Foundation appoints former teacher to new education role

SARASOTA — The Community Foundation of Sarasota County has appointed Nicole Light as education officer of community impact. 

According to a press release, it's a new role designed to further develop and enhance the foundation’s support for educational opportunities across the community.

Light is a former Sarasota County Schools teacher. She will oversee the education-based projects and initiatives the Community Foundation supports, particularly its two-generation approach to Sarasota County efforts for the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading. Light will work closely with Kirsten Russell, vice president of community impact.

Light has spent the last 18 years of her professional career as a high school English teacher in Manatee and Sarasota County Schools. Her most recent teaching experience was at Pine View School, where she spent 15 years teaching 10th grade Honors English and Advanced Placement Literature.

“As a former educator who benefited firsthand from the generosity and vision of the Community Foundation, I am thrilled to be a member of the Community Impact team that helps bring that support and opportunity to teachers, schools and most importantly, students,” says Light in a statement. 

The Community Foundation of Sarasota County is a public charity founded in 1979. It has assets of over $398 million in more than 1,400 charitable funds. Last year, it awarded $34 million in grants and scholarships in the areas of education, the arts, health and human services, civic engagement, animal welfare and the environment.