Ziegler elected to one-year term as School Board chair

Goodwin elected vice chair

Bridget Ziegler (center) is congratulated by fellow School Board members Shirley Brown and Eric Robinson. Jane Goodwin, who was elected vice chair, and Caroline Zucker, outgoing chair, joined the School Board meeting by phone from a conference in Tampa. Photo courtesy Sarasota County Schools

By unanimous vote on Nov. 28, Bridget Ziegler was elected to a one-year term as chair of the Sarasota County School Board. Jane Goodwin was unanimously elected to serve as vice chair.

The School Board elects a chair and vice chair annually from among its five members, a school district news release explains. Ziegler, who had served as vice chair since November 2016, succeeds Caroline Zucker.

“I look forward to serving in this important role, collaborating with my colleagues on several projects that have an impact on student success, including closing the achievement gap, attracting and retaining high-quality school district employee, and educating citizens about the upcoming referendum vote in March,” said Ziegler in the release. “Voters will decide about whether to renew the referendum on the 1-mill voted funding that supports local schools for another four years. It’s an honor to represent the School Board and this exceptional school district in this critical year.”

Referring to the elections of Ziegler and Goodwin as chair and vice chair, School Board member Eric Robinson said it was the “right combination at the right time,” the release added.

Ziegler was appointed to the School Board by Gov. Rick Scott in June 2014 to fill the vacancy left by the resignation of Carol Todd. Ziegler then was elected to a four-year term in November 2014.

“She is a vice president at Marsh & McLennan, a firm whose specialties include risk management and insurance services,” the release notes. She is married to Christian Ziegler, state committeeman for the Republican Party of Sarasota County. The couple has two young daughters, Reagan and Sloane.