SHERMAN STRATTON

Legacy Award

     Sherm Stratton grew up in Venice and graduated from Venice Senior High School in 1963 as valedictorian. Sherm attended Duke University and later received his M.A. from the University of Wisconsin as a Woodrow Wilson Fellow. The Wilson Fellow program promoted excellence in education by offering teaching internships.

     That teaching experience sparked Stratton's return to Florida and Riverview High in 1968. During his 23 years at RHS, Sherm taught Russian, Humanities, English, Semantics, Dual Enrollment World Literature and British Literature. In 1986, Stratton's outstanding instruction earned him the honor of Sarasota County Teacher of the Year.

     While he was teaching, Sherm was also actively involved in efforts to acquire and protect Caspersen Beach, North Jetty, South Lido Beach, and many other local environmental gems.

     After leaving education, Sherm has been a volunteer on natural habitats throughout Sarasota County. He has worked on projects to protect and monitor gopher tortoises and scrub-jays, along with trail mapping, wildlife monitoring with trail cameras, guided hikes and bike rides, narrated hay wagon rides and other educational programs. On a daily basis, he greets visitors in the Carlton Reserve log cabin or helps maintain trails and trail markers.

     Even though his retirement is filled with preserving our county's natural habitat, Sherm continues to give back to Riverview as the Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame's website manager.