Palma Sola Elementary is celebrating Color Days all month long in support of our pre-K and kindergarten students learning their colors! On Wednesday, the whole campus was decked out in red. This year’s school theme ties in with campus construction: “Building Memories, One Brick at a Time!” 🧱✨
15 days ago, School District of Manatee County
A boy wearing red gives a thumbs up while walking to school
School office staff wearing red in support of color days
A young girl smiles while wearing red
Two children wearing red waves to the camera
Two staff members smile while wearing red
A class of young students and their teacher showing off their outfit
Two food service workers wearing red
A class of student students, and their teacher wearing red
The principal and assistant principal of a school, smiling shoulder to shoulder
A class of kindergarten students and their teacher all wearing red
Shoutout to Paul (right) and D (left), a pair of dedicated school district plumbers with nearly 60 years of service combined! They were hard at work at Palma Sola Elementary School on Wednesday, keeping things running for students and staff. #ManateeSchoolsGoodNews
15 days ago, School District of Manatee County
two men wearing blue shirts, jeans, and boots at a school working to fix a plumbing issue.
The School District of Manatee County is hosting an Operations Job Fair at Wakeland Support Center, located at 1812 27th Street East in Bradenton. Join us on Thursday, August 21, 2025, to learn more about your new career!

Open positions include: bus drivers, bus aides, food service, custodians, maintenance, electrical, HVAC, and more. Register now at https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=hucFNeoFeEepTiFu5FjLNKBTfa8XY1pJk3P6LgY8iwVURE5WS01JT1RKMlY2MU1IMExENFRGUzBHNC4u
16 days ago, School District of Manatee County
A poster for the School District of Manatee County's Operations Job Fair on August 21st from 9 a.m. until Noon at 1812 27th Street East in Bradenton.
Congratulations to Maura Howl, Supervisor of Communications & Grants Management at Manatee Technical College, who was honored with the 2025 FACTE Lifetime Achievement Award. For 40 years, Maura has been a driving force in the CTE community, securing significant grants and advancing technical education in Florida.

Additionally, Doug Wagner, Director of Manatee Technical College, has been inducted into the 2025 FACTE Hall of Fame. With decades of service in public school career and technical education, Doug has made significant contributions to the School District of Manatee County, including his work with various professional organizations and his leadership in advancing student programs.

Both were joined by Dr. Paul Gansemer, Executive Director of Adult, Career and Technical Education, during a School Board recognition at the August 5th regular meeting. Join us in celebrating their remarkable achievements and their unwavering commitment to career and technical education! 🌟 #ManateeSchoolsGoodNews
16 days ago, School District of Manatee County
School Board members stand behind three career and technical leaders, holding awards given to them by a statewide organization
August is Get Ready for Kindergarten Month! We’d like to take this opportunity to remind families to register children for kindergarten—if you haven’t already! ✨

Kindergarten is open to students who will be five years old by September 1, 2025.

Register today: www.manateeschools.net/registration
16 days ago, School District of Manatee County
A teacher and student working with flash cards with a graphic leading to kindergarten registration, www.manateeschools.net/registration
Teachers and staff at Gene Witt Elementary School are kicking off the new school year with team spirit and a champion mindset! Inspired by The Infinite Game, this year’s goal is all about playing with purpose, lifting each other up, and building a future that lasts — both in the classroom and beyond. As you can see by their creative photo decor, staff is already bringing the energy, the laughs, and the message loud and clear: 👉 We’re here to BUILD CHAMPIONS — together. Let’s go, Witt Family! #GoodNewsBackToSchool #DiscoverExcellenceSDMC
16 days ago, School District of Manatee County
Teachers superimposed their faces on students holding hands
Teacher standing shoulder to shoulder in front of a brick wall
teachers wearing hockey jerseys pretending to be players
Teachers superimpose their faces professional athletes
Teachers pretending to be football players
teachers dresses, hockey players in the pile of hockey sticks in front of them
Teachers super imposed their faces on professional athletes
A Photoshop image of teachers playing football
The School Board of Manatee County has selected Dr. Laurie Breslin and Dr. Misty Mathis to advance as finalists in the search for the District’s next superintendent. The Board selected and voted on the two finalists during the Board meeting on Tuesday, August 12th. The next phase of the process will include formal interviews with the finalists. As part of the selection process, the district will host a Community Meet & Greet with the finalists on Monday, August 18th, at 6:15 p.m. at Manatee Technical College, 6305 State Road 70 East in Bradenton. The event will provide parents, staff, and community members the opportunity to meet the candidates, learn more about their backgrounds, and share input with the School Board. A survey link for community members to provide feedback will be available on August 18th. For more information about the superintendent search, visit https://www.manateeschools.net.
16 days ago, School District of Manatee County
A graphic showing the two finalist for Manatee County superintendent
The Tigers roared into the new school year with a mix of new faces and cherished traditions! 🐅☀️ On Monday, Palmetto High seniors came together for one last sunrise, marking the start of their final year. Faculty and staff were all smiles as they welcomed students back for another amazing year at PHS! #GoodNewsBackToSchool
17 days ago, School District of Manatee County
The sunrise comes up at Palmetto high school. Photo by Jamie Blatt.
Seniors prepare for the first day of school by hanging a sign. Photo by Jamie Blatt
A senior hold a sign saying last first day of school. Photo by Jamie Blatt.
The new front office at Palmetto high school
A student smiles for the camera as photo IDs are distributed on the first day of school
The attendance clerk and two students are all smiles on the first day of school
Palmetto high discipline secretary gives thumbs up on the first day of school
A faculty member and two students smiling on the first day of school
Two seniors smiling with their backpacks to the camera
He Palmetto high student is all smiles as he gets his first lunch of the school year
From first day jitters to joyful reunions, the Eagles of Louise R. Johnson K-8 are soaring into a brand new school year! 🦅✨ Here’s to learning, laughter, and making memories in 2025–2026. #GoodNewsBackToSchool
17 days ago, School District of Manatee County
A little girl smiles on the first day of school
to school resource officers stand next to the school mascot, an Eagle
School administrators are ready for a productive school year
Students are all smiles on the first day of the school year
A group of boys with the middle school athletic Director, smiling in the first day of school
Children in the breakfast line at school
Old friends, catch up and talk on the first day of school
A bus driver and bus just dropped off their first students
A teacher welcoming students to a new school year
A smiling child gets his photo taken for a school ID
Lakewood Ranch High School is back in the saddle and ready to ride into a brand new year starting Monday! Administrators and staff are proud to welcome students back to an A-rated school - where excellence is the tradition and success is the goal. Let's Go Mustangs! ¡Vamos Mustangs! #ManateeSchoolsGoodNews #DiscoverExcellence
21 days ago, School District of Manatee County
High school administrators hold a gold balloon signifying their A grade earned for the last school year
Principal Scott Flynn is ushering in a new era at Cougar campus with exciting renovations, modern learning spaces, and a deep appreciation for the school’s history. As teachers prepare for the first day on Monday, August 11th, the mission remains the same: put students first and inspire success through PAWS values.
22 days ago, School District of Manatee County
A school principal standing next to a wall with the school mascot painted on it
A framed letter from the 1920s featuring executive action taken by the parent teacher’s association
Active construction happening on a school campus
A classroom with every desk topped with a notebook and crayons
A principal and teacher all smiles, leading up to the first day of school inside a classroom
A teacher is welcoming door and wall decorations
The cafeteria staff at Oneco elementary
The inside of the cafeteria at Oneco elementary
An art room featuring new furniture and windows
The inside of a classroom featuring new technology and furniture
Manatee County's bus drivers, attendants, and transportation staff revved up for the new school year at Wakeland Support Center on Tuesday. They fueled up with breakfast, mapped out their upcoming routes, and put their skills in high gear during dexterity training. All to ensure a smooth, safe ride for our students this year! #ManateeSchoolsGoodNews
23 days ago, School District of Manatee County
A school bus sits under a canopy of oak trees
Three transportation employees are all smiles during a beginning of the school year conference
A transportation employee enjoys the delicious breakfast buffet at a conference
School bus drivers fuel up with a healthy breakfast before heading into a day of training
Transportation professionals work with a bus driver on his upcoming route for the school year
Transportation employees stand next to a grid showing all routes have been claimed for the upcoming school year
A school bus driver stands next to a big yellow bus
A school bus driver, wearing a green polo shirt and baseball cap smiles while sitting in inthe seat of a school bus
A school bus driver stands in the aisle of the school bus
The reflection of a school bus driver with a big smile on his face
Christmas came early for Tara Elementary teachers and staff on Monday. For the second year in a row, they were treated to a luncheon and back to school gifts at Beef 'O' Brady's Braden River. Owners Tim and Lauren Macri love giving back to the community #ManateeSchoolsGoodNews
24 days ago, School District of Manatee County
School administrators and their executive director stand next to a Christmas tree with school supplies underneath
A teacher smiles after opening a Christmas in July gift filled with school supplies
A kindergarten teacher is happy to receive animal erasers for her class this school year
Two teachers smile as they receive a giant basket filled with sanitizer wipes and other essential school supplies as a gift
Teachers in a restaurant owner smile from behind an Instagram photo prop during the Christmas in July luncheon at beef O’Brady‘s
A teacher holds two containers of paper that will be used to decorate her classroom bulletin boards
A teacher is overjoyed to receive a polkadot gift bag filled with school supplies for the new year
A smiling teacher hold a treasure box filled with goodies for her students this school year
Two teachers pose with an Instagram photo prompt during the Christmas in July event at beef O’Brady’s
The owner of OB, Brady and Tara elementary administrators and shoulder shoulders, smiling in the restaurant
Welcome back, Panthers! Braden River Middle kicked off a new school year at Harvest United Methodist Church in Lakewood Ranch on Monday. The staff gathering celebrated a community business partnership formed to inspire staff & increase student achievement #ManateeSchoolsGoodNews
24 days ago, School District of Manatee County
A church volunteer and school principal smiled during a welcome back event
Two teachers at a back to school welcome event
School staff members assemble and a back-to-school conference
Three school custodian, smiling because they’re glad to be back with school staff
Teachers during a welcome back conference sit at a table
A long time teacher holds up a name tag showing 33 years service in Manatee county
A long time teacher excited to be back for a new school year with a thumbs up
The assistant principles of Braden River middle school happy to welcome staff back at a school conference
Three members of a church welcome Braden River middle school to a back-to-school conference
two church volunteers with a school principal, smiling during a breakfast event
It’s a great day to be an Otter! On Saturday, Lake Manatee K-8 families got a first look of the new campus in Lakewood Ranch. Principal Todd Richardson and team welcomed kindergarten through fifth grade students to this OTTER-LY amazing event! 🦦💚 #ManateeSchoolsGoodNews
26 days ago, School District of Manatee County
principal, smiling while joined with two young students
Young student sitting in a built-in book nook
A vibrant library with beautiful lights and books galore
The exterior of a brand new school with brown and white bricks
For smiling women wearing T-shirts proud to be on the schools PTO
A father and daughter’s smile inside the school’s new media center
A family smiles for a photo in a built-in nook
Two young boys smile under a balloon arch
A school principal, shaking hands with a student starting a new school year soon
Three school employees stand near the courtyard of their brand new school
Buffalo Creek Middle School Students Shine at FVA All-Star Treble Honors Chorus: Three students from Buffalo Creek Middle School represented Manatee County at the Florida Vocal Association (FVA) All-Star Treble Honors Chorus on July 23rd at the Hilton Orlando/Altamonte Springs. This selective choir, for outstanding 6th-grade singers from across Florida including Ava B., Madison C. and Kenslee C., involved a day of intensive rehearsal under conductor Evan Powers. The experience provided the students with exposure to high-level choral music and the opportunity to sing with peers from across the state. Thanks to proud music teacher Malissa Baker for sharing this #ManateeSchoolsGoodNews.
27 days ago, School District of Manatee County
Choral students singing on risers.
three smiling sixth grade students standing next to a guest conductor.
A guest conductor directing a group of middle school singers.
Please support the 12th Annual Books-A-Million Book Drive benefiting K-12 students in Manatee County. Stop by the Books-A-Million store at 4225 14th Street West, Bradenton and donate a book today!
27 days ago, School District of Manatee County
Flyer for Books-a-Million Annual Book Drive
Security Screening at Secondary Schools – Beginning Monday, August 11, 2025, all students and visitors at district middle and high schools will be screened each school day using a high-tech security scanner system. For more information on this enhanced security screening procedure, visit https://www.manateeschools.net/securityscreening.
3 months ago, School District of Manatee County
School Board Seeks Civic-Minded Citizens to Join Audit Committee – The School Board of Manatee County is seeking civic-minded citizens to serve as members of the Audit Committee. The Committee, which meets six times a year, recommends the appointment of the internal and external auditors; reviews the scope, plan and reports of the internal and external auditors; and assists in maintaining open communications between the selected auditors, the School Board and the District’s financial management. The Committee also reviews the collection and proper use of the funds raised through the one-half cent sales surtax for school capital outlay expenditures. Membership on the Committee requires an average of five-to-eight hours per month, with meetings scheduled every other month for three hours. The term is approximately three years. Those interested in serving must: • Live in Manatee County. • Be a CPA (active or retired) or had employment experience in school district financial operations. • Submit a letter expressing interest, provide contact information and provide a brief summary of their work experience. Responses must be sent to the Manatee County School District, Attention: School Board Agency Clerk, P.O. Box 9069, Bradenton, Florida 34206-9069. Interested individuals may obtain additional information about the Committee by emailing the School Board Agency Administrative Associate at cox3l@manateeschools.net.
3 months ago, School District of Manatee County
Family Empowerment Scholarship – Parents interested in applying for either FES-EO or FES-UA may review the eligibility requirements and application instructions at https://www.manateeschools.net/FES.
3 months ago, School District of Manatee County