Barancik Foundation awards teachers going back to school

SARASOTA — The Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation announced more than $250,000 in full-ride scholarships to teachers pursuing a higher education.

Eight K-12 educators including teachers, behavior specialists and ESE liaisons from the Sarasota County Schools were selected for participation in Project T2L3: Transforming Teaching and Learning Locally through Leadership.

The donation will help the program meet its mission to equip teachers to serve as leaders capable of supporting their district's needs, like students with special learning needs, according to a news release.

Teachers who complete the five-semester, 36-credit-hour program will earn a master’s degree in educational leadership and a graduate certificate in exceptional student education.

A state certification as an educational leader is also issued, USF educational leadership and policy studies Associate Professor Brianne Reck said.

The goal of Project T2L3, Reck said, is to prepare educators to better address the needs of an increasingly diverse student body and to retain high-quality teachers.

According to the news release, the student teachers' projects and field work will help their schools address real-time challenges.

USF Sarasota-Manatee Campus Dean Cheryl Ellerbrock said the support of the Barancik Foundation is a “game changer.”

“It is wonderful to have a community partner like the Barancik Foundation support this new cohort of aspiring school administrators and teacher leaders as they work to not only advance their careers but better serve their schools and their students," Ellerbrock stated in a news release.

Brandy McCormack, a first-grade teacher at Ashton Elementary School who started her 17th year as a teacher this fall, said leadership has driven her to continue pursuing education.

“To be able to do this with the scholarship and not have to worry is huge,” McCormack stated in a news release. “I wouldn’t be here it wasn’t for the Barancik Foundation.”

Supporting education efforts in Sarasota County and beyond is a major focus for the Barancik Foundation, Senior Vice President John Annis stated in the news release.

“Recruiting, retaining and recognizing great teachers is critical for student success, and we believe this pilot program will support all three of those areas,” Annis said.

Project T2L3 is the latest effort by USF Sarasota-Manatee College of Education to partner with region school districts to help retain talent and provide accessible career paths into school administration.

College of Education also hosts three other programs to address the chronic teacher shortage in the area:

Project Parasol, which is preparing paraprofessionals for teaching positions.The college’s work at two Community Partnership Schools in Bradenton.The Grow Your Own Teacher Leadership Academy.