• Alternate Text

  • Loading

  • Sand Bucket List
  • Health Observed
  • Crossword
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • e-Newspaper App
  • Longboat
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Opinion
  • East County
    • News
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
  • Sarasota
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
    • Siesta Key
  • Arts + Entertainment
    • Eat + Drink
    • Arts + Culture
    • Reviews
    • Things To Do
    • Black Tie
    • Spotlight Partners
  • Things to Do
  • Galleries
  • More
    • Hurricane Season
    • Red Tide Map
    • Health Observed
    • Sand Bucket List
    • Calendar
    • Celebrations
    • Contests
    • Tributes
    • Submit a Celebration
    • Submit a Tribute
    • Public Notices
    • Classifieds
  • Longboat
    • Longboat
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Opinion
  • East County
    • East County
    • News
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
  • Sarasota
    • Sarasota
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
    • Siesta Key
  • Arts + Entertainment
    • Arts + Entertainment
    • Eat + Drink
    • Arts + Culture
    • Reviews
    • Things To Do
    • Black Tie
    • Spotlight Partners
  • Things to Do
  • Galleries
  • More
    • More
    • Hurricane Season
    • Red Tide Map
    • Health Observed
    • Sand Bucket List
    • Calendar
    • Celebrations
    • Contests
    • Tributes
    • Submit a Celebration
    • Submit a Tribute
    • Public Notices
    • Classifieds
  • Sand Bucket List
  • Health Observed
  • Crossword
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • e-Newspaper App

Schools

Allen Dickson, a bus driver for the School District of Manatee County, says being a bus driver gives him a purpose and allows him to give back to the community.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • February 20, 2022
Manatee School District works to address bus driver shortage

Bus driver shortage causes challenges for Manatee County schools.

  • East County
  • Schools
Cynthia Saunders, the superintendent of the School District of Manatee County, congratulates Kari Keech-Babcock, a guidance clerk at Lakewood Ranch High School, for winning the district's Support Employee of the Year.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • February 16, 2022
Lakewood Ranch High guidance clerk named School District of Manatee County's Support Employee of the Year

Lakewood Ranch High School's Kari Keech-Babcock named Support Employee of the Year for her positive attitude, hard work and dedication.

  • East County
  • Schools
Congressman Vern Buchanan nominates Brett Brustad, a Braden River High School senior in JROTC, to either the U.S. Air Force Academy or U.S. Naval Academy.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • February 13, 2022
Braden River High senior nominated to military academies by Rep. Vern Buchanan

Rep. Vern Buchanan nominates a Braden River High senior to the U.S. Air Force Academy and U.S. Naval Academy.

  • East County
  • Schools
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • February 12, 2022
Willis Elementary fathers and daughters have a magical night in Lakewood Ranch

Enchanted Ball in Lakewood Ranch provides magical moments for fathers and daughters.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Heather Manley, the co-founder of World of Wonder Academy, engages with children during story time.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • February 11, 2022
World of Wonder Academy provides home-school enrichment

The new academy in Lakewood Ranch supplements home-school education.

  • East County
  • Schools
U.S. Rep Vern Buchanan nominated 22 high school seniors from Sarasota, Manatee and Hillsborough counties.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • February 10, 2022
Buchanan nominates seven Sarasota seniors for service academies

Seniors are from Riverview High, Sarasota High, Sarasota Military Academy and Venice High.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Khushi Talluru, a freshman at Lakewood Ranch High School, can't wait to learn from medical workshops and screenwriting workshops at Disney Dreamers Academy.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • February 7, 2022
Lakewood Ranch High student accepted in Disney Dreamers Academy

Khushi Talluru, a freshman, will pursue her dream of becoming a doctor with the help of Disney Dreamers Academy.

  • East County
  • Schools
Trenton Huffman, a student at R. Dan Nolan Middle School, works on a tablet while sitting at one of the tables in the media center.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • February 4, 2022
Manatee modernizes school media centers

The School District of Manatee County is well into a library transformation project in all its schools.

  • East County
  • Schools
Students arrive at Southside Elementary aboard a school bus. (File photo)
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • February 3, 2022
Sarasota schools will add ID card readers to buses next year

Students will swipe their ID as they board, disembark school buses.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
Junior John Sirignano says caring for his sock baby, Oswald, has made him excited to become a real parent in the future. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • February 3, 2022
High schoolers learn parental lessons by caring for sock babies

With sock baby assignment, Lakewood Ranch High students learn while walking in parents' shoes.

  • East County
  • Schools
Although it won't look exactly the same, Lakewood Ranch Preparatory Academy's learning villages will look similar to this kindergarten through third grade model. (Rendering courtesy of Charter Schools USA)
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • February 2, 2022
Lakewood Ranch Prep will take different approach on education, principals say

The new Lakewood Ranch K-12 charter school's WISH model focuses on wellness, innovation, science and health.

  • East County
  • Schools
Students pay attention as Jennifer Dowling, a math teacher, finishes a lesson in her new classroom. The classroom is a part of the six-classroom addition that was completed in November. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • February 2, 2022
Renovations almost complete at Braden River Middle

BRMS teachers are thrilled with the $26 million addition and renovations project.

  • East County
  • Schools
The Jouley electric bus is manufactured by the Thomas Co. (Photo courtesy of Thomas)
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • January 28, 2022
Sarasota school district looks to generate savings with electric buses

State grant helps pay about 70% of the cost using money from a federal lawsuit settlement with Volkswagen.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
Kindergartener Eliana Gabriel sings and counts numbers in Spanish.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • January 27, 2022
Braden River Elementary dual-language programs sees success in first year in east Bradenton

The dual-language program has been successful at Braden River Elementary in east Bradenton area.

  • East County
  • Schools
Lakewood Ranch Preparatory Academy is expected to be built by mid-July to allow time for teachers and staff to move in and prepare for the first day of school in August. Rendering courtesy of Red Apple Development.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • January 27, 2022
Lakewood Ranch Preparatory Academy projected to be built by mid-July

Red Apple Development and Ryan Cos. speed forward to meet July deadline for the new Lakewood Ranch charter school.

  • East County
  • Schools
« 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 »
The best of Your Observer, delivered directly to your inbox

Get the latest in news, sports, schools, arts and things to do in Sarasota, Siesta Key, Longboat Key and East County.

Sign Up

Latest News

1
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.
  • March 20, 2026
Watersports events line up at Benderson Park in April
2
  • March 20, 2026
Longboat Key's Cops, Cars & Coffee rescheduled
3
City parking scheme schemes hurting our tourism
  • March 20, 2026
City parking scheme schemes hurting our tourism
4
Dolores M. Stevens (2025)
  • March 19, 2026
Dolores M. Stevens
5
Zachary Keller and Helen Krushinski star in "Water for Elephants," which comes to the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall Feb. 12-14, 2027.
  • March 19, 2026
'Water for Elephants,' 'Six' and 'Hell's Kitchen' lead Van Wezel's 2026-27 lineup

App

Download the Your Observer app

Stay in the know with the latest local news. Any device, anytime, anywhere.

DOWNLOAD NOW

Contact

  • 1970 Main St.
  • Third Floor
  • Sarasota, FL 34236
  • Phone: 941-366-3468
  • FPN Verified

Extra, Extra!

  • Newsletters
  • App
  • Crossword
  • Contests

more

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Classifieds
  • Advertise
  • Rack Locations
  • Jobs
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Options

sister sites

  • Business Observer
  • Jax Daily Record
  • Orange Observer
  • Accessibility Options
  • Copyright © 2026 Observer Media Group Inc., All Rights Reserved
Sign Up for Daily Headlines

A daily dose of news from Longboat Key, East County, Sarasota and Siesta Key.

Sign Up for In Case You Missed It

A Saturday dose of the week's top stories from Sarasota, Longboat Key and East County.

The Your Observer App is Here!

Get local news you can trust — now on your phone, tablet or laptop. Fast. Free. Easy to Use.
Stay informed, wherever you are.

Download Now