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East County | Schools

Students at William H. Bashaw Elementary School planted a new garden last week with the help from Supervisor of Student Nutrition Skye Grundy (left), EBD self-contain teacher Ms. Bratton, EarthBox representative Will Carlton and Principal James Dougherty.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • January 22, 2025
Bashaw Elementary plants garden to further campus improvement project

The school garden will be used for cooking, math, science lessons — and lunch.

  • East County
  • Schools
Lakewood Ranch Preparatory Academy eighth grader Wrenn Pevzner tested people to see whether they could distinguish the difference between a real photo and one that was generated by artificial intelligence for her science fair project.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • January 19, 2025
Lakewood Ranch Prep students explore science of the modern world

Projects on AI, Wi-Fi and cellphone radiation show how far science fairs have come.

  • East County
  • Schools
Braden River Middle Principal Kimberlain Zenon, Reading Coach Tasheta Riley and Assistant Principal Tamara Cornwell have directed their efforts toward motivating students to get back on track for grade-level standards.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • January 15, 2025
Braden River Middle gets creative to keep students on track

Motivational programs have put Braden River Middle on the cusp of an "A" school status.

  • East County
  • Schools
SafeHaven AI helps people aged 65+ better understand their fall risks and how to manage them using doctor-approved questions and image recognition of potential hazards.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • January 8, 2025
Out-of-Door Academy student wins Congressional App Challenge

Manav Pulluru's app, SafeHaven AI, helps the elderly avoid falls

  • East County
  • Schools
Lakewood Ranch High student Yulia Morales hosted her first-ever 'Science Stars' lesson on Friday, Jan. 3 at the Lakewood Ranch Library.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • January 8, 2025
Lakewood Ranch High student creates 'Science Stars' to inspire tweens

Yulia Morales hopes to show kids how science can be fun with monthly experiments.

  • East County
  • Schools
With the elementary portion of Lake Manatee K-8, right, opening in August 2025, and the middle school portion, being constructed on the left, opening in August 2026, the School District of Manatee County needs to redistrict in 2025.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • January 2, 2025
Redistricting among issues Manatee schools will face in 2025

With five new schools opening by 2027, the School Board of Manatee County will have to approve new school zones.

  • East County
  • Schools
McNeal Elementary third-grade teacher Stacy Freeman is one of four finalists for the 2025 School District of Manatee County Educator of the Year award.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • January 1, 2025
McNeal Elementary teacher named a finalist for Educator of the Year

Through her 18 years of teaching, Stacy Freeman's work goes beyond the classroom

  • 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
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Latest in East County

1
Citrus County woman held in shooting death of Manatee man
  • December 18, 2025
Citrus County woman held in shooting death of Manatee man
2
Capri Finan, 7, Madelyn Finan, 9 and Maverick Finan, 3, pose with Santa after telling him what they want for Christmas, which includes a doll house and a trampoline.
  • December 18, 2025
Braden River High transforms into Winter Wonderland
3
Renovations and construction of new concessions in Concourse B at Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport are nearly complete.
  • December 18, 2025
Airport's growth in 2025 sets the stage for 2026 planning
4
At a Junior Achievement "Discovery Center'' in Tampa, elementary-aged students run a mock city.Two similar facilities are proposed to be set up at Emma Booker Elementary and Booker Middle schools in Sarasota.
  • December 17, 2025
Rejections sent to Manatee, Sarasota Schools of Hope requesters
5
Lakewood Ranch senior forward Gabriel Lara (11) chases after the ball during a Dec. 15 game against Braden River.
  • December 17, 2025
LRHS's boys soccer team races to an unbeaten start through 10 games

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