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East County | Schools

Risen Savior Lutheran Church Pastor Caleb Free and Jodi Batsch, an elementary administrator for Risen Savior Academy, are excited to welcome kindergartners to the academy's new elementary school.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • January 17, 2023
Risen Savior Lutheran Church to add kindergarten in 2023-24

The addition of kindergarten is the first step in the expansion of Lakewood Ranch's Risen Savior Academy to include an elementary school.

  • East County
  • Schools
Cynthia Saunders, the superintendent of the School District of Manatee County, will retire June 30. The School Board of Manatee County is in the beginning stages of the search for a new superintendent.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • January 12, 2023
Manatee School Board clashes on preference for new superintendent

Some board members say they would prefer a Florida resident while others say they are open to all candidates.

  • East County
  • Schools
Victoria Short, right, has been a teacher at William H. Bashaw Elementary School for 33 years. No matter the changes in education, she still loves teaching her students and building relationships with them.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • January 10, 2023
Veteran teachers talk about changes in education over three decades

From technology expectations to school culture, teachers have had to adjust the way they teach.

  • East County
  • Schools
Students like seventh graders Jayden Lavalle and Kiley Nowaczyk have fun creating items and determining what to sell in the vending machine.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • January 9, 2023
New school supplies vending machine meets Haile Middle students' needs

The students stock some items in the machine and learn basic business lessons about cost of production and return.

  • East County
  • Schools
Rachel Sellers is named the School District of Manatee County's deputy superintendent of business services.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • January 7, 2023
Manatee School District introduces new deputy superintendent of business services

Rachel Sellers will start her new post Jan. 9 after previously working for the Florida auditor general.

  • East County
  • Schools
Lakewood Ranch High School's Jasmine Burden, Bryce Brielmann and Amme Cook lead the Marching Mustangs in the parade. The marching band performed in the Sugar Bowl parade and half time show.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • January 3, 2023
Lakewood Ranch High marching band makes sweet memories at Sugar Bowl

From a riverboat ride to walking Jackson Square to performing at the Sugar Bowl, the Marching Mustangs won't forget their New Orleans trip.

  • East County
  • Schools
Victoria Staszak and Ashlyn Meyers are grateful to Cameron Dakin Dairy for allowing them to show Josie at the Manatee County Fair.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • January 3, 2023
Local farms support Manatee County Fair participants from FFA, 4-H

Cameron Dakin Dairy and Bunyak Club Calves lead the way providing animals to show at the annual fair in Palmetto.

  • East County
  • Schools
Cars are driving south on Rye Road nonstop in the morning by Gene Witt Elementary School.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • December 21, 2022
Gene Witt Elementary parents push for a signal light

With homes being built across the street, Gene Witt administrators and parents say a traffic signal is needed in front of the school.

  • East County
  • Schools
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • December 20, 2022
East Bradenton students share their Christmas wishes in letters to Santa

From pets to hoverboards, scooters and more, Braden River, Tara and McNeal elementary first graders and kindergartners share what they want Santa to deliver.

  • East County
  • Schools
Two calls alleging a threat involving Braden River High School were reported Wednesday.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • December 15, 2022
Braden River High, Manatee Sheriff's Office investigate threat

Two calls alleging a threat involving Braden River High were reported Wednesday.

  • East County
  • Schools
Lourdes Capote-Dishaw, a Braden River High School junior, will continue to work with Bobbert during winter break to prepare for the Manatee County Fair.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • December 15, 2022
Barn doors stay open during FFA students' winter break

Future Farmers of America students return to campus during winter break to care for their animals and prepare for the Manatee County Fair.

  • East County
  • Schools
Lakewood Ranch High School's Audrey Weeks, Karen Tinoco, Skylar Cox and Samantha Rees compete in the rope bridge at the Raiders state championship. The team placed third.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • December 14, 2022
Lakewood Ranch, Braden River high schools win Raiders state championships

With more freshmen on the teams, Lakewood Ranch and Braden River high school JROTC Raiders members had to act as participants and coaches.

  • East County
  • Schools
Myakka City Elementary teacher named Manatee County's Principal of the Year
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • December 13, 2022
Myakka City Elementary teacher named Manatee County's Principal of the Year

Principal Carol Ricks was honored for her dedication to students, teachers, staff and the Myakka City community.

  • East County
  • Schools
Javier Torres, a fifth grader dressed as Santa, wishes everyone a Merry Christmas.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • December 8, 2022
Tara Elementary School fifth graders perform 'Snow Jubilee!'

Fifth graders perform an interpretation of "Snow, What Fun!" using music teacher's original compositions.

  • East County
  • Schools
Braden River High School seniors Nathan Zapote and Grace Pino are happy to be at the school, which is open for school choice in the 2023-2024 school year.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • December 8, 2022
Parents have more school choice options in Manatee County

More schools in the Lakewood Ranch area are open to school choice as enrollment at elementary and middle schools decreases.

  • East County
  • Schools
Riverwalk's Richard Tatem has been sworn in as the District 5 representative on the School Board of Manatee County.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • December 6, 2022
Retired Air Force colonel ready to begin new duty as school board member

Lakewood Ranch's Richard Tatem, the new District 5 representative, says the search for a new School District of Manatee County superintendent is a top priority.

  • East County
  • Schools
Tiffany Barrett-Greer, a second grade teacher at Braden River Elementary School, is a finalist for the School District of Manatee County's Educator of the Year.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • December 5, 2022
East Bradenton school employees honored for dedication to education

Two East County teachers and two East County support staff were named finalists for Educator of the Year and Support Employee of the Year.

  • East County
  • Schools
Third grader Raelynn Wilson is surprised to see how much can fit in a tiny house if space is used wisely.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • November 30, 2022
Tiny house brings unique challenges for Braden River Elementary students

Tiny House Siesta provides inspiration for third graders as they design and create 3D models of tiny houses.

  • East County
  • Schools
The School District of Manatee County names Tiffany Barrett-Greer, a second grade teacher at Braden River Elementary, Kendall Carrier, the director of bands at Parrish Community High School, Michelle Bowell, a biomedical science teacher at Palmetto High School, and Kelly Smith-Williams, an anatomy and physiology teacher at Lakewood Ranch High School, as finalists for the district's Educator of the Year.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • November 29, 2022
Two Lakewood Ranch teachers named Manatee's Educator of the Year finalists

A Braden River Elementary teacher and Lakewood Ranch High School teacher will be honored at the district's Excellence in Education Awards in February.

  • East County
  • Schools
Kindergartner Jay Dan Roux uses his finger to keep track of where he is in his reading. Kindergartners like Roux will be tested on their literacy skills using the EarlyBird screener.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • November 29, 2022
Manatee School District pilots literacy screener in three elementary schools

The EarlyBird screener will identify literacy strengths and weaknesses and characteristics of dyslexia for students in pre-K, kindergarten and first grade at three schools.

  • East County
  • Schools
P.E. teacher Bet Tracy and sixth grader Leah Lazarde watch students as they play gator ball. (Photos by Liz Ramos)
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • November 28, 2022
Haile Middle Teacher Shadow Day shows there's more to gym class than playing sports

A P.E. teacher shares lessons on sportsmanship, encouragement and organization with a sixth grade shadow.

  • 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
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1
Work has either started or will begin soon on four roundabouts on University Parkway, east of Lakewood Ranch Boulevard. University Parkway also is being widened from Lorraine Road to Bourneside Boulevard.
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Deborah Callahan-Stratton, Joy Stone, Barbara Najmy and Jennifer Alokeh are collecting sneakers for the fifth annual Sneakin Back to School Sneaker Drive to benefit The Twig.
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Avery Banfill (left) and Phoenix Scanlan (right) grew up on the same junior golf circuit. Their respective journeys converged at Parrish Community High and will converge once again at Memphis next fall.
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The Manatee County Property Appraiser is located at 915 4th Ave. W. in downtown Bradenton.
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