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East County | Schools

Bashaw Elementary hosts second annual Super Hero Color Run
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • November 21, 2022
Bashaw Elementary hosts second annual Super Hero Color Run

Students raised more than $10,000 for the school through the color run.

  • East County
  • Schools
Sophomore Travis Novak works on the mural with artist Tim Gibson and sophomore Collin Dillingham. The Ten Thousand Flowers Project has 2,860 flowers and growing.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • November 17, 2022
National art project blooms at the Out-of-Door Academy in Lakewood Ranch, Sarasota

ODA students are the first in Florida to be part of the Ten Thousand Flowers project.

  • East County
  • Schools
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • November 16, 2022
Willis Elementary combines arts with science, engineering at STREAM Night

Students and their families participate in science, technology, reading, engineering, arts and music activities.

  • East County
  • Schools
Parrish Community High School's Lilianna Hussain, Jonathan McIntyre, Ally Carpenter, Louis Panico and Caleb Couchois will compete in the band's second state championship in Class 2A. (Courtesy photo)
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • November 14, 2022
Manatee County marching bands prepare for state championship

Former middle school bandmates are now competitors as Lakewood Ranch and Braden River high schools vie for a championship.

  • East County
  • Schools
Waterlefe's Glenda Myers works with Ballard Elementary kindergartner Kemora Wallace once per week. (Photo by Liz Ramos)
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • November 13, 2022
Rotary Club pilots new Books for Kids kindergarten program

Volunteers work one on one with kindergartners at Ballard, Oneco and Daughtrey elementary schools in Bradenton.

  • East County
  • Schools
Carol Ricks, principal of Myakka City Elementary School, celebrates after being told by district employee Annette Codelia that she is the Principal of the Year. (Courtesy photo)
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • November 9, 2022
Myakka City Elementary leader named Manatee Principal of the Year

Carol Ricks now will be considered for the Florida Department of Education's Principal of the Year award.

  • East County
  • Schools
Lakewood Ranch High clarinet players Carlin Gillen, Kayleigh Roundy and Sarisa Ranajee will be performing in the Sugar Bowl Parade and halftime show. (Courtesy photo)
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • November 3, 2022
Lakewood Ranch High School band students head to the Sugar Bowl

Lakewood Ranch High Marching Mustangs will perform in front of thousands at the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans.

  • East County
  • Schools
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • October 22, 2022
Students launch into catapult competition in Palmetto

Students must react to surprise materials provided to build the catapults.

  • East County
  • Schools
ODA players and first-year Head Coach Rob Hollway celebrate a 54-10 win over Cocoa Beach High on Senior Night. ODA is 8-0 in 2022 after two straight winless regular seasons. (Photo by Ryan Kohn.)
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • October 22, 2022
Formally downtrodden ODA football team completes perfect regular season

The Lakewood Ranch private school football program snaps a two-year losing streak and posts undefeated regular season.

  • East County
  • Sports
Bella Rubal, a first grade teacher at Gilbert W. McNeal Elementary School, reads to her students. Elementary and middle school students don't have to make up instructional time missed during Hurricane Ian. (Photo by Liz Ramos)
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • October 21, 2022
Hurricane Ian causes only minor shift to School District of Manatee County schedule

Students have to make up less time thanks to passing 1-mill property tax referendum in 2021.

  • East County
  • Schools
Eighth graders Leah Duff, Juliana Fuschetto, Elena Margioukla and Vincenzo Pino work on decorations for a trick-or-treat station. (Photo by Liz Ramos)
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • October 21, 2022
Nolan Middle School to host annual Haunted House in Lakewood Ranch

National Junior Honor Society students turn hallways and classrooms into a tour of terror.

  • East County
  • Schools
Lissette Estevez, an English to Speakers of Other Languages teacher, helps guide third grader Daniel Perez-Martinez through a math lesson. Teachers are not only there for students educationally but also socially and emotionally.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • October 15, 2022
Myakka City Elementary School works to support its students and staff after Hurricane Ian

Myakka Elementary provides a return to normalcy for many students traumatized by Hurricane Ian.

  • East County
  • Schools
Kristen Patton walks with fourth grader Abigail Patton and Giavanna Patton, who is in pre-K, and Vincent Patton to school. "It's always good to get the kids out of the house for some morning exercise," Kristen Patton says.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • October 13, 2022
Braden River Elementary hosts annual Walk and Roll to School Day

Walk and Roll to School Day encourages students and their families to participate in easy physical activity, like walking to school.

  • East County
  • Schools
Manatee County is converting 15 schools into shelters as Hurricane Ian approaches. (File photo)
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • September 26, 2022
Manatee schools shift to evacuation shelters

The Manatee County School District closes schools Tuesday until further notice ahead of Hurricane Ian.

  • East County
  • News
School Board member James Golden, Superintendent Cynthia Saunders, Lakewood Ranch High School's mascot and Lakewood Ranch High Principal Dustin Dahlquist move dirt for the groundbreaking. (Photo by Liz Ramos)
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • September 22, 2022
Lakewood Ranch High, Freedom Elementary break ground on new additions

The new additions to the Manatee County schools will help address growth in east Bradenton.

  • East County
  • Schools
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • September 22, 2022
Bashaw Elementary hosts Hispanic Heritage Festival

Students have fun dancing, doing arts and crafts and presenting projects on famous Latinos.

  • East County
  • Schools
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • September 21, 2022
Braden River High students host 'Night of Magic' cabaret show

The student-led cabaret show dazzles the crowd with a little magic.

  • East County
  • Schools
Heidi Gillen and Melody Filewich sell Lakewood Ranch High School Marching Mustangs merchandise during a football game. Merchandise is one way band parents raise money for the school's band program.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • September 21, 2022
East Bradenton band parents along for the ride during marching season

Lakewood Ranch and Braden River high school parents dedicate hundreds of hours to support their students in marching band.

  • East County
  • Schools
Lola Johnson dances with the Braden River Dance Company during the second ensemble performance. The dance company danced to a remix version of "Into the Unknown." (File photo)
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • September 20, 2022
Lakewood Ranch schools receive funding for visual, performing arts

The 1-mill property tax referendum is providing $2.5 million for visual and performing arts programs, offering more opportunities for students.

  • East County
  • Schools
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • September 14, 2022
Children's musician performs for Tara Elementary students

Tara Elementary students sing and dance along to dozens of Jack Hartmann songs.

  • East County
  • Schools
The Mustangs defense could not stop Braden River junior Trayvon Pinder (7), who ran for 197 yards and three touchdowns thanks to holes like this one opened by the Pirates offensive line. (Photo by Ryan Kohn.)
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • September 14, 2022
Braden River retains its superiority over Lakewood Ranch

Pirates running back Trayvon Pinder runs over Mustangs with 197 yards rushing and three touchdowns.

  • East County
  • Sports
The starting salary for teachers has increased to $55,177. (File photo)
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • September 13, 2022
School District of Manatee County increases teacher pay

The starting salary for a Manatee County teacher will be $55,177, up from $52,910.

  • East County
  • Schools
Bella Rubal, a first grade teacher at Gilbert W. McNeal Elementary School, says it's a dream come true to be teaching at her former elementary school. (Photo by Liz Ramos)
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • September 13, 2022
East Bradenton teachers return to their former schools in the new school year

New teaching jobs created a homecoming as former East County students returned to their alma maters as educators.

  • East County
  • Schools
Lakewood Ranch beach volleyball player Ashley Pater said her court intelligence and communication skills are what make her an elite player. (Photo courtesy of Lorraine Pater.)
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • September 7, 2022
Lakewood Ranch beach volleyball player conquers national circuit

Next up for Ashley Pater is the 2022 FIVB Beach Volleyball U19 World Championships.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • September 6, 2022
Students have grand time at McNeal Elementary in Lakewood Ranch

The annual Grandparents Luncheon once again a festive gathering for both students and their grandparents.

  • East County
  • Schools
The animatronics lab will teach students about engineering, coding, costume design, visual production, audio production, lighting and more. (Photo by Liz Ramos)
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • September 6, 2022
Nolan Middle fosters creativity, tech skills with new animatronics lab

Students can learn engineering, coding, videography and more with mechanical-electronic puppets, thanks to an animatronics company focused on education through imagination.

  • East County
  • Schools
Fourth graders Lelia Rodriguez, Catalina Poole, Emily Topping and Molly Jae work collaboratively on an assignment. Each of them went to a different elementary school before attending Lakewood Ranch Preparatory Academy. (Photo by Liz Ramos)
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • September 5, 2022
School overcrowding eases slightly with charter academy opening

The opening of Lakewood Ranch Preparatory Academy slightly lessens the enrollment load at other local schools.

  • East County
  • Schools
The School District of Manatee County continues to have a bus driver shortage as the school year begins. The district has 106 drivers for its 104 routes. (File photo)
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • August 24, 2022
Manatee School District addresses bus driver shortage and bus upgrades

During the driver shortage, Myakka teachers have volunteered to learn to operate a bus.

  • East County
  • Schools
Riverwalk's Richard Tatem shakes hands with Steve Vernon, the chair of the Manatee County Republican Party, as Vernon congratulates him on his win. (Photo by Liz Ramos)
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • August 23, 2022
Lakewood Ranch's Richard Tatem elected to Manatee School Board District 5

Every vote counted for Richard Tatem as his 50.5% makes him the District 5 representative without the need for a run-off.

  • East County
  • Schools
Braden River Middle Principal Kimberlain Zenon-Richardson hopes the new school uniforms will boost school spirit, including eighth graders Donovan Plakyda, Bradyn Bobbitt, Esmeralda Pena and Camryn Kolbe. (Photo by Liz Ramos)
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • August 20, 2022
Braden River Middle searches for unity in uniforms

The Bradenton school switches for the first time to a uniform policy, with general approval from parents.

  • East County
  • Schools
Ethan Conner, a Freedom Elementary School fourth grader, works with Melanie Stern, a Project TEACH volunteer. More Freedom Elementary students will be able to participate in Project TEACH once an addition is built. (File photo)
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • August 16, 2022
Manatee School Board considers borrowing more money for capital projects

Inflation leads the School District of Manatee County to plot a borrow-and-build-now strategy.

  • East County
  • Schools
School administrators Bradley Warren and Cheryl Cendan spent a lot of time inside the Starbucks and Panera cafes meeting with hundreds of Lakewood Ranch parents. Cendan shows the school’s mascot — an eagle. (Photo by Lori Sax)
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • August 14, 2022
New charter school opens for Lakewood Ranch students

Enthusiasm soars for Lakewood Ranch Preparatory Academy, a charter school built on the WISH model, which stands for wellness, innovation, science and health.

  • East County
  • Schools
Cynthia Saunders, the superintendent of the School District of Manatee County, looks forward to ensuring the safety of students, expanding programming and addressing growth in the county. (File photo)
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • August 12, 2022
Manatee superintendent focuses on progress in the new school year

From academics to programming and construction, Manatee County Superintendent Cynthia Saunders says she looks forward to a new school year.

  • East County
  • Schools
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • August 10, 2022
Lakewood Ranch-area families say hello to a new school year

Braden River and Gilbert W. McNeal elementary schools are among those celebrating their opening days on Aug. 10.

  • East County
  • Schools
Maggie Sharrer, the wellness coordinator and Hope teacher, is thrilled to share with students how to be happy and healthy people. (Photo by Liz Ramos)
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • August 10, 2022
Lakewood Ranch Preparatory Academy ready to open for its first year

The newest school in Lakewood Ranch promises to offer education amplified.

  • East County
  • Schools
GreyHawk Landing's Kristen Barnhardt looks forward to a new school year for her sons Mason Barnhardt, who is a kindergartner, and Parker Barnhardt, who is a second grader, with Principal Chuck Fradley. (Photo by Liz Ramos)
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • August 9, 2022
Rowlett Academy families look forward to a new school year

East County is among the parents who get an introduction to the 2022-23 school year.

  • East County
  • Schools
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Latest in East County

1
CEO Mike Bisaha says the new equipment will at least triple Big Top Brewing Co.'s beer production.
  • December 3, 2025
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2
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  • December 3, 2025
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3
Lakewood Ranch High School graduate Jason Huh has founded a few different companies, including Sodi Pop. Sodi Pop is now available in a healthy vending machine at the school for staff and students to enjoy.
  • December 3, 2025
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5
Commissioners George Kruse and Bob McCann are on opposite sides of the AAA High School vote. Kruse voted in favor of approving the site plan, and McCann voted to deny the site plan.
  • December 3, 2025
Manatee commissioners have final say about new school but no real power

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