Working Tirelessly for Education

Tom & Sherry Koski

Tom and Sherry Koski moved to Sarasota nine years ago from Connecticut. The move was more of a homecoming than a retirement plan for Tom, who graduated from Sarasota High School in 1978 before heading to New York. Tom met Sherry through a mutual friend and lovingly explains, “She was the woman of my dreams.” The couple has been inseparable since and recently celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary.

Now retired, Tom and Sherry spend much of their time and resources on local philanthropic causes focused on health, children and education. The couple recently co-chaired The Bash, a fundraising event for the Education Foundation of Sarasota County, where Tom is completing his two-year term as board chair. He is also president of the Koski Family Foundation and serves on the board of the Sarasota Orchestra. Sherry is on the Board of Directors of The Pines of Sarasota and together they will chair the organization’s 70th anniversary luncheon, the Wit & Wisdom of Aging this November at Michael’s On East.

The Koski family has historical ties to the Education Foundation of Sarasota County. Tom’s mother, Beverly Koski, served as board chair twenty years prior and was part of the group that founded the organization’s signature grants program. It wouldn’t have always seemed like a natural transition for Tom to follow in his mother’s footsteps. Ironically, Tom hated school when he was young, a surprise to many in Sarasota who have heard Tom speak passionately about the value of education. He subscribes to the “time bandit theory” explaining, “We all have pursuits we enjoy so much that, in the act, time disappears. For me, it was music.” Tom feels that if we can help students identify their “time bandits,” we can uncover their natural talents and help feed them. 

Tom proudly describes many of the initiatives supported by the Education Foundation of Sarasota County, whose mission is to “enhance the potential of students, promote excellence in teaching, and inspire innovation in education, guided by strategic philanthropy.” In addition to awarding almost $250,000 annually for classroom and school-wide grants, the organization is investing close to $500,000 in college and career readiness. Starting as early as middle school, the primary objective of the foundation is to prepare students to graduate with postsecondary plan. In August 2018, Student Success Centers will open at North Port and Riverview high schools as an extension of the Education Foundation. These centers will serve as a hub for students to develop well-defined college and career plans and includes online resources, test prep and career chats. 

The Education Foundation also underwrites and produces Ignite Education, the teacher of the year awards celebration. What makes a good teacher? Tom feels it goes beyond simply classroom teaching. A great teacher connects with their students, creates trust and offers inspiration. He adds that “Usually, when the bus arrives at a school to surprise a teacher of the year, the students are happier than the teacher. The care and passion for teaching is evident.” It takes parents to enhance their child’s success in school. Tom encourages parents to get involved, help with their children’s homework, and talk to teachers to understand the goals of the classroom.

The learning process does not stop when school is over. Tom strongly believes in after-school programs that provide students with an explanation to why their education is so important and how it will apply after they graduate. Tom shared that as a student, he couldn’t see a connection between what he was learning and how it applied to a potential career. Internships, volunteer opportunities and community mentors help create this connection. Then there are programs that hold students accountable that award scholarships based on goals and achievements, such as Take Stock in Children. To Tom, incentives and reasons are not the same thing.

“Tom and Sherry are genuine and humble,” noted Jennifer Vigne, President of the Education Foundation. “They give because they truly care about the mission of the organization and want to make a difference in the lives of our children. For them, it is never about recognition.” 

Tom and Sherry think often about the future of the Education Foundation and the need to raise awareness. The organization has transformed during the six years Tom has served on the board; the mission has been revised and a strategic plan put in motion. 

Serving 43,000 students and 2,500 teachers in Sarasota County without much fanfare, the Education Foundation is one of the most impactful youth organizations in Sarasota. For Tom and Sherry, there’s still more work to be done. “When the Education Foundation becomes the ‘go-to’ for work related to K-12 education, we will know we’ve made it.” 

FOR MORE INFORMATION

about the Education Foundation of Sarasota County, please visit edfoundationsrq.org or call 941.927.0985.