3 Superintendent Candidates To Meet Public Wednesday: Manatee Schools

MANATEE COUNTY, FL — Three finalists vying for the superintendent position for the School District of Manatee County will be available to meet with the community at two Wednesday events, the district said in a news release.

Interviews with the candidates will take place 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Walter E. Miller School Support Center, 215 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton.

A community meet and greet is scheduled later that day, 6 to 8 p.m., at the Urban Loft at Manatee Central, 902 Manatee Ave. E. C., Bradenton.

The public is invited and encouraged to attend both events, the district said.

The new superintendent will replace Cynthia Saunders, who is retiring at the end of June after 34 years in public education in Florida. She spent the past five years as superintendent in Manatee County.

The three finalists to replace her are Scott J. Schneider, Doug Wagner and Dr. Jason C. Wysong.

Schneider has served as chief of schools in Duval County since 2021. Before this, he was the region superintendent of high and alternative schools and a high school principal in Duval.

Wagner has been deputy superintendent of operations for the School District of Manatee County since 2018. He previously was executive director of adult, career and technical education, and executive director of Manatee Technical College in the county.

Wysong has been deputy superintendent of Seminole County Public Schools since 2021. Before this, he was executive director of instructional excellence and system equity, and executive director of education pathways and strategic partnerships for the district.

Their full resumes and videos of the finalists can be found at www.manateeschools.net/superintendent.

The school board will hold a special meeting at the Miller School Support Center on May 16 to select the district’s next superintendent.