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East County | Schools

The Empower, Develop, Grow and Educate Program will be held at Manatee Technical College East.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • January 23, 2024
Life skills program launches for Manatee students with disabilities

The program will prepare students to start on a career path with life skills classes and post-graduation resources.

  • East County
  • Schools
The long-awaited 22-classroom addition at Lakewood Ranch High School is open for students and teachers.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • January 15, 2024
Lakewood Ranch High welcomes students back with new building

After years of waiting, the 22-classroom addition is open to students and teachers.

  • East County
  • Schools
Sarah Orcutt, a second grade teacher at Freedom Elementary School, prepares for the new school year in August 2023. Teachers receive a salary supplement through the 1-mill property tax referendum.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • January 10, 2024
Teacher salary support again big part of school tax vote

With the 1-mill property tax referendum on the ballot in November, Manatee County School Board members consider their options.

  • East County
  • Schools
Students are ready to represent Sabal house after the completion of the sorting ceremony.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • January 10, 2024
ODA implements house system to promote positive culture

The house system creates a welcoming culture, positive connections and leadership opportunities at The Out-of-Door Academy.

  • East County
  • Schools
Carlos E. Haile Middle School is undergoing a campuswide renovation and will have a new 10-classroom addition.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • January 5, 2024
Haile Middle to offer new opportunities with 10-classroom addition

The addition, expected to be complete in the spring, will expand the school's robotics and agriscience programs.

  • East County
  • Schools
Isabelle Monroe, a senior at Lakewood Ranch High School, loves showing cows at the Manatee County Fair. She names each of her cows after a car part of maker.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • January 2, 2024
Students pick the perfect name for their Manatee County Fair animals

Whether it's for laughs, a reference to a favorite food or a tradition, students put thought into picking an animal's name.

  • East County
  • Schools
East Bradenton students share Christmas wishes in letters to Santa
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • December 22, 2023
East Bradenton students share Christmas wishes in letters to Santa

These Gullett, Willis and Gene Witt elementary students can't wait to see what's under their tree Christmas day.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Gene Witt Elementary School kindergartner Jace Sparks makes his way around the shop to see all his options before deciding what to buy.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • December 20, 2023
Students use school holiday shops to surprise loved ones

The holiday shops allow students to buy gifts for family, friends and others without the help of their parents.

  • East County
  • Schools
Lian Guerra Lopez, Luis Posso and Ember Aberegg are first graders at Myakka City Elementary School. The Myakka Co-op partnered with the school on a Christmas card fundraiser.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • December 18, 2023
Myakka students decorate Wallace the Warthog cards to raise funds

The Myakka City Elementary students embellished more than 300 Wallace the Warthog holiday cards to raise money for their school.

  • East County
  • Schools
Joshua Bennett, the principal at Braden River Elementary School, listens as fourth grader Raelynn Wilson explains her assignment.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • December 11, 2023
Braden River Elementary principal supports students and teachers

Recently named School District of Manatee County’s Principal of the Year, Joshua Bennett makes his mark by transforming schools and supporting students and teachers.

  • East County
  • Schools
Andy Alvarenga and Frank Petrone appreciate the paid on-the-job training they receive and additional instruction they receive as part of their electrical apprenticeship with Manatee Technical College.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • December 7, 2023
MTC offers apprenticeship programs to advance careers

Apprentices work full time while attending courses at Manatee Technical College to further their careers and fill gaps in various industries.

  • East County
  • Schools
Johnathan BySura, a science teacher, prepares a bottle rocket for launch.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • December 6, 2023
The Out-of-Door Academy students' lesson reaches new heights

Sixth graders design, build and launch their own water-powered bottle rockets.

  • East County
  • Schools
Annette Codelia, executive director of elementary education; Braden River Elementary School Principal Joshua Bennett; Superintendent Jason Wysong; and School Board of Manatee County member Richard Tatum celebrate Bennett being named the district's Principal of the Year.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • December 2, 2023
Braden River Elementary principal named county's Principal of the Year

Joshua Bennett has served as the principal at Braden River Elementary since 2019.

  • East County
  • Schools
Prine Elementary's Katie Bagley, Barbara A. Harvey Elementary's Joadie Durfee, Lakewood Ranch High's Debra McCarthy and Gilbert W. McNeal Elementary's Jessica Spence are finalists for Educator of the Year.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • November 30, 2023
East County school employees named finalists for excellence awards

In east Bradenton, two teachers were named finalists Manatee County's Educator of the Year and two staff members named for Support Employee of the Year.

  • East County
  • Schools
Joaquin Garcia Argibay, a senior at The Out-of-Door Academy, raises money through the Sister School Project to support a school in Argentina.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • November 28, 2023
Student brings sister school in Argentina into ODA's family

Joaquin Garcia Argibay, a senior at The Out-of-Door Academy, raises money to purchase supplies for students in Chaco, Argentina.

  • East County
  • Schools
Superintendent Jason Wysong has loved talking to students like R. Dan Nolan Middle School eighth graders Bryce Newman and Hutch Jeanise.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • November 24, 2023
Manatee schools must react to loss of federal emergency funds

After 100 days in new post, Superintendent Jason Wysong must evaluate positions funded by COVID grants.

  • East County
  • Schools
Braden River Elementary School kindergartners Andrea Savevska, Keira Cramer and Cody Stutzman present what they've learned about fire safety to fifth graders.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • November 22, 2023
School choice boosts enrollment at East County schools

Some East County schools that have dwindling enrollments due to aging neighborhoods depend on school choice to boost enrollment and offer more programs.

  • East County
  • Schools
Myakka City Elementary School kindergartners Alexandre Arciniega-Aquino, Madalyn Meza-Pureco, Matthew Diaz-Alvarado, Valeria Luis-Martinez and Rosendo Najera love the crochet dolls they received at the Migrant Tea.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • November 21, 2023
Church Women United provides support to migrant families

The annual Migrant Tea brightens the holiday season by providing quilts, school supplies and more.

  • East County
  • Schools
Kailee Looman and Andrea Evans, LPN students at Manatee Technical College, practice taking each other’s blood pressure.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • November 16, 2023
Local colleges combat Florida's nursing shortage

Nurses are a critical part of our health care system. But studies show there will be a significant shortage of nurses in Florida by 2035. Here’s how some regional schools are addressing it.

  • East County
  • Schools
The Braden River High Marching Band of Pirates finished fifth at the Florida Marching Band Championships on Nov. 11.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • November 14, 2023
Parrish, Braden River High marching bands place high at state championships

Pride of Parrish Marching Band finished third while Marching Band of Pirates earned the fifth-place trophy.

  • East County
  • Schools
Heidi Stenberg, Caymen Corscadden and Calli Phillips, seniors at Lakewood Ranch High School, are ready to take on the Big Bank Theory to see if they can balance the budget of their fictional lives.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • November 11, 2023
Financial literacy program gives Manatee students look at real world

Manatee Chamber of Commerce offers high school seniors an exercise in balancing a budget with the Big Bank Theory program.

  • East County
  • Schools
Can you match the character pumpkin to the book title?
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • November 8, 2023
Can you match the character pumpkin to the book title?

McNeal Elementary first graders decorate pumpkins to look like characters from fictional books.

  • East County
  • Schools
Laurie Fevrier, an eighth grader at Carlos E. Haile Middle School, can't wait to show her artwork for the first time at the Manatee River Artists Guild at Waterlefe Art and Craft Show and Sale.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • October 30, 2023
Local students to display artwork at Manatee River Artists Guild show

Freedom Elementary and Haile Middle students will present their work in the annual art show for the first time.

  • East County
  • Schools
The new K-8 school will have a two-story elementary building, a one-story middle school building and a capacity of approximately 1,620 students.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • October 27, 2023
Design unveiled for new K-8 school in Lakewood Ranch

The Manatee County school will include a two-story elementary building, a one-story middle school building and agriculture facilities.

  • East County
  • Schools
Justice Thornton, a Manatee Technical College baking and pastry arts student, slices kiwis and strawberries.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • October 23, 2023
MTC students prepare for Suncoast Food and Wine Fest

Baking and pastry arts students get a real-world experience baking desserts for a Lakewood Ranch staple event.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Lakewood Ranch Preparatory Academy freshman Daniel Valderrama has built a bond with second grader Vladimir Bruges.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • October 22, 2023
East County school buddies share important lessons

The partnerships have proven valuable in learning lessons about responsibility and communication.

  • East County
  • Schools
Waterlefe's Glenda Myers works with Ballard Elementary kindergartner Kemora Wallace once per week through the Books for Kids Kindergarten program.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • October 18, 2023
Lakewood Ranch Rotary kicks off ninth year of Books for Kids program

The Books for Kids Kindergarten program, which helps students discover a love for reading and increases reading scores, is expanding into more Manatee and Sarasota County classrooms this school year.

  • East County
  • Schools
Lakewood Ranch High School's Andrew Boudreau and Tyler Patten give it their all during a performance.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • October 18, 2023
Manatee County high school marching bands gear up for state competition

The Braden River, Lakewood Ranch and Parrish bands are concentrated on growth in hopes of earning a medal at the top level.

  • East County
  • Schools
Ellenton's Barbara Bostrom, the niece of Gilbert McNeal, Lakewood Ranch's Jessica Chmielarski, the granddaughter of McNeal, and Dylan and Michael Chmielarski, the great-grandsons of McNeal, celebrate his legacy at Gilbert W. McNeal Elementary School's 20th anniversary.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • October 17, 2023
McNeal Elementary School celebrates 20th anniversary

Teachers, students and administrators, past and present, celebrate 20 years of learning and making memories.

  • East County
  • Schools
Molly Garrett and Thea Pham sing "A Distant Shore." They are among 55 students in Haile Middle School's new choir program.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • October 12, 2023
Haile Middle School in east Bradenton begins new choir program

Students are preparing for their first concert in December.

  • East County
  • Schools
The Out-of-Door Academy is opening a third campus, which will be a lower school located on Clark Road in Sarasota.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • October 10, 2023
The Out-of-Door Academy to open third campus in Sarasota

The Out-of-Door Academy lower school on Clark Road will open in August 2024.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
Clayton Reagan, an eighth grader at Carlos E. Haile Middle School, looks at the way a pig walks, its bone structure and whether the pig has a drop in its belly before selecting a pig to show at the Manatee County Fair.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • October 10, 2023
What makes a perfect show pig for the Manatee County Fair?

East Bradenton students and FFA advisors talk about the qualities they seek in a show pig.

  • East County
  • Schools
Dr. Mona Jain Middle School eighth grader Anthony Mundo participates in a hands-on Woz Ed lesson on density.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • October 2, 2023
Career-ready curriculum expands in Manatee County School District

All eighth graders will use Woz Ed kits to engage in hands-on lessons.

  • East County
  • Schools
Sixth grader Ethan Burnstein loves how colorful the sixth grade peace themed golf cart is for the homecoming parade.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • September 30, 2023
Out-of-Door Academy celebrates with school's first homecoming parade

Students, staff and alumni of the Lakewood Ranch school decorated 10 golf carts for the parade.

  • East County
  • Schools
Gabriel Cortes, or in this case Kristoff, sings alongside his reindeer friend, Sven, while singing "Lost in the Woods."
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • September 21, 2023
Braden River High spreads magic through cabaret show

Students performed classic songs as families sang along.

  • East County
  • Schools
John Kenyon, or "Gator John," who is an educational outreach programmer, tries to calm students as they scream over the carpet python he's holding.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • September 19, 2023
Braden River Elementary brings the Everglades to school

Students learn about the Everglades as the school works to become an Everglades Championship School.

  • East County
  • Schools
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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.
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