Lake Manatee K-8 opens to students for the first time in Lakewood Ranch

On the first day of school, Principal Todd Richardson was eager to finally have students on campus.

By Madison Bierl
| 3:45 p.m. August 11, 2025

East County
Schools

As Alex and Samantha Montano walked away from their mom, Connie De Leon, on the opening day of school Aug. 11, Alex gave her a wave goodbye.

Then he did as all big brothers should, and grabbed his little sister's hand, leading her into the building.

It was just one of the many touching moments as the School District of Manatee County celebrated its first day of school, and Lake Manatee K-8 marked the first day of its history.

De Leon said she had both excitement and anxiety as she dropped off her children — Alex is a third grader and Samantha is a pre-K student — at Lakewood Ranch's newest school. She looks forward to her children growing along with the school.

She said Alex always has been independent, so she isn't worried about him tackling a new school environment. It's all new for Samantha.

“She’s my last one, my baby girl," De Leon said of Samantha. “I want to cry, but have held back because I don’t want her to see me sad.”

While De Leon wanted to cry, Alex couldn't wait to get into a science class with the hope of building a volcano in the near future.

Principal Todd Richardson loved the mix of emotions on opening day, saying he is grateful to have a sense of normalcy now that students are in the building.

“Parents are super excited ... a lot of tears, obviously,” Richardson said. “For the kids, they came ready to go.”

Fourth grade student Ben Koske transferred from B.D. Gullett Elementary and he was eager to meet new friends. His parents, Jeremy and Katiei Koske, said they are happy to have the school at 17210 Academic Ave., even closer to their home.

From pre-K to fifth grade, 638 students were expected to arrive Aug. 11.

“I know that we're anxious,” Richardson said as he greeted the students gathered in the cafeteria. “I know that we're nervous. But today is going to be an awesome day.”

Richardson said Lake Manatee K-8 is a Leader in Me school with a motto of “Learn, Lead, Succeed.”

Both Richardson and Interim Superintendent Kevin Chapman were directing cars that were dropping off students.

“We plan all summer for this day,” Chapman said. “Like Todd said, it’s like the Super Bowl.”

Richardson said there are tweaks to be made in order to make the drop-off line move more efficiently. The school will experiment with starting drop-off before 7:55 a.m. as well as double stacking the line so more kids can exit cars at once.

Brando Fetzek, the Vice President and Project Executive for NDC Construction Company, came to the school for opening day to see the campus that he was involved with building come alive. His team has been putting the finishing touches on the campus over the past few weeks.

“I hope that they all call this place home,” Fetzek said of the students. “Todd's been working really hard to get this campus ready along with his teachers.”

Ally Bourdon is the only first-year teacher at Lake Manatee K-8 and she moved from Texas. She said a new school attracted her because everyone will be in the same boat of figuring out where to go and how to teach, more so than an already established school.

Bourdon said the first day was chaotic, but she expected that in her kindergarten class.

“I want to get as much wisdom as I can for next year,” Bourdon said.

Xiomara Cappiello is a fourth grade teacher at Lake Manatee K-8 who previously taught at Braden River Elementary School.

“I've had a new wind of excitement with a new school. It gives you a new life,” Cappiello said. “it kind of reignites that spark.”

Ricardo Vasquez and Monica Rodriguez wish their daughter Kiali Vasquez good luck on her first day with a kiss. Kiali is determined to get straight A's.

Third grade student Alex Montano waves goodbye to his mother Connie De Leon before he walks his little sister, pre-K student Samantha Montano, into the building for their first day at Lake Manatee.

Interim superintendent Kevin Chapman and principal Todd Richardson are eager to welcome students to the first ground up K-8 in Manatee County, Lake Manatee.

Pre-K student Crew Prime gets a fist bump from principal Todd Richardson. Prime's mother Jessie Bock teaches kindergarten at the school.

Valorie Baron brings sons Brady and Cam along for the ride to drop off Lake Manatee kindergarten student Jacob Baron. Jacob is looking forward to art class and likes making starfish out of clay.

Third grade student Alex Montano, pre-K student Samantha Montano and their mom Connie De Leon are eager to grow along with the school. De Leon says Alex has always been independent and she was holding back tears in order to not upset Samantha on her very first day.

Laura and Luiza Novato are entering fourth grade and kindergarten at Lake Manatee. They both say they are excited for everything Lake Manatee has to offer.

Biljana Haskic and students Damir and Zlatan Haskic ride bikes and a scooter to Lake Manatee for the for first day of school. Damir is starting fifth grade and Zlatan will begin as a second grader.

Principal Todd Richardson directs the car line in front of Lake Manatee, urging parents to keep the line moving in an efficient manner to start the school day as soon as possible.

Interim superintendent Kevin Chapman, principal of Lake Manatee Todd Richardson and Annette Codelia, executive director of elementary schools at the School District of Manatee County, welcome students to their first day at Lake Manatee.

Ricardo Vasquez, Layla Boron, Colette Kropfl, Kiali Vasquez and Monica Rodriguez appreciate the beauty of the new Lake Manatee school and how family oriented the neighborhood is. Boron, Kropfl and Vasquez are all starting fourth grade.

Todd Richardson directs the students to make an "O" with their hands when he says "Otters Up" as a way to get their attention like a "magic wand."

Lake Manatee is a Leader in Me school, teaching the following seven habits: “Be Proactive,” “Begin with the End In Mind,” “Put First Things First,” “Think Win-Win,” “Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood,” “Synergize” and “Sharpen the Saw.”

Anelise Brannon, a fifth grader at Lake Manatee, is like family to Todd Richardson and he refers to her as his niece. Their families have known each other for 30 years.

Todd Richardson says about 50% of the students at Lake Manatee transferred from B. D. Gullett Elementary School where he was the principal, so they are familiar with the way he runs things.

Once Todd Richardson knew the name of the school would be Lake Manatee, he chose an otter as the mascot after a quick search on what animals are in the lake. He says there is a pond behind the Publix at Lakewood Ranch Blvd and State Road 64 there is a pond where otters live and can be seen.

author

Madison Bierl

Madison Bierl is the education and community reporter for the East County Observer. She grew up in Iowa and studied at the Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication at Iowa State University.