This National CTE Month, we’re celebrating the programs that give students real skills for real careers. Whether it’s healthcare, technology, business, or the trades, CTE is where learning meets doing. 🎉🔨💻 #CTEMonth #FADSS #FloridasFuture
Dragon's Fury is BACK! 🐉 Over 200 student-athletes from our middle and high schools participated in the annual Special Olympics event at Jefferson High School this morning. Students competed in various sports, played interactive games, and won prizes! 🏅
Thank you to all of the volunteers and community partners for making Dragon's Fury a success!
Thank you to all of the volunteers and community partners for making Dragon's Fury a success!
Students from 28 of our high schools participated in the 2026 Poetry Jam at Centro Asturiano in Ybor City!
Now in its 21st year, the high school competition empowers students through writing, public speaking, and storytelling. 📝
Congratulations to this year's finalists and winners!
1st Place: Zoey Tice, Plant City HS
2nd Place: Athena Wint, Lennard HS
3rd Place: Bailey Turnquist, Leto HS
Students' Choice Award: Bailey Turnquist, Leto HS
Now in its 21st year, the high school competition empowers students through writing, public speaking, and storytelling. 📝
Congratulations to this year's finalists and winners!
1st Place: Zoey Tice, Plant City HS
2nd Place: Athena Wint, Lennard HS
3rd Place: Bailey Turnquist, Leto HS
Students' Choice Award: Bailey Turnquist, Leto HS
HCPS celebrates Love the Bus Month! 🚌💛
School buses safely transport thousands of students each day—replacing up to 36 cars on the road and making them the safest, most efficient ride to school. Thank you to our drivers and transportation staff for keeping every journey reliable and secure!
School buses safely transport thousands of students each day—replacing up to 36 cars on the road and making them the safest, most efficient ride to school. Thank you to our drivers and transportation staff for keeping every journey reliable and secure!
🚘 BEEP BEEP 🚘 The Hillsborough County Tax Collector's Office is hosting another Student Services and Licence Renewals Saturday on February 21 in Plant City! If you know a student ready to take their written or road skills test to get their driver's license, or a family member looking to renew their license, this is their chance.
Appointments are required. Families can call 813-635-5200 (option 5) to register and schedule an appointment for this event, which goes from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Please note: spots are limited and appointments cannot be made online.
For eligibility requirements and more information, please visit hillstax.org/saturday-license-services.
Hillsborough County Public Schools recognizes that student success is driven by the unwavering dedication of our school counselors. 💙 During National School Counseling Week, we proudly honor you—the essential core of HCPS!
HCPS celebrates Black History Month!
Honoring 100 years since Dr. Carter G. Woodson founded Negro History Week, we continue his legacy through learning, experiences, and partnerships that highlight African American history and contributions. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3OeFIo7
Pictured: The Armwoods, digital artwork by Molly McGiveney, 2025 Blake High School graduate.
Honoring 100 years since Dr. Carter G. Woodson founded Negro History Week, we continue his legacy through learning, experiences, and partnerships that highlight African American history and contributions. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3OeFIo7
Pictured: The Armwoods, digital artwork by Molly McGiveney, 2025 Blake High School graduate.
As we close the chapter on this year’s Literacy Week, we’re excited to spotlight our Hillsborough Reads Bookmark Contest winners one more time! 📚✨
They recently received a surprise visit from our Library Media Services and Academic Services teams, who delivered stacks of their winning bookmarks plus a few extra goodies!
Our winners are:
🏅 Mason R., 1st grade – Lawton Chiles Elementary School
🏅 Emilie (Ziyu) W., 5th grade – Clark Elementary School
🏅 Fiona L., 8th grade – Burns Middle School
🏅 Ashley R., 12th grade – Jefferson High School
🏅 April McMillion, Art Teacher – Sumner High School
Congratulations again to our winners, and thank you for creating incredible designs that brought our theme — “Get Caught Reading!” — to life!
They recently received a surprise visit from our Library Media Services and Academic Services teams, who delivered stacks of their winning bookmarks plus a few extra goodies!
Our winners are:
🏅 Mason R., 1st grade – Lawton Chiles Elementary School
🏅 Emilie (Ziyu) W., 5th grade – Clark Elementary School
🏅 Fiona L., 8th grade – Burns Middle School
🏅 Ashley R., 12th grade – Jefferson High School
🏅 April McMillion, Art Teacher – Sumner High School
Congratulations again to our winners, and thank you for creating incredible designs that brought our theme — “Get Caught Reading!” — to life!
Today, we recognized several of our high school students at the 2026 Battle of the Belts Seat Belt Safety Campaign Awards Ceremony, hosted at Freedom High School! This annual initiative promotes seat belt use and safe driving habits among teens.
This year, 25 high school Student Government Association groups competed in categories including Highest Overall Seat Belt Compliance, Most Improved Seat Belt Compliance, Best Poster, Best Public Service Announcement, and Best Overall Seat Belt Campaign. Thank you to all of our participants and partners, including the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office and GEICO, and congratulations to our winners!
This year, 25 high school Student Government Association groups competed in categories including Highest Overall Seat Belt Compliance, Most Improved Seat Belt Compliance, Best Poster, Best Public Service Announcement, and Best Overall Seat Belt Campaign. Thank you to all of our participants and partners, including the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office and GEICO, and congratulations to our winners!
What better way to celebrate Literacy Week than by announcing some reading superstars across our district! 📚🎉🤩
Congratulations to Lincoln Elementary Magnet School, Burns Middle School, and Jefferson High School on being named the winners of the Superintendent’s Winter Break Reading Challenge.
Each school earned a Reader Leader trophy, their very own Benny the Bean from Beanstack, and $500 for new library books to keep the pages turning.
This reading challenge was one for the books. Way to go, HCPS readers!
We are hooked on celebrating our Hillsborough Treasures! 🤩🎣🌊 Our 2026 Excellence in Education Awards winners were recognized during last night’s School Board meeting. We look forward to shining a light on the incredible impact they make every day over the next year.
They truly represent the depth of dedication, passion, and excellence that runs throughout our district.
They truly represent the depth of dedication, passion, and excellence that runs throughout our district.
Meet Charlena Spicer, the proud new principal of Corr Elementary School!
Charlena began her career in HCPS in 2001 as a teacher at Dickenson Elementary School. She later taught at Deer Park Elementary School and served as the district's MTSS/RTI facilitator before entering administration in 2016 as the AP at Jackson Elementary School. Most recently, she served as the AP at Bevis Elementary School.
Congratulations, Charlena! We're excited to welcome her to the Corr Cubs family!
Charlena began her career in HCPS in 2001 as a teacher at Dickenson Elementary School. She later taught at Deer Park Elementary School and served as the district's MTSS/RTI facilitator before entering administration in 2016 as the AP at Jackson Elementary School. Most recently, she served as the AP at Bevis Elementary School.
Congratulations, Charlena! We're excited to welcome her to the Corr Cubs family!
Congratulations to Christian Finch, the new principal of Barrington Middle School!
Christian began his career in 2000 as a band director in Polk County and joined the HCPS family in 2002 at Randall Middle School. Since then, he has served as a band and orchestra director, assistant principal at multiple sites, supervisor of accountability and improvement, and, most recently, principal of Eisenhower Middle School.
We look forward to welcoming him to the Barrington Bolts family and to the leadership he will bring to the school community!
Christian began his career in 2000 as a band director in Polk County and joined the HCPS family in 2002 at Randall Middle School. Since then, he has served as a band and orchestra director, assistant principal at multiple sites, supervisor of accountability and improvement, and, most recently, principal of Eisenhower Middle School.
We look forward to welcoming him to the Barrington Bolts family and to the leadership he will bring to the school community!
Congratulations to the next round of our Tampa Bay Buccaneers Best Krewe Award recipients for the 2025-2026 school year! 🎉☠️
🏈 Michelle Soto, principal of Forest Hills Elementary School
🏈 Kayla Bulmer, parent liaison/aide at Potter Elementary School
🏈 Marie Puskas, math teacher at Steinbrenner High School
They were recognized during tonight’s board meeting.
🏈 Michelle Soto, principal of Forest Hills Elementary School
🏈 Kayla Bulmer, parent liaison/aide at Potter Elementary School
🏈 Marie Puskas, math teacher at Steinbrenner High School
They were recognized during tonight’s board meeting.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS! 🗓️ It's almost time for Family Day at the Florida State Fair! Friday, February 13, is a non-student day of school.
Youth ages 17 and under will receive free admission to the fair until 5 p.m. with an admission-paying parent or guardian 21 or older.
While you're at the fair, be sure to stop by the Florida Center and check out the HCPS exhibit area! We'll also have many schools and students showing livestock in the barns. Please stop by and cheer them on!
For more information on the Florida State Fair, please visit floridastatefair.com.
Youth ages 17 and under will receive free admission to the fair until 5 p.m. with an admission-paying parent or guardian 21 or older.
While you're at the fair, be sure to stop by the Florida Center and check out the HCPS exhibit area! We'll also have many schools and students showing livestock in the barns. Please stop by and cheer them on!
For more information on the Florida State Fair, please visit floridastatefair.com.
📚 Celebrate Literacy Week, Florida! Schools across the district are hosting exciting events that highlight the power of reading, creativity, and student voice. Our students are showing that literacy is more than reading—it’s creativity, voice, and expression.
Literacy is alive and thriving in our schools! 🎉📖
🎉 Results are available!
Hillsborough County Public Schools Magnet & School Choice Application results are live online.
✅ If you received an offer, you have until Friday, January 30 at 11:59 p.m. to accept.
Don’t miss your opportunity to secure your spot!
👉 bit.ly/MagnetChoiceHCPS
Hillsborough County Public Schools Magnet & School Choice Application results are live online.
✅ If you received an offer, you have until Friday, January 30 at 11:59 p.m. to accept.
Don’t miss your opportunity to secure your spot!
👉 bit.ly/MagnetChoiceHCPS
Meet our treasured 2026 Excellence in Education Awards winners! 🤩💎🐠🎉 These three outstanding educators and support staff rise above the tide and make a lasting impact across our district:
🌊 Teacher of the Year: Christi Atkinson, Science/AICE Teacher, Wharton High School
🌊 Instructional Support Employee of the Year: Mary Torres-Cerezo, Licensed Professional Nurse, Willis Peters Exceptional Student Education Center
🌊 Ida S. Baker Diversity Educator of the Year: Ché Counce, Access Points Teacher, Symmes Elementary School
Chosen from 690 nominees districtwide, these incredible individuals are true gems of Hillsborough County Public Schools. Congratulations!
🌊 Teacher of the Year: Christi Atkinson, Science/AICE Teacher, Wharton High School
🌊 Instructional Support Employee of the Year: Mary Torres-Cerezo, Licensed Professional Nurse, Willis Peters Exceptional Student Education Center
🌊 Ida S. Baker Diversity Educator of the Year: Ché Counce, Access Points Teacher, Symmes Elementary School
Chosen from 690 nominees districtwide, these incredible individuals are true gems of Hillsborough County Public Schools. Congratulations!
There will be no classes for students on Monday, January 19. Regular classes will resume on Tuesday, January 20.
📣 Attention HCPS families!
Results for the Magnet & School Choice Application Window (including Hillsborough Virtual) go live on Friday, January 23, at 5 p.m.
⏰ Set a reminder to check your status and take the next step!
🔗 bit.ly/MagnetChoiceHCPS
Results for the Magnet & School Choice Application Window (including Hillsborough Virtual) go live on Friday, January 23, at 5 p.m.
⏰ Set a reminder to check your status and take the next step!
🔗 bit.ly/MagnetChoiceHCPS
