New Manatee County Schools Superintendent To Be Sworn In Monday

BRADENTON, FL — Dr. Jason Wysong, the new Manatee County Schools superintendent, will be sworn in Monday during a special school board meeting.

The ceremony will take place at 10 a.m. at the Walter E. Miller School Support Center, 215 Manatee Ave., Bradenton, according to a news release from the school district.

It will be live streamed by Manatee Schools Television on the district website, on YouTube, and Spectrum Channel 646 and Frontier Channel 39.

• Also Read: New Superintendent Chosen In Manatee County: School Board

Wysong is replacing the current superintendent, Cynthia Saunders, who retires Friday after 34 years as an educator in Florida. Saunders was superintendent in Manatee County for the past five years.

He was with Seminole County Public Schools since 2007 and served as deputy superintendent since 2021. Seminole County Public Schools is an “A”-rated school district that is home to more than 63,000 students and located northeast of Orlando.

In his role as deputy superintendent, Wysong’s responsibilities have included leading K-12 instruction and organizing strategic action across district departments and schools. In his resume, he stated those responsibilities have helped him gain leadership experience in strategic planning, budget management and in coordinating initiatives to increase student outcomes.

Prior to becoming deputy superintendent, Wysong served Seminole County as executive director for instructional excellence and system equity (2020-2021), executive director of education pathways and strategic partnerships (2016-2020), director of education pathways and strategic partnerships (2013-2016) and coordinator of race to the top (2011-2013).

Earlier in his career, he was a social studies teacher and debate coach (2000-2007) followed by dean of students (2007-2008) and assistant principal at Lake Brantley High School (2008-2011).

Wysong earned a doctorate and a specialist degree in educational leadership from the University of Central Florida, as well as a master’s in social studies education and a Bachelor of Arts with honors in political science and history from the University of Florida.