Finalists Named For Superintendent Role: Manatee County Schools

MANATEE COUNTY, FL — The School Board of Manatee County selected three finalists Friday morning in its search to replace Superintendent Cynthia Saunders, who is retiring at the end of June.

Saunders is retiring 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, according to a news release from Manatee County Schools.

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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.

On-site interviews with the finalists will take place May 10-11 in Manatee County. The school board will hold a special meeting at the Miller School Support Center on May 16 to select the district’s next superintendent.