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Beyond the classroom
By LOGAN D. MABE
© St. Petersburg Times, LUTZ -- One by one, Brenda Griffin made her way from classroom to classroom Thursday morning introducing herself to each of the more than 800 students at Maniscalco Elementary School. "This is Mrs. Griffin," said kindergarten teacher Dalmer Beasley. "This is our new ..." "Principal!" the kids responded. Thursday was Griffin's first day on the job after the School Board confirmed her transfer from Foster Elementary on Tuesday. Griffin, 50, joined the school district in 1973 when she was hired as a teacher at Carver Elementary. That same year she transferred to Williams Elementary, where she continued to teach until she was promoted to assistant principal in 1990. In 1996, Griffin became an assistant principal at West Tampa Elementary. In 1998 she was appointed principal of Foster Elementary. Griffin replaces Sharon Beaubien, who was appointed principal of Lawton Chiles Elementary in Tampa Palms. Like most new principals, Griffin says she relishes the opportunity of a new challenge. "I taught for 17 years before I went into administration and I really loved working with the kids and teaching," Griffin said. "I still miss the classroom to this day, and some days I still go in and co-teach. But it's just a feeling you get when you get to a certain part of your career that you can make a difference in a certain role. It (being a principal) is still a sincere caring for the best interests of a child." Griffin said introducing herself to each class of students is her way of getting off on the right foot with her new charges. "I try to get into the habit early on of visiting the classrooms when I first come to work in the morning, instead of going straight to the office," Griffin said. "I wouldn't want to be in this position if I couldn't continue to interact in the classroom." Griffin, a Tampa native, graduated from Hillsborough High School and got her college degrees, a bachelor's and master's, at the University of South Florida. She is married to Lindy Griffin and has two children. Son Adam is a freshman at the University of Florida and daughter Carly is a sophomore at Chamberlain High. Griffin said she gravitated toward education while in college, a time when many women were steered toward teaching and nursing professions. "But it was something I knew I always wanted to do," she said. "I like knowing that I have had a positive impact on what takes place in schools, the community and the homes as well. Going into the classrooms and seeing kids engaged and excited about learning, that makes my day." Griffin was greeted warmly by Maniscalco students, who made all sorts of cards, letters, banners and posters for her. She credits assistant principal Annette Gaddy with running the school smoothly during the transition. "She has been steering the ship, and it's on a steady course," Griffin said. "It was a wonderful reception, not only from the faculty and staff but throughout the day. And at the end of the day when the kids were boarding the buses and being picked up by their parents, I felt like I'd been here quite a while." -- Logan D. Mabe can be reached at 813-226-3464.
 © 2006 • All Rights Reserved • Tampa Bay Times
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From the Times |
