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East County | Schools

The administration area of the school has been reconfigured to have a single point of entry. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • June 17, 2022
Braden River Middle renovations near completion

The School District of Manatee County takes advantage of summer months to continue renovations, which include a newly configured administration area and a cafeteria expansion.

  • East County
  • Schools
Sheila Waid feels like she's returning home as the new principal at Gilbert W. McNeal Elementary School. Waid served as a student support specialist at McNeal Elementary from 2015 to 2018.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • June 14, 2022
East Bradenton educator returns to McNeal Elementary as principal

Sheila Waid lands her first principal role after three decades in education.

  • East County
  • Schools
An Aviation Maintenance Technician School is coming to the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport. File photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • June 8, 2022
Aviation maintenance school coming to SRQ

Manatee Technical partners with Suncoast Technical to provide training at the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Cheryl McGrew, who has retired as the principal of McNeal Elementary School, was integral to starting STEM labs in elementary schools throughout the School District of Manatee County.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • June 7, 2022
McNeal Elementary principal retires after 34 years in education

River Club's Cheryl McGrew has enjoyed seeing her visions for education become reality for students in the School District of Manatee County.

  • East County
  • Schools
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • June 6, 2022
Little ranchers bond through agriculture lessons in Lakewood Ranch

Little Ranchers gives students opportunities to learn about animals, plants and the environment while building friendships.

  • East County
  • Schools
Parrish Community High School already is in need of an addition only three years after opening. The school is about 300 students shy of reaching capacity. File photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • June 5, 2022
Population explosion forces expansion of Parrish Community High earlier than expected

Parrish Community High School, which draws East County students, gets $15 million addition ahead of schedule.

  • East County
  • Schools
ODA seniors Aaliyaa Genat and Anthony Gaukhman make hearts with their hands as they enjoy their graduation ceremony.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • June 4, 2022
Out of Door Academy graduates celebrate on the Lakewood Ranch campus

ODA seniors already looking forward to their future college life.

  • East County
  • Schools
Lakewood Ranch's Melodie Marchena and her husband, Sanddy Marchena, are excited to make an impact on children as the new owners of Kiddie Academy of Lakewood Ranch. Photo by Liz Ramos.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • June 3, 2022
Kiddie Academy of Lakewood Ranch undergoes new ownership

Lakewood Ranch's Melodie and Sanddy Marchena are ready to make impact at Kiddie Academy.

  • East County
  • Schools
Robert E. Willis Elementary School's Ellie Gehndyu, a kindergartner, enjoys her first father-daughter dance with her father, Janjay Gehndyu. Dances, like the father-daughter dance, were able to return after two years. File photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • June 2, 2022
Manatee schools pull away from pandemic

Live events return at the end of the school year, and hopes are high that the pandemic is in the rear-view mirror.

  • East County
  • Schools
Freshman Allan Tran and junior Dylan Jackson set up a drone. They passed a safety course that brings them one step closer to driving drones commercially.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • June 2, 2022
Braden River High School's drone program takes off

Braden River High students pass a drone safety course that brings them closer to flying commercially.

  • East County
  • Schools
Eileen Parker with the School District of Manatee County's Food and Nutrition Services hands out lunches during the summer food program. Students will be able to pick up meals at various Lakewood Ranch-area locations. File photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • June 1, 2022
Free 2022 summer meals for Manatee County students

Students can go to multiple east Bradenton locations to receive meals.

  • East County
  • Schools
Fifth grader Jude Arbanis as Darth Maul fights against fifth grader Keagan Terry, who is playing the Mandalorian. The boys are big "Star Wars" fans.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • May 26, 2022
Lakewood Ranch fifth graders show off their talents

McNeal Elementary School students perform in annual fifth grade talent show.

  • East County
  • Schools
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • May 25, 2022
Tara Elementary fifth graders take on staff in annual kickball game

The teachers and staff at Tara Elementary went on to win 11-8 against the fifth grade class.

  • East County
  • Schools
Ziana Flores performs inside the Globe of Death.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • May 23, 2022
Myakka City Elementary students rewarded with thrill show

Stunt group The Fearless Flores performed at the school as a reward to students who had met at least 75% of their academic goals.

  • East County
  • Schools
Lakewood Ranch High School students speak with Maribeth Phillips, the president and CEO of Meals on Wheels Plus of Manatee, about the need for donations and hunger statistics in Manatee County.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • May 23, 2022
Lakewood Ranch High students raise $2,500 to feed the hungry

LRHS ceramics students provided funds to Meals on Wheels Plus of Manatee that will pay for 2,500 meals to area families.

  • East County
  • Schools
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • May 21, 2022
Braden River High graduates shine in many ways at graduation

Stoles, medals and cords show graduates' accomplishments in ceremony at LECOM Park.

  • East County
  • Schools
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • May 21, 2022
Emotional farewell to Lakewood Ranch High graduates

Rain delays graduation a day at LECOM Park in Bradenton, so seniors are primed for their big day.

  • East County
  • Schools
This year's Lakewood Ranch High graduating class will have to wait one more day to graduate as the School District of Manatee County makes scheduling changes due to weather.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • May 19, 2022
School District of Manatee County makes graduation changes due to weather

The Lakewood Ranch High graduation moved to Saturday, and Braden River High's graduation is set earlier than previously scheduled.

  • East County
  • Schools
Toquya Jones, a food service worker, prepares lunch for students at Braden River High School.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • May 18, 2022
Manatee School District works to address cafeteria, custodial staff shortages

More cafeteria and custodial staff are needed to ensure quality for the district's students.

  • East County
  • Schools
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • May 15, 2022
World of Wonder Academy showcases students' art in Lakewood Ranch

After finishing each book, the class worked on an art project based on its theme.

  • East County
  • Schools
Olivia D'Orazio, a Lakewood Ranch High School senior, has always wanted to serve in the military, so she joined the school's JROTC program. Now she plans to attend Auburn University for its ROTC program. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • May 13, 2022
Lakewood Ranch students earn big money in scholarships

Lakewood Ranch High's Olivia D'Orazio and Braden River High's Gabriel French are among the top students who strike gold with their academic work.

  • East County
  • Schools
Kindergartner Emmet Johnson checks people out after purchasing their food. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • May 12, 2022
Restaurant event serves lessons to Tara Elementary kindergartners

Josephine Johnson's students run a one-night restaurant to test their math, science and social skills.

  • East County
  • Schools
Andrew Shackleford was hired as Lakewood Ranch High's director of sports performance in 2021. Shackleford and athletic director Kent Ringquist are leading the school's efforts to renovate the weight room after 24 years.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • May 11, 2022
Lakewood Ranch High begins fundraising to renovate its weight room

Personalized workout-tracking technology would result as part of a $100,000 fundraising effort.

  • East County
  • Sports
Braden River High School's Ricardo Robinson-Shinall is Florida Studio Theatre’s Write a Play educator of the year.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • May 10, 2022
Braden River High teacher and students earn Florida Studio Theatre's Write a Play awards

Braden River students' story of snack envy leads to Write a Play award.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Central Park's Skyler Vargas will graduate from Florida Gulf Coast University at 18 years old after finishing high school at 16 years old.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • May 4, 2022
Lakewood Ranch student graduates college at 18

Central Park's Skyler Vargas is way ahead of the curve as she graduates college at 18.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Braden River High School JROTC rifle team members Stuart Macaulay, Christian Bell, Nathan Walmsley, Adanna Wharton and Elayna Andrews place first at the state championship for the first time in the team's history.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • May 3, 2022
Braden River High JROTC rifle team earns first state championship title

Hard work, dedication and Pop-Tarts lead to the rifle team's success at the state championship.

  • East County
  • Schools
Greenbrook's Bethany Carr hopes Ivybrook Academy can fill a gap for the demand in preschool education in the community. Photo by Liz Ramos.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • May 1, 2022
Ivybrook Academy preschool to open in east Bradenton

Greenbrook resident plans to open a new preschool with individualized education serving Bradenton, Sarasota and Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • Schools
Second grader Abel Hilliard and his mother, Megan Hilliard, try to score as many balls in the net as possible during a game of hockey. "Maybe I should try out for the (Tampa Bay) Lightning," Megan Hilliard says.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • April 29, 2022
East Bradenton mothers and sons compete for gold at Freedom Elementary School Olympics

The Freedom Elementary School PTO hosts mother-and-son Olympics with eight events.

  • East County
  • Schools
First graders Kingston Miller, Reghen Miller and Tomas Norwood strike a superhero pose.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • April 29, 2022
Superheroes take over Braden River Elementary in Lakewood Ranch

Students, teachers and parents dress as superheroes, and the Manatee County Sheriff's Office Crime Prevention team visits for Superhero Day.

  • East County
  • Schools
Connie Dixon plans to use her love of horses to connect with students when she becomes principal at Gene Witt Elementary School.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • April 29, 2022
Gene Witt Elementary in Bradenton names new principal

Connie Dixon has waited 20 years to be an administrator at Gene Witt Elementary School.

  • East County
  • Schools
Students from Audrey Quale's fifth grade class at Braden River Elementary School reunites with their classmates and teacher outside Quale's old classroom.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • April 28, 2022
East Bradenton high school seniors reunite with their fifth grade classmates

Despite loss of their time capsule, former Braden River Elementary classmates enjoy a reunion.

  • East County
  • Schools
David Marshall, the principal of Gene Witt Elementary, will miss seeing and hearing the funny little things his students do every day when he retires at the end of the school year. Photo by Liz Ramos.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • April 26, 2022
Gene Witt Elementary principal retires after 39 years in education in Manatee County

David Marshall, the principal at Gene Witt Elementary School, says that special small moments kept him going 39 years.

  • East County
  • Schools
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • April 23, 2022
Tara Elementary hosts Spring Dance Luau in east Bradenton

Hawaiian dance sets the stage for luau at Tara Elementary in east Bradenton.

  • East County
  • Schools
Angelee Gens, left, stands with U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan and fellow Sarasota County award winners Shannon Nelson and Eric Lostorto.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • April 20, 2022
Buchanan honors six Manatee, Sarasota teachers

The congressman has recognized educators with awards since 2014.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
Junior Samantha Rees looks over a map. Rees ended the season ranked No. 1 in the state for the female green team, which is the advanced team. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • April 18, 2022
LRHS's JROTC orienteering team sees success at state championship

Lakewood Ranch High School junior Samantha Rees ranked No. 1 in the state in orienteering.

  • East County
  • Schools
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • April 16, 2022
Incentives help east Bradenton students achieve reading goals

After Tara Elementary School students read more than 1,000 books in two weeks, Farmer Minor and his pig and pug visited the school.

  • East County
  • Schools
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Latest in East County

1
The Lakewood Ranch Garden Club Butterfly Symposium will take place at 9 a.m. on Feb. 7 at Lakewood Ranch Town Hall.
  • February 4, 2026
Butterfly symposium lands at Lakewood Ranch Town Hall
2
Braden River boys basketball has clinched its first 20-win season since 2011-12, and won eight games in a row to close out the regular season.
  • February 4, 2026
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3
Sisterhood for Good members Nikki Pelier-Simon, Samina Morrow and Allison Adams show off some fashions that will be in the spotlight at Tropical Escape July 27 at the Sarasota Polo Club.
  • February 4, 2026
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4
Thundercloud Ranch is one of two conservation easements Manatee County purchased Jan. 27.
  • February 4, 2026
Manatee County purchases two easements, conserves nearly 1,500 acres
5
Village Idiots Cycling Club member Patrick Franklin Sr. (center) was killed riding his bicycle Jan. 22 when hit by a truck pulling a trailer on Conquistador Parkway in Bradenton.
  • February 4, 2026
Building safer roads for cyclists worth a discussion in Manatee County

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