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Schools

Tara Elementary School's Loreena Durrance helps chef and kindergartner Francis Lantican serve rice.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • May 15, 2023
Tara Elementary opens Banana Leaf Restaurant for one night only

Kindergartners took on roles within the restaurant, which served Italian, Peruvian, Thai and Vietnamese food.

  • East County
  • Schools
Ryann Hilyer, a Lakewood Ranch High School senior, shows Mallo, a heifer owned by Todd Henson.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • May 10, 2023
Lakewood Ranch senior ready to move onto bigger pastures

Ryann Hilyer, a senior at Lakewood Ranch High School, plans to continue to pursuing her love for agriculture and cows in college.

  • East County
  • Schools
Danae Tran, Kalie Martin, Jaden Osborne, Alanna Hutton, Gabriela Sanchez-Gomez, Liv Doura, Mehak Sandhu, Aleksandra Masiulis, Ocean Bruinius, Pailey Riesgo, Samantha Tanelli
    By
  • Sidra Wali
  • May 9, 2023
Pen Women award scholarships to local high schoolers

Eleven local students won art, music and writing awards and showcased their work.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Sheila Waid, the principal at Gilbert W. McNeal Elementary School, is excited for Anna Bunyak, a University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee graduate, to join her staff next school year.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • May 7, 2023
Manatee schools-USF partnership encourages new teachers to stay local

The School District of Manatee County has hired 10 new teachers who graduated from USF Sarasota-Manatee’s education programs.

  • East County
  • Schools
11th grader Evanah Torres, 10th grader Izzy Martinez, and 11th grader Paul Cloutier work on Torres' section of the mural.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • May 3, 2023
Riverview High students express their artistic side with community mural

Students are expressing themselves artistically as they create a mural for a nearby homeowner that celebrates living in Sarasota.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
Lakewood Ranch's Maria Shaw, a senior at Out-of-Door Academy, will major in biology at Oxford College of Emory University after graduation with a dream of becoming a surgeon.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • May 2, 2023
School experiences at ODA launch senior toward promising future

After an internship at Blake Hospital and positive experiences in science classes, Lakewood Ranch's Maria Shaw can't wait to work toward becoming a surgeon.

  • East County
  • Schools
Gilbert W. McNeal Elementary School staff, School District of Manatee County officials and Leader in Me representatives celebrate McNeal Elementary becoming a Leader in Me Lighthouse School.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • May 1, 2023
McNeal Elementary becomes Leader in Me Lighthouse School

Lakewood Ranch's McNeal Elementary is the first traditional school in Manatee County to earn the recognition.

  • East County
  • Schools
Scott Schneider, Jason Wysong and Doug Wagner are the finalists for the next superintendent of the School District of Manatee County.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • May 1, 2023
Meet the finalists: Manatee school board selects superintendent finalists

Community members will be able to meet the three finalists and submit feedback.

  • East County
  • Schools
Doug Wagner was selected to be one of three candidates vying to be the next superintendent of the School District of Manatee County.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • April 28, 2023
Manatee School Board names three finalists for superintendent

The three finalists, Doug Wagner, Jason Wysong and Scott Schneider, will be interviewed in-person May 10 -11.

  • East County
  • Schools
Gilbert W. McNeal Elementary School's Slap 'N' Slide team consists of third grader Parker Poplaski, fifth graders Noble Pinto and Okhan Ozturk and fourth grader Luna Locke.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • April 25, 2023
Manatee County to send 13 Vex teams to world championship

Willis, Gene Witt, Willis and McNeal elementary schools will have 10 of the 13 county teams competing on the world stage.

  • East County
  • Schools
Seniors Kaitlyn Harper, Ryan Garrison, Tyler Woodin and Ali Thomas say it feels great to be at prom.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • April 22, 2023
Lakewood Ranch High seniors enjoy last dance before graduation

Prom was bittersweet for seniors who were able to dance the night away with classmates at the Hyatt Regency in Sarasota.

  • East County
  • Schools
East County's Irene Nikitopoulos is thrilled to become the leader of Carlos E. Haile Middle School.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • April 19, 2023
Haile Middle to welcome new principal for 2023-24

East County's Irene Nikitopoulos is thrilled to be principal of her community's middle school.

  • East County
  • Schools
School Board of Manatee County members Richard Tatem, Mary Foreman, Chad Choate, Cindy Spray and Gina Messenger have selected 12 semi finalists in the search for the next superintendent.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • April 14, 2023
Manatee School Board selects semifinalists in superintendent search

The board will move forward with 12 applicants in the search for the next leader of the School District of Manatee County.

  • East County
  • Schools
Eighth grader Hope Li finds comfort in the crash pad.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • April 13, 2023
Nolan Middle sensory room provides solace for disabled students

The new sensory room, funded by the school's parent-teacher organization, helps relieve students' anxiety and provides a calming environment.

  • East County
  • Schools
7-year-old Lillian Huff works on a school assignment.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • April 13, 2023
Nature helps nurture a love of learning at new Sarasota school

Roots Nature & Leadership Academy, founded in September 2022, follows a model of student-led learning.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
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  • December 11, 2025
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