Let’s celebrate 22 outstanding Manatee County public high school students who are making a difference through service and leadership! Many of them joined their families at Tuesday’s School Board meeting to be recognized.

The Florida Department of Education, in partnership with the Florida Lottery, launched the Student Service Challenge to inspire student leadership, civic responsibility, and community engagement.

We’re proud that the School District of Manatee County, in partnership with the Manatee Education Foundation, was selected as one of only 20 school districts statewide to participate!

From September 7 to October 5, these dedicated teens each completed 20+ hours of volunteer service and wrote an essay reflecting on their experience. As a reward for their commitment, each student received a $500 scholarship!

Congratulations to:

Josilah S., Braden River High

Denise S., Bayshore High

Genesis R., Bayshore High

Kayla G., Lakewood Ranch High

Faith F., Lakewood Ranch High

Lily P., Lakewood Ranch High

Molly F., Lakewood Ranch High

Lexi S., Lakewood Ranch High

Merritt S., Lakewood Ranch High

Zoe C., Lakewood Ranch High

Leah D., Lakewood Ranch High

Yadira K., Manatee High

Elliot C., Manatee High

Leonard H., Manatee High

Rayna H., MSA

Mason E., Palmetto High

Jermar P., Palmetto High

Nora E., Parrish Community High

Conor K., Parrish Community High

Chloe K., Southeast High

Dulce C., Southeast High

Nohemi T., Southeast High


A special thank-you to the community partners, including Soar in 4 and Manatee County Government, who helped make these meaningful service opportunities possible.

Together, we’re empowering students to lead, serve, and create lasting positive change.

Congratulations to our student leaders and thank you to everyone helping build a stronger Manatee County!

Join us in officially congratulating the Inaugural Class of the Braden River High School Athletics Hall of Fame—all proud members of the Class of 2013:

Myles Straw '13 (Baseball)
The ultimate example of heart and hustle—from working his way onto varsity after being cut as a freshman to hitting .370 as a senior, earning an MLB Heart and Hustle Award, playing for the Toronto Blue Jays, and competing in the 2025 World Series!

Courtney Mirabella '13 (Softball)
A record-shattering force in the circle who led Florida in ERA (0.23) as a senior, earned All-American honors, set NCAA D-I strikeout milestones at NCCU, and pitched professionally in Europe!

Trevon Young '13 (Basketball & Football)
A multi-sport powerhouse who was named FACA Class 7A Player of the Year in basketball (19.5 PPG) and an elite Florida Gators football recruit, before becoming a 1,000-point scorer at Eckerd College and playing 3 seasons of professional basketball overseas!

Congratulations, Pirates!

When your budget gets the thumbs-up! Big Bank Theory is kicking off its 2026-2027 season.

Students are putting their budgeting skills to the test as they make real-life choices about housing, transportation, food, insurance and more. It’s an interactive way to turn financial literacy into a real-life learning experience.

Want to learn more and join the Manatee Chamber of Commerce as a volunteer? Visit https://www.manateechamber.com/BigBank/

The School District of Manatee County is joining our community partners, CareerSource Suncoast and RI5E, to host a High School Student Job Fair to inspire, equip, and launch the next generation into successful careers and leadership opportunities.

Students, ages 14 and older, are invited to join their families at Manatee Technical College - Main Campus, located at 6305 State Road 70 East from 6-8 p.m. on Wednesday, November 4, 2026.

About RI5E: Founded by Adrian McPherson, a Manatee County native and Southeast High School graduate, RI5E empowers youth and young adults through leadership development, academic support, financial literacy, workforce preparation, mentorship, athletics, and exposure to educational and career opportunities.

Register today: https://form.jotform.com/CareerSource/the-launchpad-student-registration

Dear Teachers, Here's a special message from Dr. Laurie Breslin regarding Teacher Appreciation Week.
https://vimeo.com/1184919879/fdb68f2a7f
#ManateeSchoolsGoodNews

Meet Stefanie Minihan, one of the creative forces behind Braden River High School's student success! Recently named an ABC7 Chalkboard Champion, her experience in marketing, fashion design, and photography is helping teens turn creativity into career readiness.

Under her leadership, the Pirates launched Captain’s Cargo, a student-run store generating $35,000 in annual sales through student-designed merchandise. Thank you for inspiring the next generation of creators and entrepreneurs, Mrs. Minihan.

Watch her impact in action: https://www.mysuncoast.com/2026/03/19/stefanie-minihan-teaches-marketing-graphic-design-through-school-clothing-store/ #ManateeSchoolsGoodNews

The Florida Department of Education released the Florida Value Added Model (VAM) Fiscal Transparency Tool, a web-based fiscal transparency tool that identifies public schools and districts with high academic achievement based on the ratio of classroom expenditures to total expenditures. VAM is intended to help taxpayers evaluate the financial efficiency of a school district with other similarly situated school districts. View the VAM for the School District of Manatee County at https://floridavam.org/e/vamPublic.html?w4=54#/entity/262385.