National recognition for some of Manatee County's brightest students!
On Wednesday, more than 2,500 recipients of National Merit Scholarships sponsored by colleges and universities across the country were announced.
We're proud to share that three of those prestigious scholarship winners are graduates of Manatee County high schools! 👏
Kevin Chen
Probable career field: Chemical Engineering
Braden River High School
Richard M. Lay
Probable career field: Materials Engineering
Manatee High School
Benjamin Barr
Probable career field: Engineering
Palmetto High School
All three scholars earned the National Merit University of Florida Scholarships.
Congratulations on this remarkable achievement. Your hard work, dedication, and academic excellence have earned you a place among the nation's best.
On Wednesday, more than 2,500 recipients of National Merit Scholarships sponsored by colleges and universities across the country were announced.
We're proud to share that three of those prestigious scholarship winners are graduates of Manatee County high schools! 👏
Kevin Chen
Probable career field: Chemical Engineering
Braden River High School
Richard M. Lay
Probable career field: Materials Engineering
Manatee High School
Benjamin Barr
Probable career field: Engineering
Palmetto High School
All three scholars earned the National Merit University of Florida Scholarships.
Congratulations on this remarkable achievement. Your hard work, dedication, and academic excellence have earned you a place among the nation's best.
Happy Graduation Week! ✨ Superintendent Laurie Breslin has a message for the Class of 2026 and all who have helped them reach this milestone. Watch this video: https://vimeo.com/1191294933/2b0ef8bf2e
#ManateeSchoolsGoodNews
#ManateeSchoolsGoodNews
Dear Teachers, Here's a special message from Dr. Laurie Breslin regarding Teacher Appreciation Week.
https://vimeo.com/1184919879/fdb68f2a7f
#ManateeSchoolsGoodNews
The 2026–2027 Superintendents’ Advisory Panel kicked off last week with current 11th-grade student leaders. Throughout the next year, they will meet with the superintendent and district leadership to share their perspectives on student success.
Through thoughtful discussions, students will provide input on access to programs and resources, college and career readiness, and what is working well across their schools—as well as areas that could be improved. Their insights will help inform key elements of the district’s next strategic plan.
The panel will reconvene in the fall when these students return as high school seniors, and we are grateful for their meaningful contributions and ongoing participation. #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.
On Wednesday, SDMC Visual & Performing Arts hosted the inaugural Battle of the Beats, a bracket-style drum-off featuring six groups of Manatee County middle and high school percussionists:
Buffalo Creek Middle School 🏆
Lincoln Memorial Middle School
Rowlett Middle Academy A & B
Braden River High School 🏆
Manatee High School
Palmetto High School
Parrish Community High School
After a hard fought battle 🥁 the judges chose the Hawks and Pirates as champions. Thank you to Jeff McDaniel, Will Vizoso, and Kendall Carrier for your time and musical expertise.
Kudos to Drum-master of Ceremonies Ricardo Robinson-Shinall, who kept the audience at the edge of their seats. We can’t wait until next year! #ManateeSchoolsGoodNews
The School District of Manatee County's Visual & Performing Arts Department presents the inaugural Battle of the Beats Drumline Competition at the Manatee County Fair on Tuesday, January 20, 2026. Participating schools include Buffalo Creek Middle, Lincoln Memorial Middle, Rowlett Academy, Braden River High, Manatee High, Palmetto High and Parrish Community High. The show begins at 6 p.m. on the main stage. Visit https://www.manateecountyfair.com to learn more about the Manatee County Fair.
Palmetto High School FFA is kicking off the Manatee County Fair in a BIG way! The amazing PHS FFA members officially launched fair week by competing in the Hay Bale Decorating Competition, and they brought creativity, teamwork, and school spirit to the Fair. To celebrate America’s 250th birthday, the Tigers went all out with a show-stopping birthday cake for America - way to go, Tigers! The Manatee County Fair is January 15-25, 2026.
Congrats to Palmetto High School senior, Maebry Paris, the new Miss Manatee County Fair Queen. Save the Date for the Manatee County Fair: January 15 to January 25, 2026 #ManateeSchoolsGoodNews
Early Literacy Summit: A Powerful Day of Learning!
On Saturday, October 25th, the Elementary Curriculum Department hosted the Early Literacy Summit at Palmetto High School, bringing together more than 130 passionate Pre-K through 3rd grade educators from across the School District of Manatee County.
This inspiring event focused on building the foundational skills essential to student reading success, equipping teachers with tools and strategies to make a lasting impact in their classrooms.
The summit began with an inspiring keynote session by Wiley Blevins, a renowned expert in phonics and fluency. Following the keynote, educators had the opportunity to choose from various breakout sessions covering topics such as dyslexia and interactive word walls.
Additionally, attendees participated in a community-sponsored giveaway, with prizes ranging from Bradenton Marauders tickets to educational books for their classrooms.
Check out photos from this extraordinary event! Let’s build strong readers—together! #ManateeSchoolsGoodNews
At Palmetto High School, a blank wall became something beautiful when one of our own came home. The original artist who painted the mural on the old gym wall decades ago, stood once again on campus - brush in hand - adding fresh stripes to the new administrative building. Before: a clean canvas. After: a piece of PHS past brought forward with pride. There was something unforgettable about watching him, and his classmates, step back and admire the work — same school, same Tiger spirit. Stay tuned for the full story next week. 🐅🖤❤️ #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
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
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/
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/
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! 🎉👏
🎉 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
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
We kicked off the week at Palmetto High School, not realizing our photos would spark one of the biggest responses yet—nearly 96,000 views and counting! The Tigers’ love and admiration for Ms. Renae, a PHS grad who has been serving students for 31 years, and the entire Food & Nutrition Services team brought us back to the cafeteria today to say THANK YOU and encourage them to keep up the amazing work. Go Tigers! 🐅 #ManateeSchoolsGoodNews
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
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.