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East County | Schools

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
Cynthia Saunders, superintendent of the School District of Manatee County, and Paul Sharff, the CEO of the Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County, talk about the new Mobile Learning Lab. File photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • December 16, 2020
School Board of Manatee County to determine superintendent's future

School Board of Manatee County to make decision on superintendent contract.

  • East County
  • News
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 for winter break on Dec. 21 and Dec. 28. File photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • December 15, 2020
Manatee County schools offer free meals during winter break

Manatee County families can pick up free meals at Haile Middle and Myakka Elementary in east Bradenton.

  • East County
  • News
Samantha Sokolis, an Advanced Manufacturing student, adjusts a robot.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • December 9, 2020
Project offers rapid-fire job training in east Bradenton

Manatee Technical College receives grant to help the unemployed train for new opportunities.

  • East County
  • News
The School Board of Manatee County will discuss the contract of Cynthia Saunders, the superintendent of the School District of Manatee County, during a special meeting Dec. 17. File photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • December 8, 2020
School Board of Manatee County to host meeting on superintendent's contract

The School Board of Manatee County voted 3-2 to schedule a special meeting to discuss the superintendent's contract Dec. 17.

  • East County
  • News
Four Braden River High School students win the 16th Congressional District App Challenge with their medical dosage calculator app. File photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • December 7, 2020
Braden River High students win Congressional District App Challenge

Four Braden River High students create an app to save lives and win the Congressional District App Challenge.

  • East County
  • News
Cynthia Saunders, the superintendent for the School District of Manatee County, has been named Consortium of Florida Education Foundations' 2020 Star Superintendent of the Year. File photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • December 3, 2020
School District of Manatee County superintendent receives statewide award

Cynthia Saunders, the superintendent for the School District of Manatee County, was named 2020 State Superintendent of the Year.

  • East County
  • News
Mike Newhams, a science teacher, explains how to separate the layers of an onion to his students. Newhams loves having his class outdoors and at the center of campus so he can connect with other students and staff members.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • December 2, 2020
Sky's the limit in outdoor classes in Lakewood Ranch

ODA allows teachers to host their classes in outdoor spaces during pandemic.

  • East County
  • News
Braden River High School sophomore Christian Bell, freshman Nathan Walmsley and seniors Alex Bustillo and Phil Staffiles practice for their rifle competition. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • December 2, 2020
Lessons in leadership in Lakewood Ranch

Lakewood Ranch and Braden River high schools' JROTC programs adjust to the pandemic.

  • East County
  • News
File photos USF has several connections to Manatee County schools including Dr. Mona Jain, who received a doctorate from USF. Superintendent Cynthia Saunders, however, went to UCF and Nova Southeastern. File photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • November 24, 2020
Teacher shortages soar in Manatee County

Fate of USF's College of Education could disrupt recruitment for the School District of Manatee County.

  • East County
  • News
Laura Campbell, principal at Tara Elementary School, works with Averyanna Rivera on constructing a tower. File photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • November 24, 2020
School choice enrollment to open for Manatee County

Families in the School District of Manatee County will have more time to decide school choice.

  • East County
  • News
Just like around the main building of Robert E. Willis Elementary School, Julie Santello, a second grade teacher, wants to add plants by the new addition to provide a scenic view as well as hands-on opportunities for students.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • November 18, 2020
Grant leads to Willis Elementary's plants in Lakewood Ranch

Willis Elementary teacher receives Splash! grant to grow a garden by the school's new addition.

  • East County
  • News
James Archibald, a senior at Lakewood Ranch High School, gets ready to play Rocket League from home.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • November 18, 2020
Esports league rockets forward in Lakewood Ranch

Lakewood Ranch High School 's esports club sees success in its first year.

  • East County
  • News
The School District of Manatee County has decided to reopen Friday.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • November 12, 2020
Manatee County schools reverse course on closing

After moving to e-learning for a day due to Tropical Storm Eta, the School District of Manatee County is reopening Friday.

  • East County
  • News
Austin, Barbara and Noah Siffermann are excited for the Veterans Day assembly.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • November 11, 2020
A Tara Elementary salute

An east Bradenton school celebrates Veterans Day with annual performance.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • November 11, 2020
Strange season ends for Lakewood Ranch Mustangs' band

Lakewood Ranch High School's marching band students grateful to keep the program going through pandemic.

  • East County
  • News
Cari Whiddon, voluntary pre-K manager for the School District of Manatee County, Catherine Schutte, the pre-K teacher, and Brooke Rypel, a senior at Lakewood Ranch High School, can't wait for the Mini Mustangs program to return.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • November 11, 2020
Mini Mustangs back in session in Lakewood Ranch

Lakewood Ranch High School pre-K program to be offered again in January.

  • East County
  • News
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