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East County | Schools

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
Patricia Heffner, the head custodian at Freedom Elementary School, has been with the School District of Manatee County for 26 years.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • July 18, 2024
Freedom Elementary custodian takes pride in 26 years with Manatee schools

Patricia Heffner's love for cleanliness shows in her work.

  • East County
  • Schools
  • By State College of Florida Advanced Technology Center
  • July 18, 2024
Youth+Innovation STEM Programs at the State College of Florida Advanced Technology Center

SCF offers a dynamic range of pre-college workshops, camps, homeschool classes, and after-school activities designed to give students a head start in STEM fields.

  • East County
  • Schools
Sponsored Content
Alec Henderson, a recent graduate of the diesel systems program at Manatee Technical College, looks over a truck engine. He's already had been offered a job at Ring Power, a local construction machinery dealer.
    By
  • Jim DeLa
  • July 17, 2024
Dual enrollment programs give students a head start on promising careers

East County options can suit a variety of career paths.

  • East County
  • Schools
Lauren Macri and her husband, Tim Macri, the owners of Beef 'O' Brady's Braden River, love seeing the community support through the restaurants Christmas in July partnership with Tara Elementary School.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • July 15, 2024
Tara Elementary partners with Beef 'O' Brady's for Christmas in July

Restaurant patrons fulfill teachers' wishes before a back-to-school luncheon at Beef 'O' Brady's.

  • East County
  • Schools
Parrish's Heather Felton is running for the District 1 seat on the School Board of Manatee County.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • July 9, 2024
Desire to be an advocate inspires Manatee school board candidate

Heather Felton, a former teacher, wants to continue to help students but in a new role.

  • East County
  • Schools
East County's Mark Stanoch is running for the District 1 seat of the School Board of Manatee County.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • July 9, 2024
Resident wants to give back to the community through school board seat

Mark Stanoch says serving on the Manatee County School Board will be an opportunity to make the district better for his grandchildren and all children.

  • East County
  • Schools
Lakewood Ranch's Richard Tatem was elected to the School Board of Manatee County in August 2022.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • July 1, 2024
Questions arise over Manatee school board seat vacancy

A former school board member has filed a lawsuit against the Manatee County supervisor of elections over the soon-to-be vacant school board seat.

  • East County
  • Schools
East County’s Evan Bouthillier receives hands-on experience in Manatee Technical College's diesel systems technician program by working on Manatee County Search and Rescue vehicles. Bouthillier hopes to become a master mechanic.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • June 24, 2024
MTC student says his education gives him power in the job market

East County's Evan Bouthillier is graduating from the diesel system technician program with plans to continue learning.

  • East County
  • Schools
Eagle Trace's Susan Cueto has published a children's book to help pre-K students overcome their fears of starting school.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • June 10, 2024
Lakewood Ranch educator covers pre-K jitters in her first book

Susan Cueto hopes her book can help pre-K students overcome their fear of starting school.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • June 7, 2024
Manatee County schools will spend $1.4 million on weapon detection screeners

Firearms detection systems will be placed at each high school and randomly at middle schools starting on the first day of school.

  • East County
  • Schools
Todd Richardson has been named the principal of the new K-8 school in Lakewood Ranch.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • June 6, 2024
Gullett Elementary principal chosen to lead new K-8 school in Lakewood Ranch

The School District of Manatee County's first K-8 school will open in August 2025.

  • East County
  • Schools
Wendell Butler
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • June 4, 2024
Braden River High to welcome new principal

Wendell Butler wants to create the opportunity for students to become the best version of themselves.

  • East County
  • Schools
Braden River Elementary to welcome new principal
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • May 29, 2024
Braden River Elementary to welcome new principal

Mary Oliva is ready to be a hands-on principal, engaging in all that Braden River Elementary has to offer.

  • East County
  • Schools
Ryan Abernathy is the first to accept a diploma for the Class of 2024 from Head of School Deb Otey.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • May 24, 2024
The Out-of-Door Academy students say farewell to high school

The school's largest graduating class looks forward to their next chapter.

  • 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
  • May 22, 2024
More additions, renovations planned for East County schools

The future of a new high school in Lakewood Ranch is uncertain.

  • East County
  • Schools
Lakewood Ranch's Nolan and Trey Naese are graduating from The Out-of-Door Academy.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • May 21, 2024
Lakewood Ranch twins set different paths after graduation from ODA

Trey Naese is headed to Notre Dame, while Nolan Naese is going to Towson.

  • East County
  • Schools
Fourth grader Annabelle Wendell loves showing off her skills to her teacher, Jackie Blue, and her classmates.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • May 17, 2024
Myakka City Elementary students don't horse around with academics

Students achieved three of four quarterly goals in order to attend or participate in a rodeo.

  • East County
  • Schools
Dustin Dahlquist, the principal at Lakewood Ranch High School, congratulates Karina Lee.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • May 17, 2024
Lakewood Ranch High School graduates look to the future

After four years of making memories in high school, graduates are ready for the next chapter.

  • East County
  • Schools
Freedom, Braden River elementary schools to have new principals
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • May 16, 2024
Freedom, Braden River elementary schools to have new principals

The current principals are taking on new positions within the School District of Manatee County.

  • East County
  • Schools
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Latest in East County

1
Citrus County woman held in shooting death of Manatee man
  • December 18, 2025
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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
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3
Renovations and construction of new concessions in Concourse B at Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport are nearly complete.
  • December 18, 2025
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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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