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East County | Schools

Suzanne Aguirre, a Lakewood Ranch High senior, conducts diabetic testing on Alexis McClintock, a Braden River High senior. The seniors appreciate getting a head start on their nursing courses through MTC's dual enrollment program.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • March 31, 2021
Ahead of the game in Manatee County

MTC dual enrollment programs offer high school students advanced opportunities.

  • East County
  • News
Charter Schools USA is working with Southwest Charter Foundation to potentially open Lakewood Ranch Charter Academy in August 2022 if the School Board of Manatee County approves the application.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • March 31, 2021
New charter school proposed in Lakewood Ranch

If approved, Lakewood Ranch Charter Academy could open in August 2022.

  • East County
  • News
Principal Todd Richardson volunteers to kiss a pig to help the school raise more than $30,000. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • March 31, 2021
Kid at heart in Lakewood Ranch

Gullett Elementary principal hogs the attention while engaging his students and staff.

  • East County
  • News
Shamar Beatty points to his family in the stands while walking across the field with his diploma. His sash and mask has photos of memories from his time at Lakewood Ranch High School. File photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • March 17, 2021
Venue change alters graduation dates for Lakewood Ranch and Braden River high schools

School District of Manatee County high schools push back graduation dates after switch to LECOM Park.

  • East County
  • News
Olivya Johns, Jacsyn Hockenbury and Emily Garcia kick off the start of "Little Shop of Horrors."
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • March 17, 2021
Little shop of funding horrors in east Bradenton

Braden River and Lakewood Ranch high school theater programs struggle to stay afloat financially during pandemic.

  • East County
  • News
Registered Nurse Debbie Bottiger prepares a COVID-19 vaccine for a School District of Manatee County employee. The district has worked with community partners to provide more than 5,000 vaccines to its more than 6,000 employees.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • March 17, 2021
Vaccines a relief for Manatee County educators

The School District of Manatee County works with community partners to get its employees vaccinated.

  • East County
  • News
R. Dan Nolan Middle School TSA members Emma Hubley, Callum Wilford and Virginia Frisbie celebrate their first place win for Leadership Strategies. Courtesy of Nadine Anderson.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • March 17, 2021
TSA effort A-OK in east Bradenton

East Bradenton schools' TSA teams see success at state conference despite challenges due to COVID-19.

  • East County
  • News
The School District of Manatee County's Food and Nutrition Services Department will provide free meals for children during spring break.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • March 11, 2021
School District of Manatee County offers free meals during spring break

Manatee County children can pickup meals at Freedom Elementary and Haile Middle during spring break.

  • East County
  • News
Layden Kraut, Sophia Marzonie and Isabella Moncion, first graders at B.D. Gullett Elementary School are all used to using laptops. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • March 10, 2021
A year of COVID-19: Schools adapt in east Bradenton

Parents, teachers say the School District of Manatee County has navigated the pandemic well.

  • East County
  • News
Braden River High School graduate Chloe Carnegie walks across the field with her diploma during the school's graduation ceremony at LECOM Park in 2020.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • March 9, 2021
School Board of Manatee County approves graduation date changes

Manatee County high school graduations will take place in the first week of June.

  • East County
  • News
Lakewood Ranch High School theater students will perform in a virtual cabaret March 5.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • March 4, 2021
Ready to dazzle virtually in Lakewood Ranch

Lakewood Ranch High School theater students host virtual cabaret show.

  • East County
  • News
Cynthia Saunders, the superintendent of the School District of Manatee County, works with Ted Lindenberg, the director of Books for Kids, to find ways for the program to continue to support students in the district. File photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • March 3, 2021
Books for Kids adds new chapter in Manatee County

The Rotary Club of Lakewood Ranch's Books for Kids program adds mentoring program to help students.

  • East County
  • News
Madelyn Hall and Patrick Danielcak, first graders at B.D. Gullett Elementary School use laptops to learn how to access digital books from the public library. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • March 3, 2021
A Chromebook on every desk in Manatee County

The School District of Manatee County begins a 5-year plan to assure its students have the technology to succeed.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • March 1, 2021
School District of Manatee County celebrates Champions of Education

The School District of Manatee County kicks off a two-week celebration to show appreciation for its more than 6,000 employees.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • February 27, 2021
Pressure builds as WGC-Workday Championship at The Concession enters final round

Colin Morikawa holds a two-stroke lead heading into Sunday.

  • East County
  • Sports
Medical Assisting students Esbeydi Penaloza and Jackie Pizano go through how to teach someone how to use a walker.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • February 24, 2021
Healthcare workers on the way in Manatee County

Manatee Technical College goes to hybrid programs to meet increasing healthcare industry needs.

  • East County
  • News
Sarasota's Sean Ball is named the new head of upper school at The Out-of-Door Academy.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • February 24, 2021
Decades of impact at ODA

Longtime administrator/teacher Sean Ball is named the Out-of-Door Academy's new head of upper school in Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • News
Drew Weaver (left) and David Lingmerth (center) walk alongside their caddies to find their balls on the No. 18 hole.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • February 18, 2021
Three golfers tied for lead after day one of 2021 Suncoast Classic

Last year's winner is still within striking distance.

  • East County
  • Sports
Gary Sawyer, the director of transportation and vehicle maintenance for the School District of Manatee County, says an electric bus could be an exciting adventure and learning experience for the district. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • February 17, 2021
Driven to be green in Manatee County

The School District of Manatee County hopes to receive funding for an electric bus.

  • East County
  • News
The entrance to Braden River Middle School will look different after the school's renovation and addition is complete. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • February 17, 2021
Anticipation builds for Braden River Middle project

Braden River Middle School renovation and addition project moves forward.

  • East County
  • News
Braden River Elementary School has a new kindness garden where students can leave a kindness rock or take a kindness rock and share it with others. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • February 10, 2021
Kindness grows with new garden in Lakewood Ranch

Braden River Elementary invites students to take a rock or leave a rock to spread kindness.

  • East County
  • News
Registered Nurse Debbie Bottiger prepares a Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for a School District of Manatee County employee. The district worked with MCR Health to provide about 300 vaccines to district employees who were at least 65.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • February 10, 2021
Manatee County schools' safety layers increase

Manatee County senior teacher vaccinations add another level of safety for district on campus.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • February 10, 2021
Blanketed with kindness in Lakewood Ranch

The Out-of-Door Academy students raise money to donate blankets to shelters in Sarasota as part of the Blankets of Hope project.

  • East County
  • News
Dan Powers, along with Katie Powers, Robert Powers, Rebecca Powers, Cory Coyner, Shayleen Coyner and Scott Coyner, are the first to walk along the Mustang Memorial Walk.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • February 3, 2021
A walk to remember in Lakewood Ranch

Mustang Memorial Walk at Lakewood Ranch High School was dedicated in honor of boys who died in car accident.

  • East County
  • News
School zone signs have been replaced with school entrance signs, meaning cars no longer have to slow to 20 miles per hour when the yellow light flashes.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • February 3, 2021
Confusion grips modified school zone in Lakewood Ranch

Modification of the school zone on S.R. 70 near Braden River Elementary School causes confusion.

  • East County
  • News
Every third grade teacher has made their new classroom their own. Joanne Sollazzo decorated hers with a cow theme. The teachers were able to move into the new addition over winter break.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • January 27, 2021
Teachers thrilled with Gene Witt addition

Eight classroom addition increases teaching opportunities at Gene Witt Elementary.

  • East County
  • News
The School Board of Manatee County approves salary increases for more School District of Manatee County employees.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • January 26, 2021
School Board of Manatee County approves salary increases

Salary increases are approved for more School District of Manatee County supervisors, administrators, administrators and managers.

  • East County
  • News
The district is trying to hire more talented teachers, such as Braden River High math teacher Glen Dallman, by increasing salaries for first-year teachers. File photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • January 20, 2021
Major increase for new teachers in Manatee County

School District of Manatee County raises starting teachers' salary to $51,630.

  • East County
  • News
Robert E. Willis Elementary second graders Aubri Darpino and Ella Baas are socially distant while working on assignments. Schools will continue to practice social distancing as part of COVID-19 mitigation measures. File photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • January 13, 2021
New protocols at Manatee schools

The School District of Manatee County changes COVID-19 protocols

  • East County
  • News
The School Board of Manatee County unanimously approved salary increases for teachers and raises for paraprofessionals for the 2020-2021 school year during the board's meeting Jan. 12.Â
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • January 13, 2021
School Board of Manatee County approves salary increases

School District of Manatee County increases starting teacher salary to $51,630.

  • East County
  • News
Horticulture students Samuel Jones, Evan England, Saige Freitag and Savannah Cannon admire their harvest from the community garden. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • January 13, 2021
Agriculture program grows in Lakewood Ranch

Lakewood Ranch High School begins a community garden.

  • East County
  • News
Sophomore Ryann Hilyer will be exhibiting the Lakewood Ranch High School's Future Farmers of America chapter steer, Bill. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • January 13, 2021
Show time for east Bradenton FFA students

Lakewood Ranch High's FFA creates Ranch Buyers Club to promote students' projects at Manatee County Fair.

  • East County
  • Schools
The Out-of-Door Academy seniors Kaylen Rivers, Chelsea Ball and Ximena Barrales continue to adjust to the school's new health and safety protocols. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • January 6, 2021
Adjusting to pandemic with class in Lakewood Ranch

East Bradenton high school seniors make the most of their final school year despite pandemic.

  • East County
  • News
Four Braden River High School students created an app that could save lives.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • December 23, 2020
East Bradenton students honored for dosage app

Four Braden River High students win 16th Congressional District App Challenge.

  • East County
  • News
Superintendent Cynthia Saunders, Faith Bench, a math teacher at Braden River Middle School, and Genelle Zoratti Yost, deputy superintendent of instructional services, honor Bench as a finalist for Educator of the Year. File photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • December 23, 2020
With contract extended, School District of Manatee County superintendent focuses on future

Superintendent of the School District of Manatee County has contract extended through June 2023.

  • East County
  • News
The School Board of Manatee County has unanimously voted to extend Superintendent Cynthia Saunders' contract for two years. File photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • December 17, 2020
School Board of Manatee County extends superintendent's contract

School District of Manatee County's superintendent Cynthia Saunders is under contract to serve another two years.

  • East County
  • News
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