Teaching artists, educators who teach children each day how to play instruments, face the greatest challenges. Nonprofits are scrambling for private donations just to keep these programs alive.

Lemon Bay High School Symphonic Winds

Losing school bands and instrumental music programs is tough on everyone. But not every story is grim. Lemon Bay High School’s instrumental music program is still going strong.

At the FBA District 11 Concert Band Music Performance Assessment, Lemon Bay’s Symphonic Winds pulled off another clean sweep: straight superior ratings, again. Ten years running. That’s a decade of students walking onto that stage, giving their all, and making the school and the entire community proud. 

You don’t get results like that by accident. It takes relentless hard work, hours of practice, student leaders who set the pace, and families who never stop supporting from the sidelines.

What’s really impressive? It’s not just the same group year after year. New students step up, learn from those before them, and set an even higher standard. Every class honors the tradition, then pushes for more.

Englewood REVIEW sat down with Mr. Eyrich, the director of Lemon Bay High School’s instrumental music program:

ER: Mr. Eyrich, Congratulations on ten years of superiors, that’s wonderful.

Mr. Eyrich: Thank you.

ER: How long have you been the band director at Lemon Bay High School?

Mr. Eyrich: This is my ninth year at Lemon Bay.

ER: You must be so proud. How do you feel about all of this? Ten years of superiors, what does that mean to you all?

Mr. Eyrich: Well, it’s certainly a big accomplishment and it reflects the hard work of hundreds of students over that time period, and their commitment. Once they’re in here, they work really hard, and we’ve had a lot of consistency. At the end of the day, it’s taking small steps toward a goal over a long period of time.

ER: Tell me about the students. Sometimes you can chalk up success to, “Okay, we had this really great group this year.” But ten years of superiors, that comes down to great leadership.

Mr. Eyrich: The students come from all backgrounds, right? So you’ve got some kids who are going to make the All-State band and then you’ve got some kids who might not be the best players but they’re good section players. It takes all kinds of kids, and I think the biggest thing is the working together and the mentorship that we have in the program. It’s really something to see.

I’ve got a great feeder program, his name’s Tim Ostrow over at L.A. Ainger Middle School. He’s a big part of this because he gets the kids fundamentally very well prepared. He does a lot of the fundamental teaching, and we do a good deal of that here in high school. 

But once they get here, you’ve got kids who know how to play their instruments already at a high level and they organize their own section rehearsals outside of class. I’m always seeing kids working together in the band room trying to get better at the music. 

I would really say that a big part of the success is that the students have really taken ownership of the band program. That’s a huge deal because if they don’t want to do it, then they’re either going to not do it anymore, they’ll just quit, or they won’t be as responsive and they won’t work as hard. 

I see the students taking ownership and helping each other out, without even needing to be asked. They go above and beyond my expectations. They ask me, “Hey, we want to stay after school for a couple of hours and really work on this.” The initiative that takes is something special, and I think they know what’s at stake every year, that they’ve got this tradition of excellence that they’ve established, and they want it even more than I do in some cases.

ER: I love what you said about the teamwork, that not everyone’s the star player, but that doesn’t mean that they can’t be an important part of that section. I love that you have that attitude and you share that message with them, because you don’t have to be a superstar to be a part of the team, to be a part of the band.

Mr. Eyrich: Of course, and that’s really one of the things that sets us apart from something like athletics, right? How many kids can be on a football field at one time? You know, it’s eleven on each side. Basketball, same thing, five on each side, right? And then you’ve always got a number of kids that are just riding the pines, riding the bench. 

In the band we don’t have a bench. We do have ability-based ensembles. We’ve got a top group; we’ve got a secondary group with a little more fundamental teaching going on with more intermediate students. But in general, especially when we operate as a marching band or even as a high-level concert band, you really need everyone to be there and be playing, and that’s definitely a challenge sometimes because some kids have good days and bad days. 

The emphasis is, “If you’re in band you’re going to get playing time. Your skills are going to be used.” Versus, “Well, I’m going to pay all this money for pads and cleats and things like that and my kid’s going to get one at-bat in the game.”

ER: I couldn’t agree more. I always say that the arts are the best team sports around. But to achieve superior ratings 10 years in a row, what’s your secret? How do you incentivize, and how do you inspire them?

Mr. Eyrich: Well, I would say keeping the expectations very high and never back down on that. We talk a lot about tone in the band and playing with a good tone quality and that’s really where it starts. We focus a lot on tone and how to produce high-quality sounds on your instrument and make characteristic sounds. So if you’re playing a clarinet does it sound like a clarinet or does it sound like a kazoo? 

I would say that it’s the high expectations and not taking anything less, because you don’t know what kids are capable of until you push them. And I think in many respects in public education, not necessarily Lemon Bay because we’re still the best high school in the county, but in many areas we are reducing the standards so that more people can meet them. 

We talk a lot about how the standard in the band room is different than a standard in like a physics class, or a math class. If you’ve got two kids who are sitting next to each other and one earns a 100% on a test and the other one earns a 0%, the person that earned the A gets the A and the person that earned the 0 gets the F. Well, in band if you’ve got one person doing 100% work and one person doing 0% work then that averages out to an F. 

It’s getting them to buy into the team mentality and saying, “Look, if we’re a band that’s doing C-work and getting a 70%, that means that 30% of the notes are being played wrong.” So, we really strive to do that A-level work. 

I’ve got a sign on my door, and it says, “To those who enter, you’re subject to the unrelenting expectations of high-quality music,” or something like that. And once the students understand that that’s the expectation, they begin to push each other in a positive way, to say “Hey, we got to get this done, he’s not going to accept that quality of work.” I would say that’s the biggest thing.

ER: That’s so wise. People rise to the level of expectation. 

Mr. Eyrich: Exactly, and none of this happens in a vacuum. None of this would be possible without the strong parent support, and we couldn’t do it without the support we’ve received over the years from the community, whether it’s folks attending our concerts or attending our fundraisers to help us go on great trips for the kids or afford instruments. 

FAME was a big thing for many years and then we’ve got a good thing going with the Artist Colony over there on the Stage at the Park. I would say it’s really due to the community support and the support that the school at large enjoys that allows us to really support these students and maintain the quality of the programs. That’s huge and I know that’s going to continue because that’s who Englewood is.

ER: Thank you so much for your time, Mr. Eyrich, and please extend our congratulations to all your students on their tremendous success.

Mr. Eyrich: Thank you, I will. 

So here’s to the musicians, the directors, the entire community and everyone at Lemon Bay High School who believes in these students and keeps this legacy alive. They’ve earned it.

The post Behind 10 Years of Superior Ratings: A Conversation with Lemon Bay’s Music Director, Mr. Eyrich appeared first on Englewood Review.

The “Musical Chair-ity” event was sponsored by Wampler Varner Insurance and Landy’s Restaurant. Lemon Bay High School students in grades 10 through 12, under the leadership of teacher Nicole Lee, created the unique chairs in small groups of two or three as part of a class project.

Students were responsible for developing a theme and artistic design for their chairs, and also for repairing the chairs when necessary before transforming them into decorative pieces. As part of the assignment, students also evaluated their fellow team members’ contributions to the project.

After completing the chairs, Lee partnered with local organizations to give the project a broader community purpose by arranging for them to be auctioned for charity.

Wampler Varner Insurance and Landy’s Restaurant joined to sponsor the one-of-a-kind auction, with proceeds benefiting the Englewood Alano Club or Englewood Recovery Oasis.

The post Student-Created Chairs Auctioned to Benefit Englewood Recovery Oasis appeared first on Englewood Review.

Ten years of Lemon Bay students stepping onto that stage, giving it everything, and making this school and community proud. No one just stumbles into that kind of record. It’s built on daily grit, long hours in rehearsal rooms, student leaders pushing everyone forward, and families cheering from behind the scenes.

What really stands out? This isn’t just one group carrying the torch. Class after class, fresh faces show up, put in the work, and decide to make the program even better than before. Each group respects what came before and then improves upon it each season.

Congratulations to the musicians, the directors, and Lemon Bay High School for their commitment to and support of these young, promising musicians. 

To learn more about the story and read Englewood REVIEW’s exclusive interview with Lemon Bay High School’s Band Director, Mr. Eyrich, check out our next publication available March 13, 2026.

The post A Decade of Excellence: Lemon Bay High Symphonic Winds Earn 10th Consecutive Superior at MPA appeared first on Englewood Review.

Charlotte County Public Schools highlighted the story of music teacher Ms. Deal and physical education teacher Coach Jordan, whose paths have intersected for years in unexpected ways. Both attended the same schools growing up, including Vineland Elementary, L.A. Ainger Middle School, Lemon Bay High School and Stetson University.

Their academic paths diverged at Stetson, where Ms. Deal focused on music studies while Coach Jordan played Division I basketball and earned her degree in elementary education. Years earlier, however, their connection had already been formed when Coach Jordan taught Ms. Deal as a student in her physical education class at Vineland.

Today, the former teacher and student are colleagues, collaborating as part of the same instructional team at the school where their story began.

School district officials described the moment as a reminder of the lasting impact educators can have and the strong sense of continuity within the local school community. Vineland Elementary administrators said they are proud to have staff members whose personal histories reflect long-standing ties to the area and to the school itself.

The story was shared by Charlotte County Public Schools on social media as an example of how local schools can shape lives across generations.

The post Full Circle at Vineland Elementary Brings Former Teacher and Student Together as Colleagues appeared first on Englewood Review.

The Touchdown Trot Family Fun Run will begin at 8:00 a.m. at Lemon Bay High School. Adult registration is $25. Charlotte County Public Schools teachers and students may register for $20. The kids fun run for ages six through twelve is $10, and children age six and under may participate for free.

Registration includes an official race T-shirt, a finish-line football tunnel experience and post-race water and snacks. Organizers encourage early registration to ensure T-shirt availability. Register here.

The post Touchdown Club Hosts Family Friendly 5K appeared first on Englewood Review.

The award marks another successful season for the Englewood-based ensemble, which came within one caption rating of receiving straight superiors for the second consecutive year. Band members, staff, and supporters celebrated the recognition as a reflection of months of preparation, from summer band camp through the fall performance season.

Directors and boosters praised the students for their dedication, teamwork, and attention to musical and visual detail. “This season was all about growth and pride, and it showed,” a school representative said.

The Marching Mantas plan to continue building on their tradition of excellence in future performances and competitions.

The post Lemon Bay High Marching Mantas Earn Superior Rating at State Assessment appeared first on Englewood Review.

The celebration was made possible through the support of Kids Needs Greater Englewood FL, Inc., a local nonprofit that continues to fund initiatives encouraging student success and community engagement. The school shared appreciation for the group’s partnership on its official Facebook page, noting the importance of collaboration between students, law enforcement and the Englewood community.

The post Lemon Bay High Class Celebrates Top Attendance with ‘Donuts with Cops’ Event appeared first on Englewood Review.

Tickets are available at GoFan.com, the official ticketing partner for Lemon Bay High School.

Lemon Bay is looking to regroup after a 42-22 loss to Estero last week, when the Manta Rays were outscored in every quarter. Still, running back Carlos Serrano stood out, rushing for 198 yards and three touchdowns while averaging 9.0 yards per carry. Serrano now averages 112 rushing yards per game on the season.

East Lee County continues to search for its first win of the year after a 42-0 loss to North Fort Myers, marking its seventh straight defeat. The Jaguars will try to turn things around against a Lemon Bay team that holds a 2-5 record. East Lee County sits at 0-7.

The two teams last met in November 2024, when East Lee County earned a 34-14 win. This time, the Jaguars will be without Lazaro Rogers, who rushed for 270 yards and three touchdowns in that matchup.

Fans can follow game updates and results on MaxPreps.com after Friday’s contest.

The post LBHS Manta Rays vs. East Lee County Jaguars at Home, Friday appeared first on Englewood Review.

Thanks to the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office, the event will feature a helicopter that will drop a total of 500 numbered golf balls, released over the football field, with prizes awarded to the three balls that land closest to the target. The first-place winner will receive $1,000, second place will earn $500, and third place will take home $250.

“Project Graduation has been a proud tradition in this community since 1990,” said Teddy Capeles, president of Lemon Bay High Project Graduation. “Our mission is to provide graduating seniors with a safe, drug- and alcohol-free celebration on commencement night. It is a night that is entirely free for our students, thanks to the generosity of local businesses, sponsors, and community support.”

Winners do not need to be present, and the ball drop will be broadcast on Facebook Live. Tickets for the ball drop are $20 each or three for $50. All proceeds directly fund Project Graduation. The nonprofit, a 501(c)(3), also holds its annual March Madness fundraiser each spring, giving participants chances to win gift cards daily throughout the month of March.

For more than 30 years, Project Graduation has relied on community support and parent volunteers. Families from freshmen through seniors contribute time to organize and run the event. Each year, Englewood Methodist Church donates use of its Fellowship Hall, where volunteers transform the space into a themed celebration. The theme is revealed to students only on graduation night.

Volunteers are needed in the week leading up to the celebration to help with setup, chaperoning activities, and cleanup. Seniors receive an invitation and t-shirt during their senior breakfast, ensuring every student knows they are welcome to attend.

“We would greatly appreciate help from the community in spreading the word about our mission and fundraisers, especially for those new to the area who may not yet know us,” Capeles said.

For more information, contact lbprojectgraduation@gmail.com

The post Project Graduation Hosts Helicopter Ball Drop Fundraiser at LBHS appeared first on Englewood Review.

The district recently recorded an 80% increase in “A” schools and a reduction in “C” schools under a new teaching plan, marking the strongest academic performance in a decade. Building on that momentum, leaders are introducing programs in cybersecurity, advanced manufacturing, and aviation to ensure graduates are prepared for opportunities that align with the region’s economic growth.

At Lemon Bay High School, the new Cybersecurity Program has already drawn strong demand, equipping students with skills in digital defense, systems monitoring, and industry-recognized certifications. The program addresses a growing need for IT security professionals, particularly for local businesses that lack in-house expertise.

Port Charlotte High School is debuting an Advanced Manufacturing Program focused on modern production methods such as robotics, CNC machining, and quality control. Partnerships with local employers will help students gain hands-on experience while creating a pipeline of skilled talent for a sector that continues to expand in the county.

Charlotte High School’s Aviation Magnet Program, already a successful initiative, is expanding with a new on-campus hangar classroom. The facility will give students immersive training in aircraft maintenance and operations, directly supporting workforce needs at Punta Gorda Airport and beyond.

These programs reflect a broader district strategy, known as the “Three E’s,” which ensures every graduate leaves with a pathway to enrollment in higher education, enlistment in the military, or immediate employment. The approach links education with workforce development while helping retain local talent and support business recruitment.

The district is also planning an adult-focused advanced manufacturing program to launch next year, offering opportunities for residents to upskill without leaving the community. With nearly all teaching positions filled at the start of the year, the district is positioned to deliver high-quality instruction and sustain program growth.

By combining academic excellence with career readiness, Charlotte County schools are positioning students for success while meeting the workforce needs of the region’s most vital industries.

The post A New Era for Charlotte County Florida Schools appeared first on Englewood Review.