Bloomingdale High Grad Named Sarasota County Schools Superintendent

SARASOTA, FL – The School Board of Sarasota County selected a Bloomingdale High School graduate as the next Superintendent of Sarasota County Schools.

The board voted to name Todd Bowden as the new superintendent during its regular meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 18. Bowden is currently the district’s executive director of Career, Technical and Adult Education and the director of Suncoast Technical College in Sarasota.

Bowden will replace Lori White, who is scheduled to retire as superintendent on Tuesday, Feb. 28.

“I am extremely grateful to the School Board for the confidence they have placed in me,” Bowden said. He also credited White for being “responsible in large part for my success in this district. It is such a well-run, respected district and I want to perpetuate that trust the community has in us.”

The next step for the School Board of Sarasota County is contract negotiation with Bowden, a process expected to begin at the board’s next regular meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 1 at 6:30 p.m. After an approximately two-week overlap starting in mid-February, Bowden will begin as the next superintendent Wednesday, March 1.

A Florida native, Bowden grew up in Brandon and Valrico and attended Bloomingdale High School. He holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of South Florida, a master’s in business administration from Florida State University, and a master’s and doctorate in educational leadership from USF.

Before coming to work for Sarasota County Schools in 2007, Bowden served in various roles at the Hillsborough County School District, including principal of Gary Adult High School, principal of Apricio-Levey Technical Center and assistant principal for curriculum at Bloomingdale High.

He and his wife Janene have two children who attend McIntosh Middle School in Sarasota: his son Bobby, a sixth-grade student, and daughter Johanna, an eighth-grade student.

Board members cited widespread community support for Bowden as well as his collaborative work with business, organizations and individuals throughout the county.

School Board of Sarasota County Chairwoman Shirley Brown originally for Brennan Asplen III, deputy superintendent for Academic and Student Services at St. Johns County Schools. She cited several comments from people who attended the Thursday, Oct. 13 public reception who noted his strengths in academics and early childhood education.

Brown subsequently made a motion to make the vote unanimous for Bowden, a motion which passed 5-0.

Although there were no votes for the third finalist – Mark Porter, superintendent of Monroe County Schools – board members mentioned the strength of all three finalists.

“Any one of the three finalists could be successful here,” board member Frank Kovach said.

However, Kovach said he was a “huge believer” in promoting from within, citing the success of White and former superintendent Wilma Hamilton, both of whom came from Sarasota’s school system.

The board members acknowledged the Florida School Boards Association, which consulted on the process; the Education Foundation of Sarasota County, which presented the public forums, a public reception for the finalists and other opportunities for public input; and the advisory community, which reviewed 49 applications and recommended the eight semifinalists for superintendent.

The board originally selected four finalists from the eight semifinalists during its Tuesday, Sept. 20 meeting. The fourth finalist, Andrew Rynberg, the former assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction with the Indian River County School District, withdrew his name from consideration for personal reasons on Friday, Sept. 23.

Image courtesy of Sarasota County Schools