Two Manatee County natives and longtime principals are making moves. Last month, Principals Laura Campbell and Dr. Melinda Lundy left their respective schools to oversee the completion of construction at two new elementary schools. Their teams at Tara Elementary and Bayshore Elementary (respectively) wished them a loving farewell as they left to prepare for the opening of Veterans Elementary (Palmetto) and Rye Ranch Elementary (Parrish) in August 2026. Founding principals play a critical role in building the school from the ground up—academically, operationally, and culturally. They establish a mission, design a school logo, hire and build a staff, align academic programs, coordinate student registration, create community business partnerships, plan for opening day, and much more! We wish both Principals Campbell and Lundy an amazing new journey and can't wait to work alongside them to build new traditions of excellence at their schools.