Educator TIME fellowship applications are open

SARASOTA — Educators looking to spice up their teaching and bring some real-world experiences back to the classroom next year are up for a big opportunity in Sarasota County.

A $12,000 opportunity, that is.

Headed by the Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation, the annual TIME Fellowship program offers educators the chance to reignite their passion for teaching through a personal project.

The annual fellowship — “Time to Inspire Margie’s Educators” — was created in honor of Margery Barancik, who understood the need for motivated educators as a teacher and education advocate herself.

“Of all school-based factors, a motivated and highly effective teacher is the most important for a child’s academic success,” Barancik Foundation CEO Teri A. Hansen said. “To recognize these noble professionals in our community, our TIME Fellowship enables educators to complete a once-in-a-lifetime learning experience that will restore them professionally and personally.”

The initiative annually awards 25 fellowships of up to $12,000 for experiences that have spanned the globe, from astronomical visits to Ireland to an ecological trip through the Galapagos Islands to study animals.

Since 2022, 75 teachers, assistant principals and principals have received TIME Fellowships in Margery’s memory, according to a news release.

The 2025 TIME Fellowship program is now open to currently employed, full-time instructional staff, assistant principals and principals within Sarasota County Schools’ pre-K to 12 traditional public schools.

Winning proposals must be “intellectually stimulating and personally rejuvenating while expanding the educator’s experience,” according to the news release.

Applicants also must clearly communicate how they intend to translate their fellowship experience to their classroom or school for the benefit of students.

Additional eligibility criteria can be found on the TIME web page.

SCS educators have until 11:59 p.m. Sept. 30 to submit a proposal for Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation’s 2025 TIME Fellowship program.

Information about the TIME Fellowship, including eligibility requirements and how to access the online application, can be found at barancikfoundation.org/TIME/.

Early Application IncentiveApplications submitted by Sept. 8 will receive a “quality control” review by the Barancik Foundation to ensure that all necessary information has been included.

If anything is incomplete, these applicants will be able to update their proposal materials before the deadline. The final submission deadline for 2025 TIME Fellowship proposals is 11:59 p.m. on Monday, Sep. 30.