Ryan Chase

Ryan Chase is a first-generation college graduate and a Double Gator earning his B.A. in History in 2006 and his M.Ed. in Social Studies Education in 2007 at the University of Florida. After leaving UF, Ryan taught history in Manatee County, FL. Ryan earned Ed.S. in Educational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University in 2012 and has served as a school administrator ever since; most recently being named the Principal at Sarasota High School in September 2023.
Throughout his 19-year career in education, Ryan has focused on building systems and cultures that have resulted in improving five schools’ achievement scores, including three schools that improved to be ‘A’ rated schools. In his first two years as Principal at Sarasota High School (2023-2025), Ryan oversaw growth in 9 out of 10 school-grade categories, including a 58-point increase in the 2024-25 school year where 6 out of 10 categories were the highest in school grade history; leading to the school's first 'A' rating since 2019. Among those categories included a ten percent (10%) increase in graduation rate to the highest in the 111-year history of the school (97%). These accomplishments led to Ryan being named the 2025 Sarasota County Principal of the Year. In 2021, Ryan was recognized as a 40 Gators Under 40 by the University of Florida for his accomplishments in the field of education.
Ryan contributes to his community and is currently in his fifth year on the Board of Directors for the Sarasota County Gator Club® having led the club to Most Improved Gator Club® in 2021, Most Outstanding Gator Club® in 2022 and 2023, and was recognized as UF Alumni Association’s National Leader of the Year in 2022 as President from 2020-2024.
Ryan and his two children live in Sarasota, Florida. Ryan’s advocacy in our community for Autism acceptance is also a very big part of his life as his works to build a more inclusive world for children and adults like his son Carter, who has Autism and is non-verbal.