Debra Estes and Dr. Shirin Gibson have been appointed to advanced positions of leadership within the School District of Manatee County, based on experience and expertise gained during more than 40 years of combined service in education. Estes was named Director of ESOL, Migrant and Dual Language Programs, a brand new position within the district; while Gibson was moved from Director of Assessment, Accountability and Research, to the position of Executive Director of Curriculum and Professional Learning.

Estes is the current President of the Florida Association of Bilingual ESOL Supervisors. She came to Manatee County in October 2013 to serve as the ESOL Immigrant Coordinator for the district, supervising the district’s ESOL program. She also wrote and managed Title III grants and developed and presented training to school based personnel and district administrators. As Director of Assessment, Accountability and Research the last two years, Gibson led the district’s team in preparing school and student data reports, creating analysis and summary of district trends and communicating that information to district leaders, school administrators, teachers and the community.

School District of Manatee County