https://www.yourobserver.com/news/schools/www.yourobserver.com stories: Schoolsen-usSat, 13 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0400https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/sep/13/wilkinson-elementary-closure-broader-plan/Eric GarwoodSat, 13 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0400https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/sep/13/wilkinson-elementary-closure-broader-plan/Wilkinson Elementary operates at about 50% capacity, prompting school officials to consider closing it and sending students to three other under-capacity schools.https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/sep/12/manatee-school-board-superintendent-contract/Madison BierlFri, 12 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0400https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/sep/12/manatee-school-board-superintendent-contract/Laurie Breslin was officially sworn in as the superintendent for the School District of Manatee County on Sept. 9.https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/sep/10/braden-river-high-anniversary/Madison BierlWed, 10 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0400https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/sep/10/braden-river-high-anniversary/Mathematics teacher Jeff Hilt and social studies teacher Dan McLean are the last remaining classroom teachers that were there when Braden River High School opened in 2005.https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/sep/10/oda-football-captain-fundraiser/Madison BierlWed, 10 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0400https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/sep/10/oda-football-captain-fundraiser/Lakewood Ranch's Dylan Walker, the captain of the Out-of-Door Academy football team, organized a fundraiser to benefit the Suncoast Disaster Recovery Fund. It took place during their rivalry game against Saint Stephen’s Episcopal School on Sept. 5.https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/sep/08/school-relief-overcrowded-gullett-elementary/Madison BierlMon, 08 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0400https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/sep/08/school-relief-overcrowded-gullett-elementary/B.D. Gullett Elementary front desk clerk and parent Cristina Holland, student Brooke Green and Principal Julie Gierhart are ready to take on the school year with fewer bodies in the school.https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/sep/04/new-music-teachers-haile-middle/Madison BierlThu, 04 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0400https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/sep/04/new-music-teachers-haile-middle/DJ Harpole, the band director, and Nohemi Perez, the orchestra director, have worked at Carlos E. Haile Middle School for three years, building their students' passion and motivation for music.https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/sep/03/sarasota-county-poultry-workshop/Ian SwabyWed, 03 Sep 2025 10:00:00 -0400https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/sep/03/sarasota-county-poultry-workshop/Caleb H. and Wyatt J. practice showmanship.https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/sep/01/superintendent-goals-manatee-county-school-district/Madison BierlMon, 01 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0400https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/sep/01/superintendent-goals-manatee-county-school-district/Laurie Breslin has been named the new superintendent for the School District of Manatee County in a unanimous vote on Aug. 26.https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/aug/31/witt-elementary-digital-art-lab/Madison BierlSun, 31 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0400https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/aug/31/witt-elementary-digital-art-lab/Third grader Alexander Muenchow chose to draw an axolotl. He says he enjoys using special tools on the iPad that may not be in the classroom such as a glitter tool and stickers.https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/aug/27/manatee-superintendent-decision/Madison BierlWed, 27 Aug 2025 06:37:00 -0400https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/aug/27/manatee-superintendent-decision/Laurie Breslin has been named the new superintendent for the School District of Manatee County in a unanimous vote on Aug. 26.https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/aug/25/desantis-appoints-karen-rose-sarasota-school-board/Ian SwabyMon, 25 Aug 2025 10:15:00 -0400https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/aug/25/desantis-appoints-karen-rose-sarasota-school-board/https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/aug/20/superintendent-finalists-share-goals/Madison BierlWed, 20 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0400https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/aug/20/superintendent-finalists-share-goals/The two finalists for the superintendent position are Misty Mathis, the executive director of curriculum and instruction for the Nassau County School District, and Laurie Breslin, the executive director of student support and family engagement for the School District of Manatee County.https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/aug/18/new-high-school-lakewood-ranch/Madison BierlMon, 18 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0400https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/aug/18/new-high-school-lakewood-ranch/The School District of Manatee County proceeds with the full high school option with two academic buildings instead of one, which provides 2,000 student stations.https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/aug/13/sarasota-school-board-chair-resign/Ian SwabyWed, 13 Aug 2025 11:55:00 -0400https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/aug/13/sarasota-school-board-chair-resign/https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/aug/12/manatee-superintendent-candidates/Madison BierlTue, 12 Aug 2025 12:15:00 -0400https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/aug/12/manatee-superintendent-candidates/Laurie Breslin of the School District of Manatee County and Misty Mathis of Nassau County School District have been selected as finalists in the superintendent search.https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/aug/11/lake-manatee-opens-lakewood-ranch/Madison BierlMon, 11 Aug 2025 15:45:00 -0400https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/aug/11/lake-manatee-opens-lakewood-ranch/https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/aug/11/school-begins-sarasota/Dana Kampa, Ian SwabyMon, 11 Aug 2025 14:00:00 -0400https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/aug/11/school-begins-sarasota/Martina Kandrachoff sees off her older sister, Guillermina, for her first day of school at Alta Vista Elementary School on Aug. 11.https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/aug/11/no-phone-policy/Madison BierlMon, 11 Aug 2025 11:00:00 -0400https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/aug/11/no-phone-policy/Lakewood Ranch's Peter and Athena Hotaling enjoy using their phones to connect with friends and family, play games, use social media and more. With the new phone restrictions, they will have to save those things for after school hours.https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/aug/08/manatee-high-school-seniors-chase-dreams/Madison BierlFri, 08 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0400https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/aug/08/manatee-high-school-seniors-chase-dreams/Lakewood Ranch residents Shaun Ulstad and Andrew Cordani are eager to start their senior year at Lakewood Ranch Preparatory Academy, which is one step closer to a potential future at MIT.https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/aug/07/sarasota-school-district-tentative-budget-millage/Ian SwabyThu, 07 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0400https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/aug/07/sarasota-school-district-tentative-budget-millage/