Dr. Roger Dearing
Superintendent of Schools
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Born and raised in Central Florida, Dr. Roger Dearing has served in Florida's public school system for 35 years. During that time, he has held the positions of classroom teacher, assistant principal, principal, assistant superintendent and, for the past nine years, superintendent. Roger assumed the position of Manatee County Superintendent of Schools on July 1, 2003.

As a classroom teacher, Roger was twice named “Teacher of the Year”. As an administrator, he received the “Outstanding Young Educator Award”; was given the Orlando Business Journal's “Up and Comers Award”; was three times named Osceola County's “Administrator of the Year”; was recipient of “Best Business Practices in Government Award” from the Taxpayers Association of Indian River County; and was honored as “Outstanding Alumnus” from the University of Central Florida's College of Education for the First Quarter of a Century.

Roger earned an A.A. degree at Orlando Junior College in 1969; a Bachelor's Degree in Math from the University of Central Florida in 1971; a Master's in Math from UCF in 1972, and a Doctorate in Educational Administration & Supervision-Leadership from UCF in 1987.

Roger is President Elect of the Florida Association of District School Superintendents for the state of Florida, and serves on several Florida High School Activities Association Committees. He and his wife, Candace (an elementary school principal and the 1987 Florida Teacher of the Year), live in Bradenton. He enjoys reading, golf, genealogy, and scuba diving, as well as spending time with his son and daughter, who are both grown and also live in Florida.