Manatee school board narrows superintendent search to 3 candidates. See the finalists

​Manatee County voters will not vote to fill a vacant school board seat in November, prompting local political groups to criticize Supervisor of Elections James Satcher.

Three superintendent candidates remain after the School Board of Manatee County narrowed its list of 12 candidates, the School District of Manatee County said in a press release.

On Friday, the board selected three of the applicants to be considered for the position of superintendent. Superintendent Cynthia Saunders, who has led the district since 2018, previously announced that she will retire in June.

The three finalists are:

  • Scott J. Schneider, Chief of Schools in Duval County from 2021 to the present. Prior, he served as the Region Superintendent of High and Alternative Schools and as a high school principal in Duval County.

  • Dr. Jason C. Wysong, Deputy Superintendent of Seminole County Public Schools from 2021 to the present. Before he served as Executive Director of Instructional Excellence and System Equity and Executive Director of Education Pathways and Strategic Partnerships in Seminole County.

  • Doug Wagner, Deputy Superintendent of Operations for the School District of Manatee County from 2018 to the present. Prior, he served as Executive Director of Adult, Career and Technical Education and Executive Director of Manatee Technical College in Manatee County.

The three finalists will do on-site interviews on May 10 and 11.

For more information, such as videos and resumes for each of the remaining candidates, visit www.ManateeSchools.net/superintendent.

On Tuesday, May 16, the board will select the next superintendent during a 10 a.m. special board meeting at the Miller School Support Center, 215 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton.