Educate yourself with 4 Tampa Bay area schools updates

Here’s a quick roundup of some education news in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties.

January 24, 2024 • 
Patrick Sidwell
An up-close shot of a Hillsborough County school bus. No one is on board.

HCPS is looking to hire bus drivers.

Photo by TBAYtoday

Class is in session.

From hiring news to teacher recognition, there’s a bunch happening in the Tampa Bay area’s education scene. Here are four of the latest updates:

  • Hillsborough County Public Schools is looking to fill 250+ vacant bus driver positions. Check out information about the role + hiring process.
  • Gerard Madrinan was named Pinellas County Schools’ 2024 Teacher of the Year at this week’s Evening of Excellence ceremony. The Seminole High School music teacher + band director now leads the band he fell in love with as a kid while watching his older brother perform 33 years ago.
  • HCPS will receive a federal grant of ~$64 million to build a new school on the site of Tinker K-8 on MacDill Air Force Base. Officials voted unanimously this week to extend the school’s lease from 25 years to 33 years, through 2057.
  • Hillsborough County is hosting its 2024 Excellence in Education Awards on Thursday, Feb. 1.
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