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Schools

Fruitville Elementary teacher Kari Johnson was named a 2022 Florida Teacher of the Year finalist. Photo courtesy
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • May 6, 2021
Sarasota teacher named finalist for Florida Teacher of the Year

Fruitville Elementary teacher Kari Johnson is one of five statewide finalists.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
Jackie Llamas, a parent of a Lakewood Ranch High School senior, is happy she's able to coordinate a prom for seniors like Nick Lenchinsky with his mother, Angie Lenchinsky Scarpa.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • May 5, 2021
Private prom excites Lakewood Ranch High students

Lakewood Ranch High School seniors ready to have prom memories.

  • East County
  • News
Lakewood Ranch Charter Academy is expected to have about 740 students enrolled if the school opens in August 2022. Within five years, the school is projected to have an enrollment of 1,965 students. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • May 5, 2021
Traditional vs. charter: The differences

Lakewood Ranch Charter Academy will provide a new option for East County parents.

  • East County
  • News
Dawn Zielinski, president of the Village Idiots Cycling Club, and Tom Williams, outreach director for the club, donates bike helmets to Megan Podolan, a fifth grade teacher at Willis Elementary School, to give to students.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • May 5, 2021
Safer rides in Lakewood Ranch

Village Idiots Cycling Club donates helmets to east Bradenton schools.

  • East County
  • News
Steven Zickafoose, an assistant principal at Dr. Mona Jain Middle School, and Angela Lindsey, principal of the school, wear masks while on campus. The administrators might not have to wear masks next year. File photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • May 5, 2021
School District of Manatee County considers letting masks down

School Board of Manatee County considers a voluntary mask policy for summer school and the 2021-22 school year.

  • East County
  • News
Students play on the playground at the Susan Schwaid Early Learning Center. Photo courtesy
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • April 30, 2021
Temple Emanu-El reopening early learning center

After a year of closures due to COVID-19, the Susan Schwaid Early Learning Center will reopen for summer school and fall classes.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
Braden River and Lakewood Ranch high school seniors can now bring four guests to graduation. File photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • April 29, 2021
Manatee County high school graduates get more tickets for the celebration

School District of Manatee County announces high school seniors will get four tickets for graduation.

  • East County
  • News
Julia Kourelakos, Danny McDonald, Uday Goyat and Grace Jiang placed in the top 10 in an international math competition. Not pictured is teammate Maxim Kasyanenko. Photo courtesy
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • April 28, 2021
Pineview students show their math mettle

Five-member team finishes in top 10 among 535 teams in the MathWorks Math Modeling Challenge.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
The School Board of Manatee County has approved the application for Lakewood Ranch Charter Academy. Charter Schools USA is working with Southwest Charter Foundation to open the school. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • April 28, 2021
School Board of Manatee County approves new charter school in Lakewood Ranch

Lakewood Ranch Charter Academy will now negotiate a contract with the School District of Manatee County.

  • East County
  • News
Paige Royce and Emma Curry, first graders at Braden River Elementary School, sit quietly while reading. The school district says changes to the calendar next year will help address the learning gap in reading. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • April 28, 2021
Manatee County students will log more time in classroom

School District of Manatee County makes changes to 2021-2022 academic calendar in response to pandemic.

  • East County
  • News
Registered Nurse Debbie Bottiger prepares a vaccine for a School District of Manatee County employee. Students who are at least 16 can get a vaccine through a partnership between the school district and MCR Health. File photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • April 27, 2021
School District of Manatee County offers vaccine to students

School District of Manatee County students who are 16 and older can book an appointment for Thursday.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • April 27, 2021
Picnic honors Lakewood Ranch High Mustang band seniors

Lakewood Ranch High Marching Mustangs honor seniors and welcome incoming freshmen.

  • East County
  • News
Catherine Rodriguez will serve as the first principal at the bilingual charter school Dreamers Academy.
    By
  • Brynn Mechem
  • April 23, 2021
Dreamers Academy names first principal

Catherine Rodriguez previously served as assistant head of school at Sarasota Military Academy.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
Braden River Middle School eighth grader Stephen Althoff pours water to be filtered as Griffin Hart holds the flask. Middle school students have an opportunity for credit recovery in core classes like science. File photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • April 21, 2021
In-person summer school returns

School District of Manatee County will offer summer programs June 7-July 15.

  • East County
  • News
Registered Nurse Debbie Bottiger prepares a vaccine for a School District of Manatee County employee. Although people ages 16 and older are eligible, some high schoolers have mixed feelings about getting vaccinated. File photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • April 21, 2021
Some east Bradenton students not in rush to be vaccinated

Lakewood Ranch-area students have mixed feelings about being vaccinated.

  • East County
  • News
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Latest News

1
Check out the following options for holiday services this season.
  • December 16, 2025
Celebrate season's tidings at these Longboat holiday services
2
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?”
  • December 16, 2025
Essay contest winners named by VFW Post 12055 Braden River
3
Joan M. Durante Community Park, Longboat Key.
  • December 16, 2025
Longboat Key's Durante Park reopens after hurricane repairs
4
Plans are to replace the Roy McBean Boys & Girls Club in Newtown with a new building and convert the current structure into outdoor play space.
  • December 16, 2025
After years of repairs, Boys & Girls Club plans to rebuild
5
Longboat man calls cops on suspected cheating wife
  • December 16, 2025
Longboat man calls cops on suspected cheating wife

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