Sarasota County Schools Interim Superintendent Named: District

SARASOTA COUNTY, FL — Nearly two months after former superintendent Dr. Brennan Asplen separation agreement was approved by the Sarasota County School Board, an interim superintendent has been named.

Dr. Allison Foster, executive director of human resources and labor relations for Sarasota County Schools, will take on the role, according to a news release from the district.

The school board unanimously voted at its Tuesday meeting to appoint her to the position.

She’ll serve as interim superintendent until the school board completes its search for a new superintendent and hires someone for the position.

• Also Read: Asplen's Separation, Acting Superintendent Approved: Sarasota Schools

“It is an honor and privilege to be appointed as the interim superintendent of Sarasota County Schools. As a lifelong resident of Sarasota, I have been involved in the school system in nearly every capacity: as a student, teacher, administrator, and parent,” Foster said in a statement provided by the district. “I look forward to working collaboratively with our School Board members, teachers, staff, families, and community partners to further the success of our students. The district is poised to end this school year on a strong note. We greatly appreciate the community’s continued support of our students, teachers, and staff members.”

Foster has spent her entire 26-year career in education working exclusively for Sarasota County Schools, the district said. Before assuming her current position, she served as the principal of Phillippi Shores Elementary School.

She also served as the assistant principal of Toledo Blade Elementary School and Gulf Gate Elementary School, a gifted education teacher at Ashton Elementary School, and a mathematics teacher at Laurel Nokomis School.

Asplen resigned from the role at the end of last year after being pressured by a slate of newly elected conservative board members. His separation agreement was approved at the board’s Dec. 14 meeting.

At that same meeting, the district’s assistant superintendent and chief academic officer Chris Renouf was named the acting superintendent.