A Lakewood Ranch High School government teacher says his best students already seek out local government experience. Now a new county program will make that access available to any Manatee County high schooler willing to apply.

Ben Hall, who teaches AP U.S. Government and Politics at Lakewood Ranch High, is among the first educators endorsing Model Manatee, a multiweek civic immersion program launched jointly by Manatee County Government and the School District of Manatee County. Applications opened Monday, Aug. 10, and close at 3 p.m. Friday, Aug. 21.

"Often your local school board or county commission has more impact on your daily life than who the president is," Hall told the Your Observer.

Hall said some of his most successful students have already been involved with the county through internships.

Keaven Zheng, a senior at Lakewood Ranch High, said the program could foster collaboration and critical thinking by facilitating real-world conversations rather than relying on social media discourse. He said students learn about government in class but rarely see it in action.

Students will shadow officials and run a mock commission meeting

Participants will attend Manatee County Commission and School Board meetings, shadow constitutional officers, hear directly from elected officials and county leadership, and conduct a mock Board of County Commissioners meeting on Nov. 30. Orientation begins Sept. 14, with six core sessions leading to graduation on Dec. 17, according to a Pulse of Manatee report published Aug. 3.

The program is modeled after a similar initiative already running in Charlotte County. Manatee County worked closely with Charlotte County on logistics, according to the Your Observer.

A commissioner's push to fill a gap in civics education

District 2 Commissioner Amanda Ballard, the driving force behind Model Manatee, said students typically learn about federal and state government in school but are left to figure out local government on their own. She called the program a "no-brainer" for students interested in becoming elected officials or lawyers, but stressed it matters for any citizen who wants to understand how decisions get made.

Brent Anderson, Manatee County's government relations manager, said the program could expose students to careers they hadn't considered. Superintendent Laurie Breslin, in her first year leading the School District of Manatee County, said officials learn as much from students as students learn from them.

Bradyn Bobbit, a senior and Student Government Association vice president at Braden River High School, also plans to apply. He said students progress through advanced history courses focused on national and global events while local government instruction remains limited.

Eligibility and how to apply

Any student who has completed 10th grade and lives in Manatee County may apply, regardless of whether they attend public, charter, private or home school. The program aims to enroll at least 12 students; if interest exceeds capacity, a selection committee will choose from the applicant pool.

Applications must be submitted by 3 p.m. Aug. 21. Details are available through Manatee County Government's website.