Breslin Takes Helm as Manatee Schools Superintendent With Student-Centered Vision
The School District of Manatee County has a new leader at the top. On Aug. 26, the School Board selected Laurie Breslin as superintendent, placing her at the center of a role that carries immense pressure and high expectations.
Breslin, a Manatee High School graduate who has served the district in multiple capacities, most recently as executive director of student support and family engagement, is both a product of and a long-serving leader in the county’s schools. Her ties to the community run deep, and she acknowledged that her appointment carries an added responsibility to deliver results for the families who know her best.
Her focus, she said, will always remain on students, regardless of external challenges facing the district. She emphasized the importance of ensuring that daily decisions prioritize student achievement and well-being over competing distractions.
Breslin originally considered a career in communications but was ultimately drawn to education through her family’s influence. Her passion for teaching began in the classroom and later grew into a commitment to supporting teachers and administrators. She described the fulfillment she finds in helping principals and assistant principals succeed, noting that meaningful work drives her leadership approach.
Together with her husband, Todd, also a district graduate, Breslin is raising four children: Tyler Kitchie, 21; Caden Kitchie, 19; Colin Breslin, 19; and William Breslin, 11.
Looking ahead, Breslin outlined five primary areas of focus for the district, with instruction and achievement topping the list. She plans to strengthen English language arts instruction across all grade levels, with a particular emphasis on early learning and third-grade reading proficiency. Literacy coaches now embedded in elementary schools are a key part of that strategy.
Her broader vision for achievement extends beyond standardized testing, encompassing extracurricular success, enjoyment of school, and the sense of belonging students feel within their learning communities. She underscored the importance of supporting teachers and principals to create the conditions where students can thrive.
With roots in the same schools she now leads, Breslin steps into the superintendent role with both personal and professional investment. Her challenge will be to channel that connection into measurable progress for the more than 50,000 students of Manatee County.