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By JOYCE MCKENZIE

The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 12, 2008

Warren "Scott" Brooks, Tampa Bay Technical High School

TAMPA - Tampa Bay Technical High School Principal Warren "Scott" Brooks has grown as both a student and an educator in the Hillsborough County School District.

Following his graduation from Plant City High, he went on to earn a college degree in teaching from the University of Florida. He began his career with the school district in 1994 as a teacher at Leto High School and also has worked at Armwood and Durant high schools. He was appointed assistant principal for student affairs at Tampa Bay Tech in 2002 and its assistant principal for curriculum in 2005.

He was appointed principal of Tampa Bay Tech on May 6, 2008.

Q. What are you looking forward to most about this school year?

A. I think probably the biggest thing is being able to interact with a brand-new group of students and trying to keep up the A-grade legacy we've enjoyed the last two years.

Brooks

Q. What is your favorite part of the principal job?

A. The interaction with the kids when they come in and are all eager and excited. It is also exciting to see them transition to the next stage of life and especially as they move closer toward graduation.

Q. What is your least favorite part of the job?

A. Trying to get everything in place and having everything perfect for that first day and first week, but we sometimes get thrown a curveball.

Q. What was your first day like when you started your career?

A. I kind of felt like a deer in a headlight. It's all you and it's all a little intimidating and a bit overwhelming when you suddenly realize you're expected to be the expert.

Q. What is the biggest change in education since you started?

A. It's all the accountability that's trickled down and it's also the focus on the kids the last two to four years. Today, it's all about how we can do things that can help the child, a change I definitely welcome.

Q. What is your favorite food item from the school cafeteria?

A. We have these spicy chicken fingers and every day I have to have a few to get me through the day.

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Christopher Farkas, Freedom High School

By LAURA KINSLER

The Tampa Tribune

TAMPA PALMS - Christopher Farkas was appointed principal of Freedom High School on April 15, 2008.

He began teaching in 1997 at a high school in Alabama. He came to the Hillsborough County School District in 1999 as a teacher at Brandon Alternative Center. He later became coordinator for youth services.

In 2004, he became an assistant principal at Tampa Bay Technical High. Two years later, Farkas was promoted to principal. He succeeds Doug Bartels as Freedom High's second principal.

Q. What are you looking forward to most about this school year?

A. I'm looking forward to getting to know my students and faculty. Some of them have been here during the summer for band camp or team practices, so I've had a chance to meet them.

Farkas

Q. What is your favorite part of the principal job?

A. Interacting with the kids in different areas, whether it be athletics or academics.

Q. What is your least favorite part of your job?

A. The negative aspect: discipline and removing kids from school.

Q. What was your first day like when you started your career?

A. There was some excitement, but also fear and apprehension. I was an education major and I had just graduated, so I had just turned 23. There wasn't a lot of age separation between me and the students.

Q. What is the biggest change in education since you started?

A. There's a lot more accountability. Each teacher is held responsible for each student's learning gain.

Q. What is your favorite food in the school cafeteria?

A. Does there have to be a favorite? I guess I'd say the Otis Spunkmeyer cookies — definitely oatmeal raisin.

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Sheryl Marceaux, Kimbell Elementary School

By KENNETH KNIGHT

The Tampa Tribune

TEMPLE CREST - Principal Sheryl Marceaux is opening a new elementary school for the second time in a decade.

The former Pizzo Elementary School leader left that post at the end of the past school year to plan for the opening of Kimbell Elementary School on North 46th Street.

Marceaux began her career 19 years ago as a fourth-grade teacher at Forest Hills Elementary. Eight years later, she was appointed assistant principal and assigned to help open Pizzo Elementary. She was promoted to principal four years ago.

Q. What are you looking forward to most about this school year?

A. Establishing a warm, inviting and homey environment filled with a community of learning — students learning and staff learning through professional development — and all working together.

Marceaux

Q. What is your favorite part of the principal job?

A. Definitely working with the students and seeing their growth.

Q. What is your least favorite part of the job?

A. Wanting to do so much more than time allows.

Q. What was your first day like when you started your career?

A. It flew by. I had planned many more activities than we had time for. I was excited to get back to school the next day.

Q. What is the biggest change in education since you started?

A. Class size reduction. It has lowered class size in every grade. My first year of teaching, I taught fourth grade and had 31 students in my class. Now, intermediate classes are capped at 22 students.

Q. What is your favorite food item from the school cafeteria?

A. I usually choose fresh fruit.

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Beatrice "Bonnie" McDaniel, Robles Elementary School

By KENNETH KNIGHT

The Tampa Tribune

NUCCIO PARK - Principal Beatrice "Bonnie" McDaniel is no stranger to Robles Elementary School on East Sligh Avenue. Before her promotion to principal in July, she was the assistant principal for seven years.

She started as a teacher at Wimauma Elementary in 1980. She worked in the classroom at various Hillsborough County elementary schools, including Lee, Riverhills, Lowry, Sulphur Springs and two stints at Robles before moving to school administration.

Q. What are you looking forward to most about this school year?

A. We are excited and determined to make improvements in all areas. I'm excited. The teachers are excited about coming together to work cooperatively in developing skills and strategies to assist the kids to make learning gains.

McDaniel

Q. What is your favorite part of the principal job?

A. There is nothing that's a favorite of mine when it comes to kids because everything is important. It's a lovely school, a wonderful community. I feel blessed to serve this student population and community. I am going to do my best to make sure that Robles is one of the best schools, if not the best school, in the district.

Q. What is your least favorite part of the job?

A. I don't like to be judged as a D school because we are an A school in spirit. My teachers teach their hearts out. They are dedicated to this school and community.

Q. What was your first day like when you started your career?

A. It was very exciting to me because I knew I would be responsible for shaping and molding a potential president, doctor, lawyer to be a productive citizen anywhere in the world.

Q. What is the biggest change in education since you started?

A. The biggest change is the grading system, even though accountability was in place when I first started.

Q. What is your favorite food item from the school cafeteria?

A. I like the salad because I try to eat healthy. I also like the apple crisp as a dessert.

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Kim Pietsch, Chiles Elementary School

By SARAH ROTHWELL

The Tampa Tribune

TAMPA PALMS - Principal Kim Pietsch is excited to be back at Chiles Elementary, where she was an assistant principal from 2001 to 2005.

She started her employment with the Hillsborough County School District in 1989 as a teacher at Lewis Elementary School, where she remained until she was transferred in 1996 to a teaching position at Tampa Palms Elementary School.

She was appointed principal at Lockhart Middle School in fall 2005.

Q. What are you looking forward to most about this school year?

A. I'm so excited I'm bursting at the seams. I can't wait to reconnect with the families I already know and meet all the new families. I want to continue the excellence level at the school and then take it up a notch.

Pietsch

Q. What is your favorite part of the principal job?

A. Interacting with the children is my favorite part of the job. I love being in the classrooms. I like to know every student personally because it's encouraging to them.

Q. Do you learn all of the students' names?

A. Yes, I will know all of their names. It may take the whole year, but I will.

Q. What is the most challenging part of your job?

A. The most challenging thing is maintaining the energy and a vision for the school throughout the year.

Q. What was your first day like as a principal?

A. I was at Lockhart. I was new, so I didn't have a connection yet with any of the students like I had at Chiles. So, I missed that, but in time, I built it up.

Q. What is the biggest change in education since you started as an educator?

A. There's a lot more accountability. Schools are being graded. I think it's good. It's important to have an assessment on how well we are doing.

Q. What is your favorite food in the school cafeteria?

A. Tater tots. There's nothing like greasy tater tots. The cheese sticks are really good, too.

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John Sanders, Benito Middle School

By SARAH ROTHWELL

The Tampa Tribune

NEW TAMPA - John Sanders will begin his first job as a principal this year at Benito Middle School.

Sanders began his education career in 1985 as a math teacher at Plant High School. In 1995, he was made an assistant principal at Turkey Creek Middle School. In 1997, he became an assistant principal at Young Middle School, where he served until his current appointment.

Q. What are you looking forward to most about this school year?

A. I'm looking forward to maintaining our status as an A school and improving, as well. I want the school to make adequate yearly progress in 100 percent of the areas this year.

Sanders

Q. What are you looking forward to about being a principal for the first time?

A. I'm looking forward to getting to know the families in the community and being a part of Benito's rich history.

Q. Do you remember your first day on the job as an educator?

A. Yes. I was a bit nervous on my first day. I've grown to relax more. I've learned a great deal about the education profession. I can't say I knew everything on my first day or that I know everything now, but I've learned a lot. That's the great thing about education: Learning is part of every day, even for those of us running the business.

Q. What is the biggest change in education since you started?

A. Accountability with regard to testing and in other areas.

Q. What is your favorite food in the school cafeteria?

A. Chicken Tetrazzini. It's noodles and chicken with cheese and spices. It's really good.

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Pamela Wilkins, Pizzo Elementary School

By JOYCE McKENZIE

The Tampa Tribune

USF CAMPUS Although Pamela Wilkins is the new principal at Pizzo Elementary School, she is no stranger to its campus.

In 2001, she served as its exceptional student education specialist. Before being assigned to Pizzo in May 2008, she was assistant principal at Maniscalco Elementary School.

Since joining the Hillsborough County School District in 1992, Wilkins also has been a teacher at Miles and Foster elementary schools.

Q. What are you looking forward to most about this school year?

A. I'm looking forward to being back here and building strong partnerships with USF [University of South Florida] and MOSI [the Museum of Science & Industry]. I also look forward to having a very successful year.

Wilkins

Q. What is your favorite part of the principal job?

A. Being here every day and seeing our students and helping them succeed.

Q. What is your least favorite part of the job?

A. Often being pulled in many directions and unable to complete a task from start to finish.

Q. What was your first day like when you started your career?

A. I was very excited in wanting to make a difference but also a little nervous.

Q. What is the biggest change in education since you started?

A. I would think it's that we have very high expectations and we challenge our kids on a daily basis. The curriculum is different from when we went to school.

Q. What is your favorite food item from the school cafeteria?

A. I would say the Friday pizza is a good choice.

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Cora-Lynne Wimberly, Folsom Elementary School

By JOYCE McKENZIE

The Tampa Tribune

THONOTOSASSA - Folsom Elementary School's new principal, Cora-Lynne Wimberly, believes she was destined to be an educator.

She comes from a family in which her two sisters and her grandmother made teaching their career.

Wimberly began in the teaching profession in Broward County in 1979. Since moving to Hillsborough County in 1994, she has taught at Lopez, Tampa Palms, Hunter's Green and Twin Lakes elementary schools. She also has served as principal at Heritage and Sulphur Springs elementary schools.

Wimberly was appointed principal at Folsom Elementary on May 8, 2008.

Q. What are you looking forward to most about this school year?

A. Meeting the children and making sure learning is occurring.

Wimberly

Q. What is your favorite part of the principal job?

A. Watching students, teachers and parents grow in the school community. It's fun.

Q. What is your least favorite part of the job?

A. It is saying goodbye to the children and staff when I leave. It's also saying goodbye to parents I've built relationships with.

Q. What was your first day like when you started your career?

A. My first day was filled with excitement and challenges, the biggest one being that my sister was teaching in the room next to mine.

Q. What is the biggest change in education since you started?

A. The grading system. That's what's caused the biggest commotion, but it's actually been a good thing.

Q. What is your favorite food item from the school cafeteria?

A. Peanut butter bars used to be my favorite, but not anymore. Today I lean pretty much toward the veggies and the salads.

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Brad Woods, Wharton High School

By LAURA KINSLER

The Tampa Tribune

NEW TAMPA - Principal Brad Woods beat out five other applicants to earn the appointment July 29 to Wharton High School.

He has worked for the school district since graduating from the University of South Florida in 1994. He previously held assistant principal posts at Gaither and Middleton high schools. He started as a math teacher at Stewart Middle School and also taught at Leto High.

Q. What are you looking forward to most about this school year?

A. I'm looking forward to us continuing to move the school forward. We're only 2 points away from being an A school. I think we've got some room for improvement in our writing scores.

Woods

Q. What is your favorite part of the principal job?

A. This is my first principal job. I think my favorite part will be having a broader impact on students' education and providing them with the opportunities to be successful and productive citizens.

Q. What is your least favorite part of your job?

A. I don't know yet. You always deal with adversity that gets thrown at you. There's always something that comes up.

Q. What was your first day like when you started your career?

A. I kept thinking, "They didn't teach me this in college." It was a trying group of kids, and you go into it with a "save the world" mentality.

Q. What is the biggest change in education since you started as an educator?

A. No Child Left Behind and school grading. It's brought a new level of accountability to teaching.

Q. What is your favorite food in the school cafeteria?

A. Mashed potatoes and Salisbury steak. I don't know if they even serve that here, but that's always been my favorite.

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