Pictured: (l-r) Maria Morcillo with Wes Roberts, Executive Publisher, SRQ Magazine. Photo by Wyatt Kostygan.

Each year, SRQ Media invites the community to nominate individuals with hearts of giving who have made a significant impact with local nonprofit organizations — from volunteers and board members to individual staff members and donors. This year, attendees were thrilled to be together as we recognized these individuals at our annual Giving Coast and Good Hero Awards luncheon and panel discussion on Tuesday, January 28 at Michael’s on East in Sarasota. In the coming weeks, we are happy to feature each of the ten honorees in our Wednesday Philanthropic edition of SRQ Daily.

Today we are recognizing Maria Morcillo, Lead Teacher at Children First. Morcillo has been an ambassador of giving back and a dedicated educator for nearly two decades. Her passion for early childhood education and her ability to make a lasting impact on the children, families and staff around her and her contributions, both in and out of the classroom, have had a profound and far-reaching influence on the community she serves. From a young age, she knew that teaching children would be her life’s mission. In 2006, she joined Children First as a lead teacher in a pre-kindergarten classroom and has held the position ever since. She seamlessly integrates teacher-directed and child-initiated activities into her classroom, tailoring learning to the interests and passions of her students. Whether it's learning about the metamorphosis of a caterpillar to a butterfly or practicing green initiatives like recycling, Morcillo ensures that every child is engaged, excited and learning. Her classroom is a multicultural and multilingual environment. Her dedication to the field of early childhood education, her innovative thinking and her compassionate leadership make her an invaluable asset. Although she will be retiring in December, her legacy will resonate far beyond her time in the classroom. The seeds she has planted—through her mentorship, advocacy, and unwavering commitment to children and families—will grow and flourish for generations to come.

Pictured: (l-r) Maria Morcillo with Wes Roberts, Executive Publisher, SRQ Magazine. Photo by Wyatt Kostygan.