lwvsrq.org/content.aspx?page_id=4002&club_id=324628&item_id=2943200

Don't miss this important Forum. The August Primary is the final election for School Board. It is a non-partisan race and all voters can vote. Register to attend at LWVSRQ.org/events. In person attendance is encouraged, however, seating is limited so arrive early. Please invite your friends and neighbors and share our social media posts. All forums will be live-streamed and recorded for viewing on the League’s YouTube Channel, LWV of Sarasota County.
A candidate Meet & Greet will follow each forum.

06/10/2026

Halfway through week two! We’ve had a great week and a half getting to know our summer intern, Milordjie Cassion.

Milordjie graduated from Booker High School last month, and she's been deeply involved in leadership and mentoring at Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties. She’ll be off to Duquesne University soon to pursue her Bachelor of Science in Nursing. But in the meantime, she’s spending about six more weeks with us — assisting in the Foundation’s daily work, getting to know a variety of health-related organizations and others we partner with, and helping us shape an experience we hope to offer to more talented students like her in future years.

If you see Milordjie with any of our team out in the community, please say “hello!”

06/06/2026

What a wonderful profile of Sophia Haakman, a Pine View School for the Gifted student whose curiosity, persistence, and love for Sarasota’s natural places have grown into real impact.

From her hundreds of volunteer hours to launching a bird-monitoring project now headed for a national magazine, Sophia is a powerful example of the great things that can happen when young people are trusted, encouraged, and given room to lead.

Thanks to Suncoast Searchlight for sharing her story!

Sophia Haakman is something of a bird whisperer. The 16-year-old Pineview School student doesn’t just notice Sarasota’s birds. She wants to understand how they live, what they need to survive and whether efforts to protect them are actually working. That curiosity recently led her to design a bi...

06/04/2026

Congratulations to the six Sarasota County Schools educators selected as recipients of the Spring 2026 Ripple Effect Teacher Award from the Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation. 🍎✨

Each recipient was recognized for making a lasting impact on students, colleagues, and their school community through exceptional dedication, innovation, and care.

Congratulations to:

⭐ Hal Anderson, Booker High School
⭐ Ken Hall, Oak Park School
⭐ Stacy Lenz, Gulf Gate Elementary
⭐ Tonya Quinn, Phillippi Shores an IB World School
⭐ Erin Tuttle, Brentwood Elementary School
⭐ Megan Ehlers, Sarasota High School

Thank you for the difference you make every day and for creating a ripple effect that extends far beyond the classroom. 💙

06/03/2026

Our final Ripple Effect Teacher Award winner for the spring was Megan Ehlers, marine science teacher at Sarasota High School.

Dr. Ehlers models rigorous, engaging instruction with high expectations, thoughtful planning, and a commitment to helping every student grow. Beyond the classroom, she leads the Carefree Learner program, which gives thousands of local students and community members the chance to experience hands-on learning aboard a “floating classroom.”

“Dr. Ehlers sparks curiosity and a love for science by involving students in real-world research, gathering important data on Sarasota Bay’s water quality and wildlife,” said Principal Ryan Chase. “She’s also one of the kindest, most encouraging, and positive people you could ever meet. She doesn’t just create ripples — she creates waves of inspiration, leaving a lasting impact on her
students, colleagues, and the entire community.”

Congratulations and thank you, Dr. Ehlers!

06/02/2026

Honored to celebrate an incredible educator whose passion for literacy and commitment to students and families continues to make a lasting impact.

After we surprised literacy coach Tonya Quinn at
Phillippi Shores an IB World School with her Ripple Effect Teacher Award, she characteristically turned the focus back to her students: "I think about these kids all the time," she said, "and what can I do to help them?"

Thank you, Mrs. Quinn, for the ripples you send across Phillippi Shores every day!

06/01/2026

⚖️Law studies instructor Hal Anderson did not expect to see half the Superintendent’s Cabinet waiting for him when he hustled into Booker High School’s Media Center. The ruse worked, and Mr. Anderson kept calm as he realized he was the reason for the gathering and a recipient of our Ripple Effect Teacher Award.🎉

In his nomination, Assistant Principal Greg Rumph highlighted “his exceptional dedication, transformative teaching, and deep impact on Booker High School.”

“Mr. Anderson’s influence is lasting and personal,” he continued. “He teaches students to think critically, speak with purpose, and carry themselves with professionalism. Many credit his classroom as the place where they discovered their voice and ambition.”

Congratulations and thank you, Mr. Anderson!