Andy Harshman of Sarasota High School was named the 2026 Sarasota County Teacher of the Year at the Ignite Education Teacher of the Year Award Celebration hosted by the Education Foundation of Sarasota County in partnership with Sarasota County Schools on Dec. 11, 2025. Harshman is the visionary leader of Sarasota High School’s MaST Research Institute- a program recognized as one of the most prestigious high school science research initiatives in Florida and across the nation.  He will represent district educators throughout the 2026 calendar year and will serve as Sarasota County’s nominee for state Teacher of the Year. The award celebration was made possible by presenting sponsor Sunset Automotive Group, gold sponsors Suncoast Credit Union and Publix Super Markets Charities, and silver sponsors Barancik Foundation, Veronica Brady and Keith Monda, Gilbane Building Company, Gulf Coast Community Foundation, ME&S, and USF College of Education. The Education Foundation is grateful for their continued support of teachers.

To learn more, visit