‘A personal calling.’ Manatee School Board chooses admin as new superintendent
Bradenton Herald | By Ryan Ballogg |
After a nationwide search, the School Board of Manatee County has chosen Laurie Breslin as the district’s next superintendent.
This time, the district is promoting from within. Breslin, 48, has served as a teacher, principal and administrator in the school district, most recently as Executive Director of Student Support and Family Engagement.
Breslin also received her own education in Manatee County’s public school system, graduating from Manatee High School in 1995.
“I am deeply honored by the trust the School Board has placed in me, and I am humbled to serve the community that shaped me as both a student and an educator,” Breslin said in a news release.
School board picks replacement for fired leader
The superintendent role unexpectedly became vacant in May, when school board members fired then-Superintendent Jason Wysong in a surprise vote.
Wysong had been in the role since 2023, when the school board hired him to succeed retiring former Superintendent Cynthia Saunders.
Officials gave Wysong a glowing review of his first year on the job. But the school board suddenly soured on Wysong’s performance earlier this year, citing concerns about his leadership and communication skills. He was fired without cause in a 3-2 vote in May.
The school district launched a search for a new superintendent in June and received a batch of 16 applicants. Board members narrowed the applicants down to a final four in late July and a final two in August.
Breslin’s final competitor was Misty Mathis, the director of curriculum for Nassau County Schools and the only other Florida-based candidate in the running.
School board members selected Breslin as their final choice during a meeting on Tuesday.
“Dr. Breslin represents the absolute best of Manatee County,” School Board Chair Chad Choate said in a news release. “She knows our schools, our families, and our community because she is lived it — as a student, teacher, parent and leader. We are confident she will guide us with integrity and continue our tradition of excellence.
” Who is Laurie Breslin?
Breslin holds a doctorate in Teaching and Learning from Argosy University and advanced degrees in Curriculum and Instruction with Educational Technology from the University of Florida, according to the school district.
Her education career started in Manatee County, where she taught at Southeast and Manatee High schools. She then held assistant principal roles at Manatee High, Palmetto High and Booker High in Sarasota County, followed by an appointment as principal at Sarasota Middle School.
“Under her leadership, the school ranked in the top 10% of state assessments, expanded Career and Technical Education and arts offerings, and achieved continued academic growth despite the challenges of hybrid learning during the pandemic,” district officials said in a news release.
Breslin then returned to the School District of Manatee County, where she held several administrative roles along the way to her most recent post as Executive Director of Student Support & Family Engagement.
In that role, Breslin managed a $40 million budget and oversaw district programs including Exceptional Student Education, early childhood education and crisis response, the district said.
“Through her leadership, schools flagged for low performance among English Language Learners and Students with Disabilities saw measurable gains within a single year,” the district said.
Breslin has also served on the boards of local nonprofits Take Stock in Children and Parenting Matters and co-authored a book about online learning, according to the school district.
What happens next?
Breslin can officially step into the role following the school board’s approval of her contract, which is set for review during a meeting at 5:30 p.m. on Sept. 9 at the Walter E. Miller School Support Center, 215 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton.
“I am committed to building on our strengths, listening to our families and ensuring every child has a path to success,” Breslin said in a news release. “This is more than a professional responsibility — it is a personal calling.”
