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East County | Schools

Indigo's Donald Karn always has a smile on his face. (Photo by Liz Ramos)
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • July 22, 2022
Crossing guard safeguards Lakewood Ranch's most precious commodity: Children

Indigo's Donald Karn has been a crossing guard for three years and loves interacting with the students and parents.

  • East County
  • Schools
Kevin Young and MaryAnne Young with the New College Foundation are thrilled to receive a $159,000 grant from Adell Erozer, Robert Blalock and Burdette Parent with the Bishop Parker Foundation. (Courtesy photo)
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • July 21, 2022
Scholarship program sends more Manatee students to New College

Bishop Parker Foundations provides $159,000 for scholarships for Manatee County students headed for New College of Florida.

  • East County
  • Schools
Seth Shamrock. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • July 19, 2022
East County Athlete of the Week: Seth Shamrock

The Lakewood Ranch High rising senior is rated by Kohl's Snapping as a four-star long snapper.

  • East County
  • Sports
Arizona College of Nursing students practice their skills in the simulation lab, which provides hands-on learning opportunities for students. (Courtesy photo)
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • July 17, 2022
Arizona College of Nursing to open campus in Manatee in August

Lakewood Ranch Medical Center will be among regional hospitals to benefit from new college of nursing.

  • East County
  • Schools
Work continues on the cafeteria and multipurpose room of Lakewood Ranch Preparatory Academy. (Photo by Liz Ramos)
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • July 13, 2022
Construction on charter school's first phase nears completion

With an Aug. 10 opening day approaching, construction crews have the coming Lakewood Ranch Preparatory Academy on schedule.

  • East County
  • Schools
Braden River High School graduates Fiorella Recchioni and Sara Diaz and rising senior Nico Curci place second in fashion design and technology for their version of a theme park uniform. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • July 11, 2022
Braden River High claims national TSA title

Three division titles lead Braden River High to national TSA team championship.

  • East County
  • Schools
Toquya Jones and Margaret Laughlin, food service workers at Braden River High, prepare lunch for students. (File photo)
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • July 7, 2022
Free lunches no longer an option for most Lakewood Ranch students

Most East County schools will require parents to apply for free lunches based on need.

  • East County
  • Schools
Valerie Viands, the director of Manatee Technical College, hands Sarasota's Jasmine Redding her diploma. Redding has a job with Nurse Core and plans to work part time for HCA Florida Blake Hospital or First Physicians Group.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • July 1, 2022
Manatee Technical College fast-tracks grads into the workforce in Bradenton and Sarasota region

Many Manatee Technical College students secured a job before they even graduate.

  • East County
  • Schools
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • June 28, 2022
Manatee School District considers how to use vacant land to address growth

The district has three parcels totaling 186 acres in the Lakewood Ranch area on which to build new schools.

  • East County
  • Schools
Jennifer Santora, a former third grade teacher at B.D. Gullett Elementary School, helps Caley Ochoa with a math problem. Teachers will go through trainings to learn more ways of supporting students. File photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • June 22, 2022
Manatee School District implements new project to improve school climate

Thirty-three percent of students surveyed say the actions of fellow students hurt their performance, so the school district hopes Project Spark leads to better learning environment.

  • 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
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Latest in East County

1
Tony Barrett is running for the at-large District 6 commission seat in Manatee County.
  • April 1, 2026
East Manatee fire commissioner enters at-large County Commission race
2
Myakka's Sydney McCullough shows off the first place ribbon and belt buckle she won in January for whip cracking in the senior division at the Manatee County Fair.
  • April 1, 2026
Cracking a whip has been a snap for Myakka teenager
3
Manatee County commissioners unanimously approve the purchase of 9000 Town Center Parkway May 6.
  • April 1, 2026
DOGE questions Manatee County's capital expenditures, additional staff
4
John Saputo (left), Denise Saputo (top center), Lorraine Vitale (right) and Dick Vitale (bottom center) at the "March Mayhem" fundraiser and Elite Eight watch party. The Saputos were the hosts March 28 at Gold Coast Eagle Distributing.
  • April 1, 2026
March Mayhem fundraiser in Lakewood Ranch benefits pediatric cancer research
5
Lakewood Ranch Little League plays at Lakewood Ranch Park March 25.
  • April 1, 2026
Lakewood Ranch Little League expands to improve accessibility

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