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Schools

Kindergartener Santiago Perez checks out the crochet items.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • December 16, 2025
Holiday House SRQ now serves a fifth school, but holiday shopping costs rise

This year, the nonprofit provided its free holiday shopping experiences to five elementary schools, but rising prices for gifts pose a challenge.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
Pator Caleb Free's daughter JoJo Free attends Risen Savior Academy.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • December 16, 2025
Lutheran church brings more Christian education to Lakewood Ranch

Risen Savior Lutheran Church begins its expansion toward being a K-8 school in January.

  • East County
  • Schools
Braden River High School junior Mystique Quinones shakes hands with Dave Daily, post commander for VFW Post 12055, as she receives her $100 reward for her essay which answered the question “How are you showing patriotism and support for our country?”
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • December 16, 2025
Essay contest winners named by VFW Post 12055 Braden River

Of the seven winners for this year's Voice of Democracy essay contest, six of them are Braden River High School students, and five are part of JROTC.

  • East County
  • Schools
Nicholas Savarese, a teacher who has a background in chemical engineering, judges junior Lillian Pevzner-Downer's project on the comparison of conventionally grown crops with chemicals and pesticides versus organically grown crops at the Lakewood Ranch High School Science Fair.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • December 12, 2025
Lakewood Ranch High revives its science fair

Chemistry and Environmental Science Teacher Alexandra Wilcoxson put together an event that showcased the school's brightest minds.

  • East County
  • Schools
Andy Harshman of Sarasota High School was named the 2026 Sarasota County Teacher of the Year.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 12, 2025
Sarasota High science leader named 2026 Teacher of the Year

Andy Harshman works with advanced math and science research students.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
Carrie Walden, the Project Edge classroom instructor, is teaching 10 students including Mia Pardella and Justin Torres in the Project Edge program at MTC East.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • December 10, 2025
MTC program teaches students with disabilities skills to enter workforce

At Manatee Technical College, Project Edge is transitional program for students with intellectual disabilities to learn foundational skills.

  • East County
  • Schools
Seniors Gavin Moore, Abigail Frint and Ryan Johnson were among 12 students at Lakewood Ranch High School to set up and spread the word about the opportunities available at the new College and Career Center.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • December 9, 2025
Lakewood Ranch High's College and Career Center makes its debut

Set up by 12 of Lakewood Ranch's “brightest of the brightest" students, the center can help students explore their career choices.

  • East County
  • Schools
Eighth grader Mikayla Ross works with teacher Joseph Conner.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • December 4, 2025
Tutoring nonprofit helps raise students' success rates

Laurel Civic Association, which tutors Sarasota County children after school in addition to providing numerous other services, is currently planning to construct a new 48,000 square-foot facility.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Over the past 25 years at Braden River Middle School, Kathleen Brown has taught sixth and seventh grade math, U.S. History, and Civics. Her principal, Kimberlain Zenon, described her as a lifelong learner who is solution driven, tenacious, knowledgeable and collaborative.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • December 2, 2025
3 east Manatee school employees are finalists for excellence awards

Braden River Middle's Kathleen Brown, Braden River High's Clifford Dawson and Lakewood Ranch High's Kristen Martin are finalists for Manatee County's Excellence in Education Awards.

  • East County
  • Schools
Marfil Trejo, the command sergeant major for the Braden River High Raiders, crosses the rope bridge at the Florida High School JROTC Raider State Championship on Nov. 15.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • November 22, 2025
Braden River JROTC team wins state title

The team of eight boys and five girls win four of five events.

  • East County
  • Schools
Fourth grade students Liam Aikin, Tate Brase, Raymond Burdick and Madden Dabek will be fifth graders next year and will only have one class above them when sixth grade opens at Lake Manatee K-8.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • November 19, 2025
Lake Manatee K-8 to open middle school in phases

With the new rezoning maps comes the decision to open only sixth grade in August instead of sixth, seventh and eighth all at once.

  • East County
  • Schools
SPD closed traffic outside Sarasota Military Academy Tuesday after a suspicious package was reported.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • November 18, 2025
Inert explosive devices investigated at Sarasota Military Academy

Sarasota police and outside bomb squad respond after a backpack with hollowed grenades are brought to the Sarasota Military Academy campus.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Ella Javier and Paityn Carr, sophomores who plays flute in the Braden River High School Marching Band, didn't let their nerves get the best of them at the FFCC Outdoor Championships, where they earned the title of Grand Champion.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • November 18, 2025
More marching band championships for Braden River High School

The Pirates were named the FFCC Grand Champion overall, the 3A Class Champion and the Best in Class for color guard and percussion.

  • East County
  • Schools
Manatee School District shares redrawn zoning maps, seeks feedback
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • November 17, 2025
Manatee School District shares redrawn zoning maps, seeks feedback

The zones for elementary, middle and K-8 schools will be implemented in the 2026-2027 school year, while high school rezoning begins 2027-2028.

  • East County
  • Schools
Laurie Breslin was named superintendent of the School District of Manatee County in August.
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • November 16, 2025
Manatee School District welcomes a new leader

The new head of the School District of Manatee County brings a local flavor to the job.

  • East County
  • Schools
1 2 3 4 5 »
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Latest News

1
Justin Gomlak helps bring big city glamour to the Sarasota stage in "A Very Broadway Christmas," which plays Monday, Dec. 22, at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall.
  • December 17, 2025
The Van Wezel wants you to have 'A Very Broadway Christmas'
2
Online romance ends in trespassing warning
  • December 17, 2025
Online romance ends in trespassing warning
3
Manatee County administrators address the Manatee Chamber of Commerce Dec. 8. From left to right: Deputy county administrators Corey Stutte, Bryan Parnell, Courtney De Pol and County Administrator Charlie Bishop.
  • December 17, 2025
Convention Center expansion tops 'state of Manatee County' presentation
4
A Goodwill bookstore and donation center will occupy the new outparcel building at 3160 Gulf of Mexico Drive by the end of the year.
  • December 16, 2025
Goodwill to open Dec. 18 on Longboat Key
5
Sixth grader Stella Schechter holds up a finished craft for David Stone.
  • December 16, 2025
Emanu-El students celebrate Hanukkah with Aviva Senior Living residents

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