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East County | Schools

The graduating migrant students from Lakewood Ranch High School. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Andrew Atkins
  • May 1, 2019
Onward and upward at Lakewood Ranch High School

Migrant students overcome challenges to graduate.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Andrew Atkins
  • April 17, 2019
Students let off STEAM at McNeal Elementary

The fourth annual event at Gilbert W. McNeal Elementary features robotics, interactive music and an art show.

  • East County
  • Schools
Leadership Manatee Alumni Association Treasurer Neil Unruh awards Doug Wagner with the 24th Annual Kent C. Schulz Distinguished Alumni Award.
    By
  • Andrew Atkins
  • April 17, 2019
School District of Manatee County administrator honored

“Every single person has value and can add value . . . Every single person counts and matters.”

  • East County
  • Schools
Bennett said he's enjoyed his time as a principal at Bashaw and will miss the community he helped create.
    By
  • Andrew Atkins
  • April 17, 2019
Class act joins new community at Braden River Elementary

When Joshua Bennett transitions from being the principal at William H. Bashaw Elementary to Braden River Elementary, he’ll leave behind a legacy of creating friendships and building community among the students, staff and parents with whom he worked.

  • East County
  • Schools
Braden River High School seniors Ahmad Ibsais and Alana Kelly spoke in front of the school board in opposition of arming teachers on Tuesday, April 9.
    By
  • Andrew Atkins
  • April 17, 2019
School Board of Manatee County hears opposition to arming teachers

Every time Ahmad Ibsais finds himself at a movie, a community event, a mall — or any public place— he finds himself looking for the exits in case somebody pulls a gun and starts shooting. But that doesn’t mean the Braden River High School senior wants tea

  • East County
  • Schools
Students prepare to leave Tom Honsa's class before the bell rings at Lakewood Ranch High School on Wednesday, April 3.
    By
  • Andrew Atkins
  • April 10, 2019
Teachers' turn to make their move in Manatee County schools

Community members need not worry about many teachers up and leaving Lakewood Ranch High School — or other schools — after former Lakewood Ranch Principal Craig Little and athletics director Shawn Trent both took positions with the new high school, noted t

  • East County
  • Schools
Braden River JROTC members about to compete in the male armed platoon event kneel to pray prior to taking the field.
    By
  • Andrew Atkins
  • April 10, 2019
You know the drill — 'Believe'

Braden River High JROTC drill team heads for state championships.

  • East County
  • Schools
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • April 7, 2019
Braden River High students won't forget this prom

"Forget-me-not" theme leads to unforgettable night at Grove in Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Ali Aoudi and Molly Lofthouse, both Lakewood Ranch High juniors, enjoyed a quick trip to the Eiffel Tower.
    By
  • Andrew Atkins
  • April 7, 2019
Lakewood Ranch High students enjoy a prom date in Paris

Lakewood Ranch High School students enjoy their promo at the Hyatt Regency in Sarasota.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Liam Wilford and Brandon Schwartz hold their trophies.
    By
  • Andrew Atkins
  • April 3, 2019
This Braden River class is a 'drag'

"It’s always a nice feeling when you see you have one of the fastest cars."

  • East County
  • Schools
Bill Lloyd teaches the Electrical and Instrumentation course.
    By
  • Andrew Atkins
  • April 3, 2019
New MTC course teaches students how to wire and make machines run

While the singular  focus is to prepare students for the workforce, it’s hard to pin down a course description for Bill Lloyd’s new Electrical and Instrumentation class at Manatee Technical College.

  • East County
  • Schools
Kaylen Rivers and Reece Whatmore, sophomores at Out-of-Door Academy, created a storybook about cells using adaptive technology.
    By
  • Andrew Atkins
  • April 3, 2019
Out-of-Door Academy students' novel idea honored

When you think about a children’s storybook, you might not think of adaptive features that make the learning accessible to everyone.

  • East County
  • Schools
Aiden Torres said one day he hopes to make a cure for brain cancer.
    By
  • Andrew Atkins
  • April 3, 2019
Small code, big dreams at SCF Lakewood Ranch

Local children — some as young as first graders, but most are fourth graders — attended a spring break coding camp the from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. March 25-29 at the State College of Florida’s Lakewood Ranch campus.

  • East County
  • Schools
Cast members poured all the emotion they could muster into their last rehearsal before the actual performance.
    By
  • Andrew Atkins
  • April 3, 2019
Curtain call: seniors and director finish their time at Out-of-Door Academy

When student actors took the stage on Friday, March 29, at Out-of-Door Academy, it wasn’t just the last opening night for departing seniors in their drama department. It was the last performance for director and Associate Head of School for Academics L’Ta

  • East County
  • Schools
William Thomas completed the firefighter's combat challenge in three minutes and 25 seconds.
    By
  • Andrew Atkins
  • March 27, 2019
Future firefighters honored at Manatee Technical College

MTC honors six students during its Fire Academy graduation

  • East County
  • Schools
Cat Kaiser looks at some of the artwork she's created.
    By
  • Andrew Atkins
  • March 20, 2019
Student finds 'comic' relief in art at Lakewood Ranch High School

“Visually, it’s stunning...I love when a painting tells a story.”

  • East County
  • Schools
MTC HVAC student explains to Braden River Highschool freshman Justin Hilts how to cut a length of pipe.
    By
  • Andrew Atkins
  • March 20, 2019
'Rodeo' steers students to construction at Manatee Technical College

Christopher Emigdio, a junior at Lakewood Ranch High, was impressed with what he saw.

  • East County
  • Schools
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • March 17, 2019
Spring Fling Carnival in Lakewood Ranch

Lakewood Ranch High students enjoy their annual Spring Fling Carnival.

  • East County
  • News
Educator of the Year winner Debra Hartline stands with Support Employee of the Year winner Amanda Keeney.
    By
  • Andrew Atkins
  • March 13, 2019
Top of the class at Braden River High and Myakka City Elementary in Manatee County

Braden River High teacher earns Educator of Year Award for the School District of Manatee County.

  • East County
  • News
Madelaine Verbeek, a museum educator with the South Florida Museum, educates students on fossils.
    By
  • Andrew Atkins
  • March 13, 2019
Full STEAM ahead at Gullett Elementary in Manatee County

Gullett Elementary students explore science at annual education event in Lakewood Ranch

  • East County
  • Schools
Leah Kessler, from Covered Bridge in Ellenton, is a student in the Advanced Manufacturing course. She holds her "catch" — a fish she cut out of metal using a plasma cutter.
    By
  • Andrew Atkins
  • March 7, 2019
MTC course sets the bar to hirer

In six short months, students in the advanced manufacturing course at Manatee Technical College find their lives transformed and a world of opportunities before them.

  • East County
  • News
Principal Bill Stenger is known for his caring attitude, attention to details and high expectations.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • March 6, 2019
Willis Elemetary leader had great principles

After 14 years, Principal Bill Stenger will retire.

  • East County
  • News
Hayley Rio. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Andrew Atkins
  • March 1, 2019
East County schools land new principals in Bradenton

Josh Bennett takes over at Braden River Elementary as School District of Manatee County swaps principals.

  • East County
  • Schools
Hilda Hamrick embraces her great grandson, Daniel Meiler, at William H. Bashaw elementary on Thursday, Feb. 21.
    By
  • Andrew Atkins
  • February 27, 2019
'Volunteer Extraordinaire' at Bashaw Elementary in Bradenton

“Reserved Parking for Ms. Hilda. Bashaw Volunteer Extraordinaire.”  Now, who is Ms. Hilda?

  • East County
  • News
Robert E. Willis Elementary School fifth-grader Jaxon Lemus, left, is stumped momentarily by a math problem, but quickly solves it.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • February 27, 2019
Math is the star of brain games in Lakewood Ranch

LWR Savvy hosts Math24 tournament to promote academic competition.

  • East County
  • News
Rifka Glatz, a holocaust survivor, speaks to a crowd of students at Braden River Middle School.
    By
  • Andrew Atkins
  • February 20, 2019
Braden River students hear somber lessons of Holocaust

The story Rifka Glatz shared with students at Braden River Middle School recently was deeply personal and moving. She shared how she survived the Holocaust.

  • East County
  • Schools
Karen Nikla’s fourth-grade class members at Robert E. Willis Elementary School explored their creativity.
    By
  • Andrew Atkins
  • February 20, 2019
A place for poetry

Fourth-grade teacher Karen Nikla spent a month of class time exploring poetry, reading the likes of Shel Silverstein and Jack Prelutsky and teaching her students the magic of weaving words.

  • East County
  • News
Cynthia Saunders was hired as superintendent of the School District of Manatee County Tuesday night.
    By
  • Andrew Atkins
  • February 12, 2019
School Board of Manatee County hires Saunders

In a 3-2 vote, the board approved a contract for interim superintendent Cynthia Saunders.

  • East County
  • News
Educators pose with William H. Bashaw, in front. He served as Manatee County Schools Superintendent for from 1970 to 1983. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • February 11, 2019
Bradenton school namesake dies

Former Manatee Schools Superintendent William H. Bashaw leaves legacy.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • February 8, 2019
It's time for sweethearts at Willis Elementary in Lakewood Ranch

Valentine's ball features music, dancing and doughnuts.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • February 1, 2019
Lakewood Ranch area school fans flames of fun

Braden River Elementary hosts annual bonfire fundraiser.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Mustangs senior forward Josh Young barrels into a Pirates defender on a drive to the basket.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • January 16, 2019
Mustangs extend culture of winning — and fun

The Lakewood Ranch High boys basketball program has had a consistent culture despite the typical turnover of high school rosters.

  • East County
  • Sports
Fifth-grader Kiran Kalia plays the xylophone.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 18, 2018
Witt Orffestra rings in holiday season

Children sing of snowmen and holidays in Lakewood Ranch area.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 13, 2018
'Snowcoming' dance brightens scene at Braden River Middle

Middle-schoolers dance night away with friends.

  • East County
  • Schools
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • November 13, 2018
Students celebrate Veterans Day

Annual ceremony celebrates military, first responders at Freedom Elementary.

  • East County
  • Schools
Tara Elementary School third-grade teacher Katelyn Fulghum got to snuggle with her 5-year-old daughter Ella, a kindergartner, during the show.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • November 9, 2018
Tara Elementary celebrates veterans, first responders

Fourth-graders give patriotic performance in honor of Veterans Day.

  • East County
  • Schools
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Latest in East County

1
Rising senior quarterback Louisen Desinor will start under center for Braden River High football in the fall. This spring was his opportunity to strengthen bonds with the playmakers around him.
  • May 25, 2026
High school coaches defend relevancy of spring football in Florida
2
Though Florida Power & Light employs a variety of advanced technology to avoid power failures, often the basic work of tree trimming goes a long way toward heading off trouble.
  • May 24, 2026
With our deep dependence on power, FPL gears up to keep the lights on
3
A rendering of the 12U baseball/softball fields five-plex that will be built at UMR Sports complex in East County.
  • May 23, 2026
Expansion 'gets real' at UMR Sports of Bradenton
4
Oceane Visa, who says she has waited years to walk across the stage for graduation, is congratulated by Head of School Debra Otey.
  • May 22, 2026
Out-of-Door Academy graduates showed up for the moments that matter most
5
Leighton Paul (right), pictured here during the FHSAA Class 5A-Region 3 final May 14 against Gulf Coast, was Braden River's leadoff hitter this season. She went 0-for-3 in the state semifinals against Niceville.
  • May 22, 2026
Late rally not enough for Braden River High softball in state semifinals

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