School District of Manatee County

In honor of National First Responders Day, School District of Manatee County Food and Nutrition Services invited first responders to eat lunch with students at 11 elementary schools across Manatee County. At R. H. Prine Elementary School, first responders from Cedar Hammock Fire Rescue sat shoulder-to-shoulder with kindergarten through fifth graders, talking about everything from Halloween costumes to math problems. For the students, it was a chance to ask questions, say thank you and see their community heroes up close. A simple lunch. A meaningful connection. A day our students won’t forget. #ManateeSchoolsGoodNews

The story of our #GoodNewsAwardofExcellence creator 🏆 When the Good News team asked Southeast High School technology teacher Nicholas Smith to help create a trophy for the inaugural Good News Award of Excellence, he didn’t hesitate. Instead, he turned the request into a teaching moment—an opportunity for students in his technology lab to take on a real-world design challenge.

Over the course of two weeks, students brainstormed, designed, and tested prototype trophies. There were highs and lows along the way—some of the early models even melted like spaghetti! But through trial, error, and persistence, the class produced a collection of creative, meaningful designs.

In the end, Miranda Herrera, a senior and President of Southeast’s Technology Student Association (TSA), had her design chosen by her peers to represent the project. She proudly presented the finished trophy to the Good News team in early October.

Several students stood out during the process:
Nicholas L., a senior, used CAD software and 3D modeling to craft his prototype. He plans to join the U.S. Marines after graduation and eventually study mechanical engineering. A motorcycle enthusiast, he dreams of designing engines one day.

Eli O., a senior, created a traditional-style trophy and had fun throughout the design process, which took an impressive seven hours to print.

David M., a junior who loves a challenge, is still exploring his future path but hopes it will involve engineering or marine mechanics.

Will W., also a junior, focused on creating a simple, clean design. He enjoyed the project for the way it expanded his knowledge of 3D printing. When he’s not in the lab, you can find him training with the Seminoles’ weightlifting team.

Aaron V., a junior and aspiring aerospace engineer, was proud of his design and grateful for the chance to sharpen his time management skills through the project.

This collaboration between the Southeast technology lab and the Good News team didn’t just produce a beautiful award—it showcased the creativity, resilience, and bright futures of Southeast’s talented students.

Thank you for sharing your time and talents! Manatee Education Foundation partnered with the District for the Good News Award of Excellence to recognize your incredible designs. #ManateeSchoolsGoodNews

On Tuesday, we were proud to SURPRISE and announce the first-ever recipient of the School District of Manatee County's Good News Award of Excellence — Palmetto High School!

This award was created to recognize the outstanding efforts of those who actively share the positive, everyday stories happening in our schools and worksites.

It also shines a spotlight on the incredible talents of our District students who design and create the award trophies, while inspiring others to amplify the #ManateeSchoolsGoodNews around them.

Palmetto High School, under the leadership of Principal Monica DeLesline, has set the bar high. They submitted two joyful, creative stories celebrating connections between Palmetto High and well-known District administrators.

Thus were born:
🔸 The Travelin’ Badge of Ginger Collins (Southeast High)
🔸 The Travelin’ Badge of Dr. Guy Grimes (Johnson K-8)

In these fun, heartwarming stories, the administrators’ ID badges “traveled” around the campus of their alma mater with current Tigers' staff and students.

These playful posts didn’t just entertain; they sparked a wave of nostalgia, school pride, and connection across the community.

The response was awesome:
📱 130,000+ views on Facebook alone (Q1: Aug. 11-Oct. 10)
💬 A buzz that spread across schools and campuses throughout the District

Congratulations, Palmetto High School. Thank you for spreading the Good News with creativity, heart, and Tiger pride.
You've inspired us all to celebrate the everyday moments that make our District so special. Keep the Good News coming!

#GoodNewsAwardofExcellence

Pssst... Palmetto High School. Southeast High School has a message for you and Principal Monica DeLesline.
Thanks to SETV TV teacher Ricky Bowden and students for delivering this *BREAKING NEWS* from the #ManateeSchoolsGoodNews team! #GoodNewsAwardofExcellence

Video: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1Gb4efokjm/

As School Bus Safety Week rolled to a close, the Manatee District transportation family came together to celebrate. From the drivers and aides to the mechanics, route administrators, and dispatchers — every role plays a part in ensuring that thousands of students arrive at school and return home safely. On Friday, Bayside Community Church (North River Campus) showed their appreciation by serving a delicious lunch, while several community and business partners added to the celebration with special treats and tokens of gratitude. Adding to the fun, Linda Agresta took us on a behind-the-scenes tour of the Matzke garage, where our unsung heroes are working under the hoods of school buses, repairing engines, changing tires, and performing countless tasks that keep our fleet running strong. On Saturday, Jay and TJ drove a brand new school bus to The Soar Lab for the smallest learners and their families to explore. It was a perfect way to wrap up a week dedicated to safety, teamwork, and appreciation. Happy School Bus Safety Week! 🚌💛 #ManateeSchoolsGoodNews

Being a school principal is sometimes a dirty job, but somebody AWESOME has to do it! On Friday, Principal Jennie Grimes (front left) and Asst. Principal Heather Sills became human ice cream sundaes in the spirit of school fundraising. A member of the Palma Sola Elementary School family recently wrote this about Jennie Grimes: “Mrs. Grimes is the heartbeat of our little community school. She wants the best for all of her students, supports her staff, created an environment where they’re thriving with active construction on campus, and is always willing to be fun and goofy for the students! She keeps parents informed, is a great communicator, and exemplary leader on campus. She is accessible, kind, and innovative - always striving towards improvement and new ideas for our PSE community. So lucky to be a Panther! 🐾 💙 💛” We couldn’t agree more! Thank for all you do, Mrs. Grimes. #NationalPrincipalsMonth #ManateeSchoolsGoodNews

Hometown pride is shining as Braden River High alum Myles Straw (Class of 2013) takes the field on baseball’s biggest stage. The Toronto Blue Jays center fielder joins his team in the World Series on Friday night. His former coaches weighed in: “Myles has always stayed grounded and humble,” said Matt Bowling, Manatee High AD. “The Myles we coached years ago is still the same Myles today.” “He’s shown that hard work and perseverance pay off,” added Erik Nelson, BRHS teacher and former coach. Southeast High Assistant Principal Craig Page said, “He was undersized and overlooked, but he never stopped working — and he never forgot where he came from.” Your hometown is proud of you, Myles! 💙⚾️ #ManateeSchoolsGoodNews

On Friday, Palma Sola Elementary pulled out all the stops to celebrate their beloved crossing guard, Maggie Pappa, on her 92nd birthday! 🎂💐 The devoted matriarch and lifelong Pittsburgh fan also stays active and healthy by being a fixture at LECOM Park during Pirates’ spring training and the Bradenton Marauders’ baseball season. More than two decades and running! See how the community came together to honor her kindness and spirit at https://www.manateeschools.net/goodnews We love you too, Ms. Maggie! 💛🖤

Bridget Jones had quite the Wednesday! After a regular day at work, she headed home with a brand new 65” smart TV. It was the grand prize in the School Bus Safety Week raffle held at the Matzke Complex, a gift provided with support from sponsors.

Bridget is a long-time district employee with more than three decades of dedicated service. Recently, she transitioned from her role as a teacher aide to become a bus aide in the Transportation Department. Though she’s only been with her new team for a few weeks, her coworkers were quick to celebrate her big win and even helped load the TV into her car!

Congratulations, Bridget, and thank you for your continued commitment to our students and schools! #ManateeSchoolsGoodNews

The School District of Manatee County’s 👑 King of the Road 👑 is Nick Buto! This rookie school bus driver, who joined the district in August, scored the highest while maneuvering and avoiding errors on an obstacle course at Matzke Complex on Wednesday. He drives students to-and-from Palmetto High School and Harvey K-8 Copperstone & North River Ranch campuses. Welcome to the team! #ManateeSchoolsGoodNews #SchoolBusSafetyWeek

Drumroll, please! 🥁 The results are in for the 2025 Manatee County School Bus Rodeo, and the winning team is The Roadrunnerz (Beep Beep)! Led by longtime route supervisor Gina Miller, who has dedicated 26 years of service to transportation, this team proved that even our newest drivers can rise to the challenge. The four drivers who skillfully navigated the challenging obstacle course on Wednesday are all fairly new to our district: 🚌 Edinson and Nicholas – both joined in August 🚌 Don – celebrating one year of service 🚌 Zeke – proudly driving for five years on and off All the participating teams were celebrated by Director Jamie Warrington and Asst. Director Melanie Johnson. We’ve tagged the schools whose routes they drive — please join us in congratulating them and sharing this #ManateeSchoolsGoodNews! 🎉👏

It’s School Bus Safety Week! Our Transportation team was all smiles while cheering on their favorite drivers at today’s District School Bus Rodeo! 🚌 After a decade-long hiatus, this friendly competition is back on the road and drivers were revved up to claim the title of King or Queen of the Road! 👑 Here’s a look at our Transportation family enjoying the fun in between school drop-offs and pick-ups. A special thank you to all the sponsors who supported the event by providing lunch, prizes, and T-shirts. Your generosity kept the energy rolling! Stay tuned - we’ll post the winning teams up next…#ManateeSchoolsGoodNews #SchoolBusSafetyWeek

Things are going swimmingly at Anna Maria Elementary! Curriculum Coordinator Amber Platowski recently visited the Guy Harvey Academy of Arts and Science, and the excitement was off the charts! Each week, students celebrate “Guy Day Friday” — diving into STEM, the arts, and literacy with lessons created by the Guy Harvey Foundation. In the Guy Harvey Classroom, STEM teacher Ms. Pidge Barreda brings learning to life through creative, hands-on exploration — including a custom board game and Play-Doh marine models! Upstairs, Media Specialist Ms. Becky Demo led students in songs about manatees, reading activities, and discussions on protecting marine life. One student even convinced her family to buy a propeller guard to help save manatees! With Principal Dr. Fradley at the helm, this school is charting a course toward curiosity, conservation, and creativity. As part of the district’s marine science career pathway, Anna Maria Elementary is helping students set sail for success — and we can’t wait to “sea” where they go next! #ManateeSchoolsGoodNews #STEAM #GuyHarveyAcademy #DiscoverExcellenceSDMC

Palm View K-8 8th Graders Dive into Ocean Discovery What a fin-tastic field trip! On Wednesday, October 15, Palm View 8th graders set sail for a day of discovery at the Florida Institute of Oceanography in St. Petersburg. Students had the rare opportunity to board and tour two research vessels, guided by none other than the ships’ captains themselves — an unforgettable experience for our future scientists and explorers! The excitement continued as students gathered around the ship’s moon pool — a large opening in the vessel’s hull that allows scientists to lower tools, instruments, and even submersibles directly into the ocean. They also got a close-up look at a remote operated vehicle (ROV), and each student even had the chance to pilot a $200,000 mini-ROV using a controller that looked surprisingly like an Xbox game controller! Two presenters shared insight into the many careers connected to marine research, from ship operations to ocean science and environmental studies, inspiring students to think about future possibilities on (and under) the water. Docked alongside the University of South Florida St. Petersburg, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and a U.S. Coast Guard Station, the research vessels are surrounded by incredible real-world learning opportunities. Students even watched planes take off at Albert Whitted Airport, adding another layer of excitement to the day. As a Woz Ed Career Pathways school, Palm View K-8 encourages students to explore STEM careers and future-ready skills through hands-on experiences just like this one. From technology to teamwork, the day reinforced how curiosity, creativity, and innovation open the door to endless opportunities. #ManateeSchoolsGoodNews

A glowing review for the Marching Seminoles of Southeast High School on Friday night, and their guest musicians from Braden River Middle School, Louise R. Johnson K-8 School of International Studies, Sugg Middle School, and Electa Lee Middle School. Bravo 👏 You wowed the crowd, making families, students, and fans proud! Glow, Noles! (Neon Night, 10.17.25)

The results and moments captured during Saturday’s Middle School XC meet are in… Girls - Teams and Individuals 🥇 Dr. Mona Jain Middle School 🥈 R. Dan Nolan Middle School 🥉 Martha B. King Middle School 🥇 Tatum B., Dr. Mona Jain MS 🥈 Katelyn M., Nolan MS 🥉 Emma V., Nolan MS Boys - Teams and Individuals 🥇 Buffalo Creek Middle School 🥈 Dr. Mona Jain Middle School 🥉 Haile Middle School 🥇 Maddox R., Buffalo Creek MS 🥈 Rafe T., King MS 🥉 Mitchell F., Dr. Mona Jain MS Congratulations to ALL the runners from Manatee County middle schools and their families for finishing the race and supporting your teams! #ManateeSchoolsGoodNews

Dear Families, This is a friendly reminder that all School District of Manatee County Traditional Public Elementary Schools will have early release at 1:00 p.m. this Friday and next Friday, October 17th and October 24th. These early release days allow time for Parent/Teacher conferences.  Please plan accordingly.  For students who participate in the after-school care program, after-school care is available on both Fridays. Thank you for your continued partnership!

He may not have a Super Bowl ring, but he’s a campus legend. When Myakka City Elementary’s Mr. S (Joseph Szewczyk) met Tampa Bay Buccaneers Super Bowl champ Martín Gramática at The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature on Thursday, he asked for two autographed footballs 🏈 Not for himself, but for students. His idea? Use them as rewards for those who make the biggest learning gains in reading this year. 🏆 Mr. S isn’t just the bus driver. He’s also the PE teacher, fifth-grade math teacher, and a 21-year Mustang who commutes from North Port because he loves his school that much. He’s not chasing touchdowns, but he’s definitely scoring big for his students. Thank you, Mr. S, for going the extra yard for Myakka City Elementary! #ManateeSchoolsGoodNews

Right this very minute, students from Myakka City Elementary are buzzing with excitement after an unforgettable day at Tackling Reading at The Bishop Museum! This inspiring annual event, hosted in partnership with The Mosaic Company and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, aims to show students that a love for reading and learning can lead to big wins in life. Special guest and Super Bowl Champion Martín “Automatica” Gramática, legendary former Buccaneers kicker, brought his championship energy to the event. Joining the fun were Bucs Cheerleaders Brooke, Dante, Paige, and Sarah, who added spirit and enthusiasm to every moment. Kids got to wear replica jerseys of QB Baker Mayfield and Bucky Irving, numbers 6-7 (hmmmmmm....🙃) Enjoy these photos from the special event! A #ManateeSchoolsGoodNews video is coming soon! @topfans

Spend just five minutes with Tania Vidal from School District of Manatee County Food and Nutrition Services, and it feels like flipping open a page of Chicken Soup for the Soul. Her warmth, humor, and heart for children have made her a beloved figure at Prine Elementary School, where she’s been serving breakfast, lunch (and a whole lot of love!) for the past 28 years.

It all began when Tania’s own children were students at Prine. Living just across the street, she was already a familiar face on campus as a daily volunteer. Then came the thought that changed everything:
"I figured, I might as well get paid if I’m going to be up here all the time."

So, she joined the cafeteria team as a four-hour food service worker. Fast forward nearly three decades, and she’s now the school’s cafeteria manager, a role she’s held for the past 12 years. But ask anyone at Prine, and they'll tell you: Tania is much more than her title.

She’s the one in the colorful hat. The tutu. The costume. Whatever it takes to bring joy to the kids.

“We do a lot of theme days and special events,” she says with a proud smile. “First Responders Day is one of my favorites. The firefighters come in and eat with the kids. It’s a big deal for them.”

Her energy is contagious, and her love for students is unwavering. That’s what also led her to volunteer with Girls on the Run, an extracurricular club that empowers girls through movement.

“I love showing them that a 63-year-old can still get out there, stretch, and have some fun,” she laughs. “They get a real kick out of me in my tutus.”

Tania and her cafeteria crew don’t just feed Prine students. They also prepare meals for a local private school and charter school. And yes, when she shows up in full costume to deliver lunches, she’s met with cheers and hugs.

She’s now feeding the children and grandchildren of former students, a legacy that humbles and delights her. She shares a favorite memory from a visit to Walmart with her late husband, when a little boy couldn’t take his eyes off her. He tugged on his mother’s pants and whispered, “She’s the one.” When his mother asked who he meant, he answered without hesitation:
“She’s the one who cooks better than you!”

Even in the grocery store, Tania gets questions about lunch balances, though she laughs and gently reminds people, “I deal with 800 students. I can’t tell you how much little Johnny has on his account.”

But even with the long days, the laughter, and the occasional costume, what Tania talks about most is her team.

“I am so extremely fortunate. I have a true team effort here,” she says. “Everybody steps up and helps anybody that needs help.”

Even when they’re short-staffed, even when the day gets tough, the cafeteria crew keeps going. Staff from across the school have been known to jump in with hairnets and gloves to help when needed. Because at Prine, that’s just how things are done.

“This is what I live for... working here,” Tania says, eyes lighting up. “I really do. I love it.”

And judging by the generations of students who still remember her, laugh with her, and feel cared for in her cafeteria, the love she gives has never gone unnoticed. #ManateeSchoolsGoodNews