School District of Manatee County

Game of the Week - Volleyball
Palmetto High at Manatee High
Scheduled for Tuesday, September 30, 2025, at 7 p.m.
Watch live at this link: https://youtube.com/live/7nl4pKiPpeE?feature=share

We are deeply grateful to Skanska, who is currently building Artisan Lakes and Rye Ranch Elementary Schools, for taking time out of their busy schedule to support our students in such a meaningful way. On Friday, members of their team hand-delivered hundreds of new backpacks filled with school supplies to five of our Title I schools: Samoset Elementary, Bayshore High, Moody Elementary, Sugg Middle, and Rogers Garden-Bullock Elementary. Through the generosity of Skanska and their community partners, our students will continue the year with the tools they need to learn, grow, and succeed. Thank you for showing a strong commitment to our community. #ManateeSchoolsGoodNews

Happy Fri-Yay 🎉 Meet Guardian Thomas, known as “Biggie” to his R. H. Prine Elementary School family. From transporting fugitives near St. Louis to turning frowns upside down in Bradenton, this School Safety Guardian has done it all. A retired Jefferson County, Missouri sheriff’s deputy, he is now serving his third school year keeping the Patriots safe. A proud grandfather, he finds true joy in making sure students leave school happy, safe, and worry-free — “knowing at school they can just be a kid.” The caring school community has embraced him as one of their own and you can see it in the hallways, where students and staff greet him fondly and jokingly during his daily rounds. As he puts it, “If I can come to work every day and make a kid smile, I know I’ve done my job.” Thanks to Biggie and all our guardian heroes for protecting our schools. #ManateeSchoolsGoodNews

Applications for U.S. Service Academy nominations are due to Congressman Vern Buchanan’s office soon! Make sure nomination packages are complete with transcripts, test scores, recommendations, and other required materials before the October 10th deadline. Learn more: https://buchanan.house.gov/service-academy-nominations

Friday, September 26, 2025, is HR Professionals Day, and we wish to recognize and celebrate the heart of our district's operations — our Human Resources team.

Behind every teacher in the classroom, every staff member supporting our schools, and every administrator leading with vision, there is a team of dedicated HR professionals working tirelessly to make it all possible. Thank you!

#ManateeSchoolsGoodNews

There aren’t words to fully capture what happened Tuesday afternoon at Barbara A. Harvey K-8 at Copperstone, but if you were there... you felt it.

When their two-campus school community learned a new and beloved staff member was paying up to $90 a day just to get to work, they came together to change her life.

Read the full story at www.manateeschools.net/goodnews #ManateeSchoolsGoodNews

Congratulations to Lakewood Ranch High School Seniors Zachariah, Kylie, and Chloe! On Monday, these talented students were recognized at the Rotary Club of Bradenton luncheon for their winning entries in the Club’s Constitution Essay Contest. Each of them proudly shared their essays in front of Rotary members, District leadership, their teacher, and — most importantly — their families. #ManateeSchoolsGoodNews

Don’t Miss Post-Secondary Education Night at MTC!

We hope to see all our high school families this evening for Post-Secondary Education Night at Manatee Technical College, on Monday, September 22nd from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.!

This is a valuable opportunity to meet with representatives from dozens of colleges, universities, trade schools, and military branches. Families can also gather important information about financial aid, college applications, and admissions to help make the post-graduation transition a successful one.

We recently met Braylon, a junior at Lakewood Ranch High School, who shared his excitement about his future plans. Braylon hopes to study finance at the University of Florida, supported by Florida’s Bright Futures Scholarship. A dedicated lacrosse player and active member of student government, Braylon says one of his favorite things about being a Mustang is the amazing friends he’s made along the way.

Whether your student knows exactly where they’re headed or is just beginning to explore their options, Monday's event is for you. Join us at MTC and take the next step toward the future! #ManateeSchoolsGoodNews

“YOU DID IT!” – Soar in 4 Learning Lab Opening Soon

What started as a bold idea over lunch 18 months ago is now a reality. On Friday, September 19, 2025, Dr. Sheila Halpin looked out at a crowd of approx. 100 community members, leaders, and supporters - and summed it up perfectly: “YOU DID IT!”

The Soar in 4 Manatee Learning Lab is opening soon, a true moonshot turned milestone. More to come soon, but for now, here are a few of our favorite moments from this incredible day! #ManateeSchoolsGoodNews

Congratulations to our colleague, Laura Cox! The Florida School Boards Association has recognized Laura as a Certified Support Professional (CSP), a prestigious designation honoring her outstanding dedication to professional development and service to public education. Laura, Agency Clerk for the School Board, is also a U.S. Air Force veteran. We’re grateful for her service to our country and school district. #ManateeSchoolsGoodNews

🎉 National Merit Scholar Semifinalist Spotlight — Part 3 of 3

We are thrilled to continue our celebration of the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists with Benjamin Barr, a standout student from Palmetto High School!

He is among the top students in the nation and part of a select group representing less than 1% of U.S. high school seniors who earned this prestigious honor based on their exceptional PSAT scores.

Benjamin has big dreams of studying Mechanical Engineering and with his drive and determination, the sky’s the limit.

👏 Congratulations, Benjamin. We can’t wait to see what your future holds. #ManateeSchoolsGoodNews

On Thursday, Gettel Automotive Group donated an additional $25,000 to the Automotive Maintenance and Light Repair program at Parrish Community High School, raising its total contribution to $100,000.

From turning wrenches to turning dreams into careers, learn how Parrish Community High’s automotive students are gaining real-world skills and inspiration for the future, thanks to strong community partnerships.

Read more: www.manateeschools.net/goodnews

🎉 National Merit Scholar Semifinalist Spotlight — Part 2 of 3

We are thrilled to continue our celebration of the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists with Richard Lay, a standout student from Manatee High School!

He is among the top students in the nation and part of a select group representing less than 1% of U.S. high school seniors who earned this prestigious honor based on their exceptional PSAT scores.

Richard plans to attend the University of Florida to study Chemical Engineering.

👏 Congratulations, Richard. We can’t wait to see what your future holds.

Stay tuned as we highlight our final National Merit Semifinalist on Thursday! #ManateeSchoolsGoodNews

On Tuesday, Superintendent Laurie Breslin and the School Board recognized Sydney Suppa, an athletic trainer at Lakewood Ranch High School and a valued member of our District for nine years. She was recently honored with the Life Saver Award by the University of South Carolina.

Last fall on the sidelines, Sydney's quick action and lifesaving CPR saved the life of Coach Jerry, one of the Mustangs' assistant and volunteer football coaches (also pictured in below photo).

Sydney's actions exemplify the absolute best of our District: dedication, expertise, and an unwavering commitment to the safety and well-being of others. Thank you, Sydney.

#ManateeSchoolsGoodNews

On Tuesday, the School Board proudly recognized eight of our brightest students, each one earning perfect scores in at least TWO areas on the Florida Assessment of Student Thinking (FAST)! They were joined by their proud families.

🌟 These young scholars are among 187 students districtwide who earned perfect scores last spring. Join us in congratulating: Logan, Zoran, Jackson, Bruno, Weston, Alexa, Evan, and Zach.

We’re also proud to say: Every major state assessment had at least one perfect score in Manatee County!

National Merit Scholar Semifinalist Spotlight (Part 1 of 3) We are thrilled to kick off our celebration of the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists with Kevin Chen, a standout student from Braden River High School! Kevin is among the top students in the nation and part of a select group representing less than 1% of U.S. high school seniors who earned this prestigious honor based on their exceptional PSAT scores. Kevin hopes to attend Princeton University and pursue a degree in Chemical Engineering. 👏 Congratulations, Kevin. We can’t wait to see what’s next for you. Stay tuned as we highlight more of our National Merit Semifinalists this week! #ManateeSchoolsGoodNews

The School District of Manatee County is hosting a Teacher and Paraprofessional Job Fair from 4:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 25, 2025, at Manatee Technical College-Main Campus: 6305 State Road 70 East, Bradenton.

Register today at https://app.brazenconnect.com/a/manatee_county/e/8Ln0W

Why not us?! It’s more than a motto. It’s a mindset that Coach Sean Mackey lives by every day at Bayshore High School. An Ocala native and former student-athlete at Bethune-Cookman University, Coach Mackey knows what it means to chase big dreams and turn them into reality. In 2015, at the urging of a family member, he made the move to Manatee County. Starting at Lee Middle School and now serving at its feeder school - Bayshore High, “Home of the Bruins”, Coach Mackey says he’s found his home. As a coach, educator, and now athletic director, he’s not only living out his personal dream, but he’s helping students believe in theirs. He leads with connection, consistency, and care, knowing that strong relationships create strong students. Long before the Bruins’ first win this season, Coach Mackey and his team of colleagues were already gathering student athletes, speaking life into them and teaching the values of leadership, family, and putting in the work. But his impact doesn’t stop there. Coach Mackey is part of a dedicated team that’s working to change the culture at Bayshore. Together, they’re building something bigger — a renewed sense of pride in being a Bruin. They’re increasing attendance, growing school spirit, and bringing the community back to support the entire school. From the new turf football field to the basketball court he helped design, to the custom vinyl player posters that shine under the scoreboard — every detail reflects a vision of excellence and belief. Big plays are being made. Bigger dreams are being built. And he’s doing it one student, one handshake, and one “Why not us?” at a time. #BruinPride #ManateeSchoolsGoodNews

Bayshore High School is proud to have a dedicated Guardian team committed to student safety and success. David Gonzalez, a retired NYPD detective, brings years of experience and a passion for connecting with students. He is grateful to families for showing their appreciation each day with smiles. Alongside him is Mark Ward, a former Massachusetts State Trooper, who shares the same deep commitment to the school community. The staff he says, “are a good group of people.” Both Guardians take great pride in watching students grow and thrive, in the hallways and in life. Last May, they were honored to attend graduation among families in the crowd to support the seniors they helped protect. #ManateeSchoolsGoodNews