- December 4, 2025
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Longtime Lakewood Ranch resident Mary Glass has worked with and for students for the 18 years but doesn’t normally realize the sort of impact she has made until she sits down and reflects on it. When she does, she is overwhelmed and brought to tears.
Glass was at an event at The Grove called Arts Rise & Shine two years ago, which gives aspiring artists an opportunity to get a glimpse into the art world and see that people can admire and pay for their art. She said it helps with their confidence.
Two previous students approached her and thanked her for being an inspiration.
“One said, ‘I remember participating and that gave me the confidence to pursue an area in the arts,” Glass said. “I literally could not believe what I was hearing. It was such a meaningful thing, and I felt so happy for them.”
Glass has retired from her 18 year presidency at Manatee Education Foundation (MEF).
Kathy Price, a previous principal of Robert E. Willis Elementary School, is replacing Glass as executive director. Glass plans to stay on as a consultant to the foundation through the end of April 2026 to help ease the transition.
“I'm not there to bark orders or anything like that,” Glass said. “I'm here to guide and help promote the foundation and keep it at that level that I'm used to. It's a learning curve.”
Glass received the Paul Sharff Children's Champion Award from the Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County in May of last year. When she went to give her acceptance speech, it resonated with Laurie Breslin, the new superintendent for the School District of Manatee County.
“The standing ovation in the room and the amount of people with tears in their eyes that are really just filled with gratitude for her contributions was quite memorable for me because it's really special to have an opportunity to impact the community so greatly,” Breslin said.
“To see someone who's done that and has so much respect and admiration from her colleagues that she's worked through over her years was quite exceptional to see.”
Breslin said Glass is brilliant, intelligent and a great problem solver. She said Glass has had the best intentions in supporting students, working with teachers and working with the district as a whole.
Jeramiah Bowman, the director of educational programs at the Manatee Education Foundation, has worked with Glass for five years through the Manatee Arts Education Council. Glass founded it in 2018.
“She knows that the arts are essential for many kids to thrive in schools,” Bowman said. She's been steadfast in this support for that. She's been a rock about this stuff that we need to do — we need to give the kids these opportunities, and we need to find funding for them to be able to do that.”
He said it has been a joy working with Glass and bouncing ideas back and forth through collaboration and strategizing.
“Mary is a giving and thoughtful individual who puts the children of Manatee County at the forefront of her work,” Bowman said.
“It's very fortunate to have moved here (30 years ago) and then watched everything kind of blossom and grow,” Glass said. “The district's doing well too. It's been through a lot, but everything does, everything goes through challenges in life. They came out on the really strong side now. They're financially doing well and they've got good people in place.”
Glass said it is important for her to go out while she is still passionate about what she has done. She can walk away proud of what she did due to leaving the foundation in good hands, with strong members and partnerships.
Being the planner that she has been for many years, Glass is eager not to have plans when she officially retires.
“For me, it's going to be that I don't have to schedule myself every day,” Glass said. “I don't wake up going, ‘What do I have on the calendar?’ It's more like, ‘Wow, I feel a sense of freedom about my life.’”
