Manatee School District Seats New Board Members

BRADENTON — Three members of the five-person Manatee County School Board were sworn into their positions Tuesday morning by County Court Judge Renee Inman at the Walter E. Miller School Support Center in Bradenton.

Heather Felton became the newest member and will represent District 1 in northeastern Manatee County. A former reporter with the Bradenton Herald, Ms. Felton served as a middle and high school English teacher in Manatee County for nine years. She was elected to the School Board on November 5, 2024, replacing Gina Messenger, who did not seek reelection after two terms on the board.

Charlie Kennedy, who won two terms on the School Board in 2014 and 2018, won a new term on the board on November 4, 2024, and will represent District 3 in western Manatee County. In addition to his time on the board, Mr. Kennedy has spent two decades as an educator, including positions at Manatee High and Daughtrey Elementary. He replaces Mary Forman who did not seek reelection after one term on the board.

Richard Tatem was appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday, November 18, 2024, to represent District 5 in southeastern Manatee County. Mr. Tatem previously won election to the board in 2022. A retired U.S. Air Force colonel with 30 years of experience in active duty and the reserves, Mr. Tatem has experience as a leader, educator, and aviator.

The three newly seated members joined Chad Choate, who serves District 4 in southwestern Manatee County, and Cindy Spray, who serves District 2 in central Manatee County. Both Mr. Choate and Ms. Spray were elected to the School Board in 2022.

Following the swearing-in ceremony, the Board elected Chad Choate to serve as Chair and Cindy Spray to serve as Vice Chair for the third consecutive year.