Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Back to School 2005

New principals

By MEAGHAN FORBES
Published July 22, 2005

APARICIO-LEVY TECHNICAL CENTER

PRINCIPAL: Todd Bowden

PREVIOUS POSITION: Assistant principal at Bloomingdale High

QUICK FACT: This Florida State University graduate has been in education for 10 years. Bowden also attended a Hillsborough County high school. His favorite sport is football, and he enjoys spending time with his family and camping.

ALAFIA ELEMENTARY

PREVIOUS POSITION: Principal at Seffner Elementary

QUICK FACT: Smith is beginning her 30th year in education. Her first assignment was at Anderson Elementary as a fourth-grade teacher, but she has taught grades 1 through 6 over the years. Smith received both her undergraduate and graduate degrees at the University of South Florida and is an avid Bulls fan. She also enjoys going to the beach with her husband and two miniature schnauzers.

BOYETTE SPRINGS ELEMENTARY

PREVIOUS POSITION: Assistant principal at Kingswood Elementary

QUICK FACT: Dukes spent 20 years in the classroom before entering administration. A Brandon native, she graduated from Brandon High and earned her bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of South Florida. She enjoys reading, yard work and taking long naps in the middle of the day. She is starting her 29th year with the school system.

BURNETT MIDDLE

PRINCIPAL: Herbert Peeples

PREVIOUS POSITION: Principal of Franklin Middle Magnet

QUICK FACT: This Tampa native started teaching at St. Paul United Methodist and is beginning his 25th year in education. Peeples received his bachelor's degree from the University of Florida and his master's in education leadership at the University of South Florida. He's married with three children and enjoys spending time with his family and friends.

COLLINS ELEMENTARY

PREVIOUS POSITION: Principal at Ruskin Elementary

QUICK FACT: This New Yorker received her bachelor's degree at Keuka College and her master's degree at Nazareth College in Rochester, N.Y. Cyr moved to the bay area 23 years ago to teach at Ruskin Elementary and received her certification in educational leadership from Nova Southeastern University.

CYPRESS CREEK ELEMENTARY

PREVIOUS POSITION: Assistant principal at Wimauma Elementary

QUICK FACT: A Hillsborough County native, Tierney received her master's in education leadership at Nova Southeastern University. She enjoys reading, the beach and spending time with her 3-year-old son. Her take on the growth in east Hillsborough county is: "It's unreal."

FROST ELEMENTARY

PRINCIPAL: Pam Locke PREVIOUS POSITION: Principal of Alafia Elementary

GIUNTA MIDDLE

PRINCIPAL: Scott Fritz

PREVIOUS POSITION: Principal of Benito Middle

QUICK FACT: Fritz has been in education for 14 years, starting as a special education aide at Parkhill in 1991. He worked at Eisenhower Middle as a special education teacher and helped open Benito Middle as assistant principal in 1997. The self-proclaimed "family guy" coaches soccer in Brandon, has two children and enjoys fishing.

PROGRESS VILLAGE MIDDLE MAGNET

PRINCIPAL: Walt Shaffner

PREVIOUS POSITION: Principal of Burnett Middle

QUICK FACT: This professional trombonist is beginning his 29th year in education. Shaffner's first teaching job was at Lake Wales High in Polk County. He spent seven years at Burnett Middle before transferring to Progress Village. He enjoys spending time with his wife and two children.

SEFFNER ELEMENTARY

PREVIOUS POSITION: Assistant principal at Colson Elementary

QUICK FACT: An Indiana native, Whitworth married her high school sweetheart and had a family before becoming a teacher in 1977. She graduated from Leto High and attended the University of South Florida for her teaching degree. She has been married for 37 years, has two daughters and four grandchildren.

[Last modified August 2, 2005, 14:58:35]