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East County | Schools

Rachel Walmsley lines up a shot during shooting practice at Braden River High School on Thursday, Dec. 12.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • December 27, 2024
Braden River senior helps JROTC team have a shot at air rifle tournament

Rachel Walmsley is floating on air after winning her region's air rifle match.

  • East County
  • Schools
Michelle Sanchez, a paraprofessional at William H. Bashaw Elementary School, is able to spend more time with her son Tiago Sanchez now that she works at his school.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • December 10, 2024
Manatee finds success recruiting from within school communities

Parents have been inspired to become paraprofessionals, teachers and administrators.

  • East County
  • Schools
Dr. Mona Jain Middle School's new agriculture program gives seventh grader Jaiden Morgan and eighth grader Cooper Burke an opportunity to work hands on with plants.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • December 10, 2024
Dr. Mona Jain Middle School starts FFA program

Students begin to work with plants and rabbits and will start with chickens next semester.

  • East County
  • Schools
Braden River High School JROTC cadets volunteer for Manatee County Habitat for Humanity. They work on refurbishing a home with hopes of the new owners being able to move in by Christmas.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • December 3, 2024
Braden River High JROTC cadets volunteer for Habitat for Humanity

Cadets help refurbish a home for new owners as a service project.

  • East County
  • Schools
Braden River Middle School Principal Kimberlain Zenon has been named the School District of Manatee County's Principal of the Year.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • December 2, 2024
Braden River Middle principal named Manatee's Principal of the Year

Kimberlain Zenon grew with Braden River Middle, going from parent to teacher to principal.

  • East County
  • Schools
Tom Brugos, the STEM teacher, never thought when he started at Gene Witt Elementary School in 1994 that he would have 3D printers, robots and drones.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • December 1, 2024
Gene Witt Elementary School celebrates its 30th anniversary

Founding teachers say the family atmosphere and values of the school stay strong 30 years after it was built.

  • East County
  • Schools
Kindergartners Mila Park and Eliana Fitzmorris give it their all in every song.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • November 22, 2024
McNeal Elementary hosts annual kindergarten Thanksgiving program

Kindergartners sing and gobble the night away.

  • East County
  • Schools
Fifth grader Grayson Hermann pushes the basketball, meant to represent a pumpkin, through the cones to the hay and back as fast as he can.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • November 21, 2024
Lakewood Ranch's Willis Elementary hosts fall field day

Field day activities put students into the competitive spirit.

  • East County
  • Schools
School Board of Manatee County members Richard Tatem, Chad Choate, Charlie Kennedy, Cindy Spray and Heather Felton are ready to serve the School District of Manatee County.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • November 20, 2024
New Manatee County School Board members primed for the post

Board members say they are focused on learning more about each other while prioritizing areas such as early literacy.

  • East County
  • Schools
Braden River High School's Kirsten Soler and Quinn McGettigan kiss the trophy. The Marching Band of Pirates earned its first state championship title in five years.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • November 19, 2024
Braden River High marching band claims state 2A title

The Marching Band of Pirates win first place, and Parrish Community High's Pride of Parrish Marching Band placed fourth in the same division.

  • East County
  • Schools
Braden River Middle School Principal Kimberlain Zenon has been named the School District of Manatee County's Principal of the Year.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • November 13, 2024
Braden River Middle principal named Manatee County's Principal of the Year

Kimberlain Zenon-Richardson has lead Braden River Middle School since 2019.

  • East County
  • Schools
Carlos E. Haile Middle School's Chase Anthony works on a piece of art. Anthony will display his artwork at the Manatee River Artists Guild at Waterlefe's Art and Craft Show and Sale Nov. 9.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • November 6, 2024
Manatee River Artists Guild's donations bring students new opportunities

Haile Middle School students visit museums and Freedom Elementary students explore new artistic mediums.

  • East County
  • Schools
Karen Holbrook, the regional chancellor of the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee, has announced she will retire at the end of the year.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • November 1, 2024
USF Sarasota-Manatee chancellor to retire

Karen Holbrook has led the campus through significant growth.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
School District of Manatee County students will have to make up time due to academic time lost as a result of the hurricanes.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • October 31, 2024
Manatee County students to make up educational time lost from hurricanes

Changes to the academic calendar have been announced for this school year.

  • East County
  • Schools
The School District of Manatee County is making progress on its new K-8 school being built in Lakewood Ranch.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • October 30, 2024
New K-8 school in Lakewood Ranch has a name

The School Board of Manatee County unanimously voted to name the school Lake Manatee K-8.

  • East County
  • Schools
The School District of Manatee County is making progress on its new K-8 school being built in Lakewood Ranch.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • October 23, 2024
Finalists determined for new east Bradenton K-8 school name

The School District of Manatee County is seeking the public's input on the final list of names for the school being constructed off Uihlein Road.

  • East County
  • Schools
Anthony Razzano, a motivational speaker, author and Lakewood Ranch Preparatory Academy parent, talks to students about overcoming adversity.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • October 23, 2024
Motivational speaker talks resiliency with Lakewood Ranch Prep students

After students face school threats and two hurricanes, Anthony Razzano shares his story of overcoming adversity.

  • East County
  • Schools
Braden River's Jayden Moore (21) fights through the Lakewood Ranch front seven. It can cost about $164 for a football jersey and pants. A football helmet can range from $180 to $500.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • October 23, 2024
Manatee County schools adds athletics to 1-mill property tax referendum

Funding for athletics could be used for equipment, transportation, athletic trainers and more.

  • East County
  • Schools
Carlos E. Haile Middle School students Brayden Berggren, Cord London, Kase Alsum and Levi Rear work on a robot in the new robotics arena. STEM programs will continue to be supported by the referendum if voters pass it in November.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • October 22, 2024
Manatee schools tax referendum collection doubles since inception

Since the 1-mill property tax referendum was first implemented in 2018-2019, the funds collected have risen from $37.3 million to $75.5 million.

  • East County
  • Schools
Daniel Bradshaw, the principal of Parrish Community High School, and Carol Ricks, the principal of Myakka City Elementary School, man the registration desk at Myakka City Elementary as it serves as a shelter during Hurricane Milton.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • October 18, 2024
Hurricanes have financial impacts on school districts in Manatee County

The School District of Manatee County budgets $1.5 million annually for schools to serve as shelters.

  • East County
  • Schools
Myakka City Elementary School's Lydia Powell listens to second grade teacher Karen Washington read aloud. School Board of Manatee County candidates for District 1 say the 1-mill property tax referendum is important for supporting teacher salaries.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • October 15, 2024
Manatee school board candidates discuss hot topics

From the 1-mill property tax referendum to parental rights, Heather Felton and Mark Stanoch share their thoughts on important issues schools are facing.

  • East County
  • Schools
Maddox Gaulman, a B.D. Gullett Elementary School third grader, underlines important lines in a reading passage.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • October 13, 2024
School District of Manatee County adds early literacy funds to referendum

If approved, part of the funding will go toward expanding literacy programs in Manatee schools.

  • East County
  • Schools
Olympian Richard Thompson talks to sixth grader Lauren Otterness after he talked to Otterness and her fellow scholars about goal setting.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • October 8, 2024
Track and field Olympian talks goal-setting with Haile Middle sixth graders

Richard Thompson shares his success story with Advanced Scholar Program students.

  • East County
  • Schools
Carlos E. Haile Middle School students Brayden Berggren, Cord London, Kase Alsum and Levi Rear take advantage of the new robotics arena in the technology lab.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • October 2, 2024
Construction continues on two east Bradenton campuses

Haile Middle School nears completion on its renovation and addition while Tara Elementary is nearly half complete.

  • East County
  • Schools
The School District of Manatee County is making progress on its new K-8 school being built in Lakewood Ranch.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • October 1, 2024
Manatee County school district unveils opening plans for K-8 school

The K-8 school in Lakewood Ranch will be open for voluntary enrollment for certain families.

  • East County
  • Schools
Guardians John Bartley and Joe Hodge man the security screeners at Braden River High School's football game Sept. 20.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • September 25, 2024
School Board of Manatee County adds safety and security to tax referendum

If renewed, the 1-mill property tax referendum will support providing security at after-school events and funding security enhancements.

  • East County
  • Schools
Now in her second year as principal at Imagine School at Lakewood Ranch, Ashley Allen works to implement positive changes to continue the school's success.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • September 24, 2024
Imagine Schools at Lakewood Ranch reimagines school vision

Ashley Allen, the principal, institutes a new character development program.

  • East County
  • Schools
Lily Ward, Olivia Kawcak and McKenzie Kawcak share how "peace" is said in Mexico, India and France. The students held up the signs to greet their classmates as students arrived on campus.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • September 21, 2024
McNeal Elementary School cultivates peace

The school's annual Peace Day brings students together to demonstrate their commitment to peace.

  • East County
  • Schools
2 Lakewood Ranch Preparatory students arrested for making written threats
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • September 18, 2024
2 Lakewood Ranch Preparatory students arrested for making written threats

The 14-year-old students were charged with written/electronic threats to kill.

  • East County
  • News
Third graders Ryan Burchett, Addison Delazzer and Eliana Gabriel show the progress of an oyster rag pot. It starts as a spike with a wooden square covered by a white rag. Then it is covered in cement and placed at the bottom of a river. Oysters attach to the pot and begin filtering water.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • September 12, 2024
Braden River Elementary students celebrate Everglades Week

Students make oyster rag pots for Oyster River Ecology Inc to help the environment.

  • East County
  • Schools
Lakewood Ranch High School senior Addison Shea is vying for a $250,000 scholarship with her STEM video.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • September 11, 2024
Lakewood Ranch High senior vying for $250,000 scholarship

Addison Shea created a STEM-focused video to land herself in the top 30 of an international scholarship competition.

  • East County
  • Schools
Braden River Middle School students, custodians and Principal Kimberlain Zenon-Richardson (right) sing the new school song.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • September 10, 2024
Braden River Middle custodians create school song

The custodians hope the school song can inspire Panthers to believe and achieve.

  • East County
  • Schools
Kim Lane travels from Illinois to be with his granddaughter fifth grader Sadie Nowakowski during Grandparents Night. "It's exciting as long as she's here," Lane says.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • September 7, 2024
Grandparents Night a bonding experience at McNeal Elementary

Students and their grandparents ate dinner, browsed the book fair and decorated a picture frame.

  • East County
  • Schools
The School District of Manatee County is making progress on its new K-8 school being built in Lakewood Ranch.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • September 3, 2024
Manatee schools accepting East County K-8 school name nominations

The new K-8 school is scheduled to open in August 2025.

  • East County
  • Schools
Todd Richardson, the principal of B.D. Gullett Elementary School, helps third graders Oliver Bates and Dylan Berg with a reading assignment.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • August 28, 2024
What will it take for Manatee schools to earn an A?

School District of Manatee County leaders say sustained progress key to becoming an A district.

  • East County
  • Schools
Lakewood Ranch High School's Maya Gilkison, Maya Kopija, Isaiah Schulz and Ryniah Milner work in the blood lab at SunCoast Blood Centers.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • August 21, 2024
SunCoast Blood Centers give Lakewood Ranch students glimpse at medical field

The students started as volunteers and were hired to work in the blood lab.

  • East County
  • Schools
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Latest in East County

1
CEO Mike Bisaha says the new equipment will at least triple Big Top Brewing Co.'s beer production.
  • December 3, 2025
Big Top to open expanded brew house at Sarasota's Fruitville Commons
2
Mill Creek's Ilana Simone, who performs as Ilana Armida, has returned to her roots after living in Los Angeles to pursue her musical career.
  • December 3, 2025
Mill Creek musical artist continues to search for her audience
3
Lakewood Ranch High School graduate Jason Huh has founded a few different companies, including Sodi Pop. Sodi Pop is now available in a healthy vending machine at the school for staff and students to enjoy.
  • December 3, 2025
Sodi Pop, billed as a healthier product, comes to Lakewood Ranch High
4
Marine Corps veteran Dale Cole lives in Greenfield Plantation and is a regular user of Manatee Moves.
  • December 3, 2025
Ride service for Manatee County veterans is on the move
5
Commissioners George Kruse and Bob McCann are on opposite sides of the AAA High School vote. Kruse voted in favor of approving the site plan, and McCann voted to deny the site plan.
  • December 3, 2025
Manatee commissioners have final say about new school but no real power

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