Five outstanding Sarasota County Schools educators were recognized last week with the Ripple Effect Teacher Award for their expansive impact in the classroom and beyond. Leaders from the school district and Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation honored the winners in a series of surprise presentations at their schools.  Created by Barancik Foundation in memory of Chuck and Margie Barancik to celebrate exceptional Sarasota County public-school teachers, the Ripple Effect Award includes a $5,000 gift. The five Sarasota County Schools teachers who received the award are: Stacy Bellanca, Literacy Teacher, Garden Elementary School, Carrie Koontz, 2nd Grade Teacher, Taylor Ranch Elementary School, Jillian Nelson, ESE Resource Teacher, Sarasota Middle School, Brittany Smith, Music Teacher, Venice High School, Shannon Wynne, 5th Grade Teacher, Pine View School. At each award presentation, Superintendent Connor read from the nomination letter submitted by the winning teacher’s principal.  The celebrations included district and school administrators, fellow teachers and staff, and enthusiastic students.  Barancik Foundation senior vice president John Annis described the affection and respect that Chuck and Margie Barancik had for teachers before he handed the winners a framed award certificate and their $5,000 check. The latest Ripple Effect Teacher Awards were presented in May to commemorate Chuck Barancik’s birthday, which was May 27.  The Foundation will present five more awards in September in memory of Margie Barancik, who was a teacher by profession.  Nominations are submitted annually by school principals at the invitation of school district leadership and the Foundation.  Since 2021, Barancik Foundation has recognized 35 educators with the Ripple Effect Award.