Shoutout to Leto High School for leading the way—collecting over 4,000 diapers to help our teen parents and their families. Your generosity is making a real difference! 💛
Literacy at Every Level
TAKE A LISTEN 🎧 The latest episode of “More to the Story” is out now!
For this episode, we’re talking about something that touches every subject, every classroom, and every student — literacy. Literacy is so much more than the ability to read at an early age. It’s about comprehension, communication, critical thinking, and the ability to engage with the world — from elementary classrooms to advanced high school coursework and beyond. Tracie Bergman, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction, joins us for this very important topic.
Listen on your favorite podcast platform and subscribe so you don’t miss upcoming episodes! 🎙️
She began her teaching career in 1998 with Alachua County Public Schools in Gainesville, FL. She later joined the HCPS family in 2001 as a teacher at West Tampa Elementary School.
During her time in the district, she has taught at Cypress Creek Elementary, Doby Elementary, McDonald Elementary, Walden Lake Elementary, and Lincoln Elementary, and has also served as a resource teacher and district science coach.
Most recently, she served as the AP at Buckhorn Elementary.
Congratulations!
He began his career with HCPS in 2001 as a kindergarten teacher at Just Elementary School. He later taught kindergarten and 3rd grade at Sheehy Elementary School before returning to Just in 2009 as an administrative resource teacher.
He has held administrative roles at Dunbar Elementary, Potter Elementary, and Graham Elementary. Most recently, he served as AP at James Elementary.
Spano retired all 21 batters he faced—no hits, no walks, and a flawless defensive performance behind him. 👏⚾
This morning, we celebrated 27 phenomenal leaders who have successfully completed the final stage of our Principal Pipeline initiative, marking their first year as principals!
Collectively, this group brings a remarkable 580 years (yes, you read that right) of educational experience to the table, with each leader having served between 11 and 29 years in the field.
Throughout all four stages of the pipeline, they received targeted training as assistant principals, ongoing coaching and professional development, and hands-on experience to confidently transition into the principal role.
We’re so proud of their growth and excited to see the continued impact they’ll make across our schools!
In partnership with Sanwa Farmer’s Market, the event brought families and community partners together to celebrate hands-on learning, healthy living, and student leadership. Proceeds will support the SEEDFOLKids Garden Club and future student programs.
Our library is a hub for discovery, imagination, and growth. We are grateful for our amazing library staff who inspire a love of reading and learning in our students. 📚✨
Her mixed media piece titled "A Million Paths To Take" will be featured for one year in the U.S. Capitol alongside other Congressional Art Competition winners from across the country.
Thank you to all of our incredible volunteers who help our schools thrive and our students succeed. We are deeply grateful for the time, dedication, and heart our volunteers give to support our students and schools every day.
💜 At our school, we are proud to support and celebrate our military children and families during the Month of the Military Child.
Your strength, adaptability, and commitment inspire our students and staff every day.
Keeping Our Schools Safe - A Shared Responsibility
The latest episode of “More to the Story” is out now! TAKE A LISTEN 🎧
Families entrust us with their children every single school day. Creating safe, secure learning environments isn’t just a priority—it’s a responsibility we take seriously across every school in our district. In this important episode, we’re joined by John Newman, Chief of Security & Emergency Management and the Florida Department of Education’s 2026 Florida Safety Specialist of the Year, to talk about how we keep students and staff safe. Listen on your favorite podcast platform and subscribe so you don’t miss upcoming episodes! 🎙️
A slight update has been made to reflect the Strawberry Festival/Non-Student Day, which will take place on Monday, March 8, 2027.
For printable versions of the calendar, visit hillsboroughschools.org/events.
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Boyette Springs Elementary School held its annual Amazing Shake competition last week! 🤝
During the event, students visited 40 interactive stations, engaging with community members and partners. The students had to demonstrate professionalism and put their communication and problem-solving skills to the test to complete each station.
This honor recognizes exceptional leadership, professionalism, and dedication to protecting students and staff across the state. The award was announced during Florida’s National Summit on School Safety in Orlando.
Since joining HCPS in 2014, Chief Newman has led a districtwide approach to school safety, helping position Hillsborough County as a model for other districts across Florida.
Before joining HCPS, he served 29 years with the Tampa Police Department, where he played a key role in public safety operations for major national events and emergency response efforts across the state.
We are proud to have Chief Newman leading our safety efforts and grateful for his continued commitment to protecting our students, staff, and community!
The ceremony featured the graduation of several officers, promotions, and a retirement recognition.
"These graduations always remind you why you do what you do. These folks are going to go work at school sites, and you know they're going to have an impact on our kids." - Chief John Newman.
Students kicked off the event by hearing from keynote speaker Kevin Harrington, one of the original “sharks” from Shark Tank. They then competed in a startup tech showcase, pitched their business ideas to judges, and participated in a trade show featuring their own student-created companies.
Along the way, students gained real-world experience in marketing, networking, and problem-solving—building the skills needed to turn ideas into successful ventures. 🚀💡
