Congratulations to Tonette Irvin, a math teacher at Riverview High School! She is one of the winners of four lower-level tickets to see the Tampa Bay Rays and a $100 gift card to Publix for Teacher Appreciation Week!
Superintendent Ayres and our Teacher of the Year, Christi Atkinson, surprised her during her planning period today!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-2fauFcnvo
Superintendent Ayres and our Teacher of the Year, Christi Atkinson, surprised her during her planning period today!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-2fauFcnvo
Congratulations to Marie Place, a 4th-grade teacher at Knights Elementary School! She is one of the winners of four lower-level tickets to see the Tampa Bay Rays and a $100 gift card to Publix for Teacher Appreciation Week!
Superintendent Ayres and our Teacher of the Year, Christi Atkinson, surprised her just a few hours ago!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRZfCkjSDQw
Superintendent Ayres and our Teacher of the Year, Christi Atkinson, surprised her just a few hours ago!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRZfCkjSDQw
Congratulations to Baily Klein, a 1st-grade teacher at Gorrie Elementary School! She is one of the winners of four lower-level tickets to see the Tampa Bay Rays and a $100 gift card to Publix for Teacher Appreciation Week!
Superintendent Ayres and our Teacher of the Year, Christi Atkinson, surprised her with the prize!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmR33rHjGXU
Superintendent Ayres and our Teacher of the Year, Christi Atkinson, surprised her with the prize!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmR33rHjGXU
Congratulations to Janice Bigio, an art teacher at Foster Elementary School! She was one of five winners of a one-year membership to BubbleDown Carwash and a $50 RaceTrac gift card for Teacher Appreciation Week!
Congratulations to Shantrell Scott, a reading teacher at Freedom High School! She was one of five winners of a one-year membership to BubbleDown Carwash and a $50 RaceTrac gift card for Teacher Appreciation Week!
Congratulations to Heather Spaier, a pre-K ESE teacher at Ippolito Elementary School! She was one of five winners of a one-year membership to BubbleDown Carwash and a $50 RaceTrac gift card for Teacher Appreciation Week!
Congratulations to Sam Turke, an English teacher at Mann Middle School! He was one of five winners of a one-year membership to BubbleDown Carwash and a $50 RaceTrac gift card for Teacher Appreciation Week!
Congratulations to Chelsae Fisher, an Access Points teacher at Hammond Elementary! She was one of five winners of a one-year membership to BubbleDown Carwash and a $50 RaceTrac gift card for Teacher Appreciation Week!
Watch the video below of Superintendent Ayres surprising her on Friday morning with her prize, and her wonderful team at Hammond celebrating with her!
https://youtu.be/1EEW5vEldsE?si=gBi7loTjmPASetn_
🏆 Big congratulations to Hillsborough County Public Schools and Armwood High School for being named a 2026 Discovery Education School of the Year! 🎉
👏 Armwood was one of just SIX schools nationwide selected for this prestigious recognition!
This national honor celebrates Armwood’s commitment to student success through innovation, meaningful learning experiences, strong relationships, and real-world opportunities for students. 💙📚
👏 Armwood was one of just SIX schools nationwide selected for this prestigious recognition!
This national honor celebrates Armwood’s commitment to student success through innovation, meaningful learning experiences, strong relationships, and real-world opportunities for students. 💙📚
Happy Mother’s Day to all of the incredible moms, grandmothers, guardians, and mother figures in our HCPS family! 💐
Thank you for the love, support, and encouragement you give our students each and every day. We hope today celebrates all that you do! ❤️
📸: Photos of Citrus Park Elementary School's Mother's Day Tea event
Thank you for the love, support, and encouragement you give our students each and every day. We hope today celebrates all that you do! ❤️
📸: Photos of Citrus Park Elementary School's Mother's Day Tea event
Last week, students across Hillsborough County celebrated Florida Food Day by trying foods that were grown and sourced in the Sunshine State! 🍽️ ☀️
Students at Pinecrest Elementary participated in a corn shucking contest and other fun activities! 🌽
Students at Pinecrest Elementary participated in a corn shucking contest and other fun activities! 🌽
Meet our final recipient of the Superintendent’s 2-Year Florida Prepaid College Plans Scholarship, Klover Solomon from Brandon High School!
After experiencing the loss of both of her parents, Klover faced many challenges throughout her childhood and early high school years. But through perseverance, support from her brother, and a renewed outlook on life, she turned things around academically and became a bright light on her campus, known for her kindness and positivity.
This fall, Klover will attend Hillsborough College Plant City Campus as she works toward her dream of becoming a forest ranger. We are very proud of you, Klover, and can’t wait to see what your future holds!
After experiencing the loss of both of her parents, Klover faced many challenges throughout her childhood and early high school years. But through perseverance, support from her brother, and a renewed outlook on life, she turned things around academically and became a bright light on her campus, known for her kindness and positivity.
This fall, Klover will attend Hillsborough College Plant City Campus as she works toward her dream of becoming a forest ranger. We are very proud of you, Klover, and can’t wait to see what your future holds!
Meet our second senior to receive the Superintendent’s 2-Year Florida Prepaid College Plans Scholarship, Isaiah Rodriguez from Alonso High School!
After losing his father to a drug overdose and with his mother incarcerated, Isaiah has stepped up as the “man of the house” for his sister and grandmother. Despite carrying immense responsibility and overcoming significant obstacles, his love of learning has never dimmed.
We are so proud of you, Isaiah, and wish you all the best as you head to the University of South Florida later this year!
Give your student a boost this summer.
More Opportunities Start Here with Hillsborough Virtual School’s flexible online courses for credit recovery, GPA improvement, or acceleration. Local HCPS teachers support students every step of the way.
Learn more at hillsboroughschools.org/virtual.
More Opportunities Start Here with Hillsborough Virtual School’s flexible online courses for credit recovery, GPA improvement, or acceleration. Local HCPS teachers support students every step of the way.
Learn more at hillsboroughschools.org/virtual.
Episode 14: Voices from the Board: School Board Chair Karen Perez
For today’s episode, we are talking about something that impacts every classroom, every family, and every student — mental health and overall well-being. We know that for students to learn and thrive, they must first feel safe, supported, and connected. And increasingly, schools play a critical role in supporting not just academic success, but the whole child. Joining the conversation is Karen Perez, Chair of our School Board, who has been a strong advocate for student mental health and well-being.
Students at Sheehy Elementary School received a special surprise last week! Thanks to Samaritan's Feet International and Truist, each student was given a free pair of shoes! 👟
"What we noticed is that it boosts their confidence; we saw smiles, happy kids all around the campus. All the teachers are excited. Everyone on campus is excited for this experience." - Principal Tshiamalenge.
"What we noticed is that it boosts their confidence; we saw smiles, happy kids all around the campus. All the teachers are excited. Everyone on campus is excited for this experience." - Principal Tshiamalenge.
Congratulations to Alexander Perez, one of three seniors selected to receive the Superintendent’s 2-Year Florida Prepaid College Scholarship!
This senior from King High School has had to overcome challenges that many of his peers could never begin to imagine. Despite it all, Alexander has excelled. He will graduate as the salutatorian of his class and plans to attend the University of South Florida, where he will major in psychology.
We are incredibly proud of you, Alexander, and know you will continue to defy the odds and accomplish great things in this next chapter of your life!
https://youtu.be/4e7WTCf2vaA?si=76b6BnOFFWAFRs37
The Teacher Appreciation Week surprises continued this morning at Giunta Middle School! Ms. Dawneva Faison is the winner of four orchestra-level seats to see Beetlejuice at the Straz Center.
Watch the video below of Superintendent Ayres surprising her!
https://youtu.be/BiuMYMT3DmA?si=tQX5jxANbR-udXM-
HALF-PENNY SALES TAX REFERENDUM
We are proud that Hillsborough County Public Schools continues to be the #1 choice for families in our community. That success is possible because of the incredible support we receive from our families and community members.
One example of this support is the half-penny sales tax referendum approved by voters in 2018. At that time, our district faced more than $1 billion in deferred maintenance. Many schools needed immediate A/C replacements, roof and window repairs, and other facilities and technology upgrades.
Thanks to voters, the half-penny referendum provided funding to address these needs, with a promise that every school would receive at least $500,000 in improvements. Since then, more than $1.2 billion has been invested in school facilities, safety, and technology across the district. More than $680 million of that work was awarded to local businesses, supporting jobs in our community.
We are grateful for your continued support. If you would like more information about the referendum and the projects it has funded, please visit the district’s website >> https://www.hillsboroughschools.org/o/hcps/page/half-penny-sales-tax-referendum
Surprise! Congratulations to Michkayla Dandreano, a 1st-grade teacher at Forest Hills Elementary School, on winning today’s #TeacherAppreciationWeek gift! She received a $200 gift card to the Azure restaurant at the Tampa EDITION Hotel.
Superintendent Van Ayres and HCPS Teacher of the Year Christi Atkinson also recognized Mrs. Chatman and Mrs. Smith-Moncrieffe with $50 Racetrac gift cards!
Watch Ms. Dandreano's surprise below!
https://youtu.be/yH_zHhVEElQ?si=bTPSt9VdKj3Cf9hD
