Manatee County School Board Set to Choose New Superintendent After Contentious Ouster of Predecessor

The Manatee County School Board is scheduled to select a new superintendent at a meeting beginning at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 26, ending a search that started after the board abruptly parted ways with the previous district leader earlier this year. The vote is item 9.1 on the agenda.

Two finalists remain. Dr. Laurie Breslin is an internal candidate who currently serves as the district's Executive Director of Student Support and Family Engagement. Dr. Misty Mathis works in Nassau County, where she has been Executive Director of Curriculum since 2021, a position described as essentially equivalent to assistant superintendent.

The path to the decision traces back to 2023, when Dr. Jason Wysong was chosen to lead the district through at least the summer of 2026. Earlier this year, however, the board voted 3-2 to terminate his contract without cause. Some members said he was not the right fit for the role.

District 3 board member Charlie Kennedy cited communication problems as a factor. "The communication problems began to manifest, things like sending the superintendent emails, which received no response," Kennedy said. Heather Felton, who represents District 1, took a different view. "I still have absolute trust in what he's doing, because I see his integrity and I see his heart," she said.

Wysong addressed the board after the vote. "I'm going to leave today with my head held high. I've done everything I've said I was going to do," he said, adding that he had "always put kids at the center of my decision, even when it doesn't make adults happy." The outcome also surprised some in the community. Barbara Ehren said she was "really heartbroken" and felt Wysong "didn't deserve this."

The board began its search for a replacement about a month later. In the interim, Kevin Chapman took over as superintendent following a unanimous board decision. Chapman called the role an honor and said he was humbled, describing work in Manatee County as "a job of a lifetime, really."

Chapman said enrollment has grown to 55,000 students and is still climbing, and two new schools opened this month to handle the increase. He also pointed to a new statewide law that bans cell phone use in classrooms for the first time. Under it, phones are not permitted in grades K through eight, even for teachers. "So, that will take some time to adjust," he said.

The vote comes nearly a month into the new school year and follows several opportunities for community input, including a meet and greet with the candidates on Aug. 18. Once the board picks a candidate, contract negotiations will begin, with a final contract to be approved on Sept. 9.