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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
Austin Chen, a Robert E. Willis Elementary School fourth grader, and Superintendent Jason Wysong are fully engaged on a group discussion about careers relating to science.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • August 19, 2024
Support system key to 'best first day' in Manatee schools

Jason Wysong says he wants to sustain the momentum he established leading the district.

  • East County
  • Schools
Cristina Campbell and Kevin Campbell have mixed feelings about sending their daughter Charlotte Campbell to kindergarten, but they're comforted that her brother, Bryson Campbell, is across the hall in first grade.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • August 12, 2024
5 things to know as Manatee County students return to school

There are some new initiatives and programs starting this school year after students returned Aug. 12.

  • East County
  • Schools
Averleigh Cross couldn't wait to start kindergarten at Freedom Elementary School in 2023. The School District of Manatee County is encouraging all families ensure their kindergartners are present on the first day.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • August 7, 2024
Are you ready to go back to school?

Students and parents should make sure to check these off their back-to-school prep list.

  • East County
  • Schools
Lakewood Ranch's Zachary Keshish spends 20 to 40 minutes creating each of his works of art. Some, like "Need 4 Speed" start with an idea such as the saying "need for speed" while others are simply what comes to his mind at the moment.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • July 24, 2024
Lakewood Ranch teen wins Congressional Art Competition

For 16-year-old Zachary Keshish, 20 minutes of expressing himself will lead to having his art displayed in Washington, D.C.

  • East County
  • Schools
Christian Garzia pushes off defenders during a Sarasota Surge rugby match. Garzia is an advocate of his brother, Rocco, who has Prater-Willi syndrome.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • July 18, 2024
Sports mean more than on-field results to these local athletes

Leadership and self-confidence are skills they will use for the rest of their lives.

  • East County
  • Schools
STEM programs can lead to opportunities to participate in world competitions. Robert E. Willis Elementary's Kaitlyn McIntrye, Aly Martinez, Jelena Konatar and Izzy Nunez partiicpated in the world VEX competition.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • July 18, 2024
STEM programs open world of opportunities in Manatee schools

The school district adjusts to to meet students' interest in STEM programs.

  • East County
  • Schools
Stacy Copeland, a rising third grader at Braden River Elementary School, shows off the page she wrote in Spanish about manatees.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • July 18, 2024
Dual language programs on the rise in Manatee County

Five elementary schools have dual language programs, and the district hopes to expand to middle school.

  • East County
  • Schools
Lakewood Ranch High School's Kennedy Hoeper, Emma Syfert and Kendall Huerta say the future of agriculture is bright. They each plan to have careers in some facet of agriculture.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • July 18, 2024
Future of agriculture grows strong in Manatee County

Students say they are ready to enter the industry despite any challenges.

  • East County
  • Schools
Parents wait in their cars for dismissal at Braden River Elementary School.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • July 18, 2024
How to have a successful car line

The car line doesn't have to be something you dread. Check out these tips on how to get through the car line safely while having fun.

  • East County
  • Schools
Progress continues on the renovation of Carlos E. Haile Middle School. The project is estimated to be complete in December.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • July 18, 2024
Manatee schools continues construction on east Bradenton projects

Some East County schools will see new classrooms in the 2024-2025 school year.

  • East County
  • Schools
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Latest in East County

1
Manatee County commissioners unanimously approve the purchase of 9000 Town Center Parkway May 6.
  • April 1, 2026
DOGE questions Manatee County's capital expenditures, additional staff
2
John Saputo (left), Denise Saputo (top center), Lorraine Vitale (right) and Dick Vitale (bottom center) at the "March Mayhem" fundraiser and Elite Eight watch party. The Saputos were the hosts March 28 at Gold Coast Eagle Distributing.
  • April 1, 2026
March Mayhem fundraiser in Lakewood Ranch benefits pediatric cancer research
3
Lakewood Ranch Little League plays at Lakewood Ranch Park March 25.
  • April 1, 2026
Lakewood Ranch Little League expands to improve accessibility
4
Gabriella Martinez Reyes, a junior at Lakewood Ranch High School, has been named president of the Florida Future Business Leaders of America. This makes her the first of Manatee County.
  • March 31, 2026
LRHS junior named president for Florida's Future Business Leaders of America
5
Late Commissioner Carol Ann Felts will be honored April 18 at Crane Park.
  • March 31, 2026
Manatee County names Myakka preserve after late commissioner Carol Felts

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