School board

What’s in a word
Evelyn Baldwin, a ninth-grade student at NewGate International Montessori Academy, will represent her school at the Poetry Out Loud State Finals Saturday, March 1, in Tallahassee.

On Feb. 6, Baldwin charmed audience members and the panel of five judges with her recitation of “Echo” by Christina Rossetti and “Solitude” by Ella Wheeler Wilcox.

At the state finals, competitors will recite three poems. Baldwin will recite “The End of Science Fiction” by Lisel Mueller as her third piece.

Science Rules
Sarasota High School’s Rebecca Elsishans and Cardinal Mooney’s Courtney Alexander Astore will represent Sarasota County at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (Intel ISEF) May 11 through May 16 in Los Angeles. The students earned the highest scores at this year’s Regional Science Fair, held in January. The Regional Science Fair included work by third- to 12th-grade students from public, charter, virtual and private schools, as well as home-schooled students.

A-Plus
Sarasota High School teacher Gina Barresi was named the school district’s High School Teacher of the Year Feb. 6.

The announcement came as a surprise to Barresi, who teaches English and reading at Sarasota High.
Taylor Ranch Elementary’s Lisa Figuero was awarded Elementary School Teacher of the Year, and Ian Ackroyd, from Venice Middle School, is Middle School Teacher of the Year.

Contact Harriet Sokmensuer at [email protected]