FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA CONTACT: Tanya Arja or Debra Bellanti
Hillsborough County Public Schools
Office of Communications
813-272-4060
Tampa, Fl. (October 30, 2025) – Students and staff at two Hillsborough County Public Schools received an unforgettable surprise this morning when Superintendent Van Ayres, joined by members of his leadership team and members of the School Board, arrived to honor one principal and one assistant principal with the district’s highest accolades: 2025 Principal of the Year and 2025 Assistant Principal of the Year.
Principal of the Year:
Deanna Fisher, Shields Middle School
Fisher has served as principal at Shields Middle School for four years and has transformed the county’s largest middle school into a more structured, supportive, and more successful campus. In her second year, Fisher led an ambitious restructuring of Shields by creating two sites, one dedicated to 6th graders and another for 7th and 8th graders, to better align with the students’ developmental needs and enhance the overall environment for both students and staff. She also implemented a block schedule to reduce transitions and give teachers extended instructional time.
Under Fisher’s leadership, ELA and math proficiency scores have risen each year, and she continues to roll out innovative strategies to engage students, strengthen campus safety, and provide coaching and training for teachers.
“Principal Fisher is leading one of our largest and most complex schools, and she is doing it with clarity, structure, and heart,” said Superintendent Van Ayres. “She created systems that work, she put safety first, and she raised achievement. That’s exactly the kind of leadership we want to celebrate.”
Assistant Principal of the Year:
Travian Mitchell, Tampa Bay Technical High School
Mitchell, an assistant principal at Tampa Bay Technical High School (TBT), was recognized for his exceptional leadership, problem-solving skills, and constant focus on supporting both students and staff. Over the past year, Mitchell has helped TBT successfully implement initiatives that improved student engagement and academic performance. His collaborative spirit and open-door policy have made him a trusted leader among teachers, support staff, and students.
Mitchell is also known for stepping up when it mattered most: he served as acting principal while the principal was on maternity leave last year and “did a tremendous job” leading the campus during that period. His commitment to teacher development, willingness to take on increased responsibility, and passion for creating a positive and inclusive high school environment set him apart.
“Assistant principals are often the heartbeat of a campus, and Travian is one of those leaders everyone counts on,” Superintendent Ayres said. “He supports his principal, he empowers teachers, and he is present for students. We’re proud to honor him as our Assistant Principal of the Year.”
Along with year-long recognition here within the district, their names will also be submitted for consideration by the Florida Department of Education for the Assistant Principal and Principal of the Year for the entire state of Florida.
Photos and video of surprise available here: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/g8es5reaqej3lwav1hq0j/AKY4bm22dwqhgIOPSnCuMcU?rlkey=z6mrypbv0qq60yy3225d1xpk6&st=7xlscdew&dl=0
(Please credit HCPS for footage)