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Schools

Carol Ricks, principal of Myakka City Elementary School, celebrates after being told by district employee Annette Codelia that she is the Principal of the Year. (Courtesy photo)
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • November 9, 2022
Myakka City Elementary leader named Manatee Principal of the Year

Carol Ricks now will be considered for the Florida Department of Education's Principal of the Year award.

  • East County
  • Schools
Hayley Peace, winner of The Sarasota Youth Poet Laureate, with Sarasota County School Superintendent, Brennan Asplen.
    By
  • Dariela Delgado
  • November 9, 2022
Sarasota's youth poet laureate named

An 11th grader from Pine View School was selected from a field of six.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Lakewood Ranch High clarinet players Carlin Gillen, Kayleigh Roundy and Sarisa Ranajee will be performing in the Sugar Bowl Parade and halftime show. (Courtesy photo)
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • November 3, 2022
Lakewood Ranch High School band students head to the Sugar Bowl

Lakewood Ranch High Marching Mustangs will perform in front of thousands at the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans.

  • East County
  • Schools
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • October 22, 2022
Students launch into catapult competition in Palmetto

Students must react to surprise materials provided to build the catapults.

  • East County
  • Schools
ODA players and first-year Head Coach Rob Hollway celebrate a 54-10 win over Cocoa Beach High on Senior Night. ODA is 8-0 in 2022 after two straight winless regular seasons. (Photo by Ryan Kohn.)
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • October 22, 2022
Formally downtrodden ODA football team completes perfect regular season

The Lakewood Ranch private school football program snaps a two-year losing streak and posts undefeated regular season.

  • East County
  • Sports
Bella Rubal, a first grade teacher at Gilbert W. McNeal Elementary School, reads to her students. Elementary and middle school students don't have to make up instructional time missed during Hurricane Ian. (Photo by Liz Ramos)
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • October 21, 2022
Hurricane Ian causes only minor shift to School District of Manatee County schedule

Students have to make up less time thanks to passing 1-mill property tax referendum in 2021.

  • East County
  • Schools
Eighth graders Leah Duff, Juliana Fuschetto, Elena Margioukla and Vincenzo Pino work on decorations for a trick-or-treat station. (Photo by Liz Ramos)
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • October 21, 2022
Nolan Middle School to host annual Haunted House in Lakewood Ranch

National Junior Honor Society students turn hallways and classrooms into a tour of terror.

  • East County
  • Schools
Lissette Estevez, an English to Speakers of Other Languages teacher, helps guide third grader Daniel Perez-Martinez through a math lesson. Teachers are not only there for students educationally but also socially and emotionally.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • October 15, 2022
Myakka City Elementary School works to support its students and staff after Hurricane Ian

Myakka Elementary provides a return to normalcy for many students traumatized by Hurricane Ian.

  • East County
  • Schools
Kristen Patton walks with fourth grader Abigail Patton and Giavanna Patton, who is in pre-K, and Vincent Patton to school. "It's always good to get the kids out of the house for some morning exercise," Kristen Patton says.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • October 13, 2022
Braden River Elementary hosts annual Walk and Roll to School Day

Walk and Roll to School Day encourages students and their families to participate in easy physical activity, like walking to school.

  • East County
  • Schools
Superintendent Brennan Asplen said minimal interruptions occurred during Monday's return to school. (File photo)
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • October 12, 2022
Sarasota County Schools touts smooth return for Monday's reopening

School officials weighing possibility of presenting calendar changes to School Board.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Sarasota County Schools have announce return to athletics. Teams can practice Friday and play games next week after four total practices.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • October 6, 2022
Sarasota County Schools announce return to athletics

Teams can practice starting Friday while games can resume next week.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Sarasota County Schools Superintendent Brennan Asplen announced the district's north county campuses will reopen on Monday, Oct 10 with plans to resume classes in south county the following Monday. (Photo by Andrew Warfield)
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • October 4, 2022
Sarasota County Schools to begin reopening on Monday

In a two-phase approach, Sarasota County Schools will begin reopening with north county schools starting Monday and south county schools one week later.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
Damage and debris on Thursday near Southside Elementary. (Photo by Kat Hughes)
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • October 3, 2022
Sarasota school district schedules emergency board meeting Tuesday

The Sarasota County School Board will weigh hurricane and emergency resolution put forth by the superintendent.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
Manatee County is converting 15 schools into shelters as Hurricane Ian approaches. (File photo)
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • September 26, 2022
Manatee schools shift to evacuation shelters

The Manatee County School District closes schools Tuesday until further notice ahead of Hurricane Ian.

  • East County
  • News
Sheriff Kurt Hoffman, County Administrator Jonathan Lewis, Emergency Management Director Ed McCrane and Sarasota County Schools Superintendent Dr. Brennan Asplen address the media during a news conference Monday.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • September 26, 2022
Sarasota County orders evacuation of most-vulnerable zone

County and city leaders have declared a local state of emergency.

  • Sarasota
  • News
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Sarasota Crew's championship-winning Women's U16 Eight boat races past opponents at Nathan Benderson Park in June 2025. The USRowing Youth National Championships are one of the biggest events on the local sports calendar for 2026.
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