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Features
New Chief Of Schools Shares Vision Of Change
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
Harrison Peters is no stranger to the Hillsborough County School District. Prior to being hired as the new Chief of Schools of Hillsborough County, Peters served as a Consultant for the district.
All of the Area Superin- tendents will report to Peters and he will help them provide all of the necessary tools needed to achieve success.
Peters was selected for the position during a national search conducted to fill posi- tions in the district. His expe- rience includes serving in 4 of the top 15 largest school dis- tricts in the nation. He left the Houston Independent School District, the nation’s 7th largest school district, to accept this position.
“I’m very familiar with this area. It’s like coming back home. My message to the par-
HARRISON PETERS ... New Chief of Schools, Hillsborough County School District
ents of this district is that we are going to do whatever is necessary to improve the level of the schools. However, this is notajobthatwecandobyour- selves. We must have the sup- port of all of the stakeholders so that we can work in partner- ship with the community,” Pe- ters said.
He is credited with turning some of the most challenging schools in the nation around.
A native of Pensacola, Pe- ters graduated from the Uni- versity of West Florida with a B. S. Degree in Elementary Ed- ucation. He continued his edu- cation at Nova Southeastern University.
He launched his teaching career in Apopka. He has also served as Principal in Orlando and Charlotte, North Carolina, and later accepted a position in Chicago.
Peters said, “I align with the Superintendent and the neediest schools must change. I am the parent of two sons, ages 18 and 11, and I must be comfortable with where my children are going.
“We have to change these schools that are scoring low grades quickly. I believe every child can be successful. You can’t show me a child who can’t be successful.”
‘Black-On-Black Crime’ Hits Home When Activist
Got Robbed
BY LEON B. CREWS Sentinel Staff Writer
At 3 a.m. on July 30th, Tampa New Black Panther leader, Clarence Jones (Ali Muhammad) was among three people who were robbed at gunpoint in the Ybor City area.
Jones has been active in the community trying to spread the word about vio- lence and the need for young people to live more productive lives.
“When the young man robbed me, it hurt to see an- other young brother that has been tricked into thinking that’s the only way he can sur- vive. He should have been working.
“The incident was crazy and it has definitely opened my eyes more to appreciate life. I could have easily been shot, because I’ve been told the gun he used was loaded.”
Tampa Police arrested 28- year-old Antwan S. Robert- son, and charged him with three counts of armed robbery.
Jones said the whole thing could have been fatal for him.
“This was not the first time I’ve been robbed at gunpoint. This is an example of why it’s so important we all reach out to these young people and get them into something produc- tive.
“A young brother out that late with a gun is looking for trouble. He apparently puts no
value on his life or the lives of others.”
Jones said this incident has also made him realize the urgency of finding something for these young people to do.
“Jail or death can no longer be an alternative for our young people. We’ve got to make them understand that they are destroying themselves, their family members, their com- munity, and their friends.
“All of the people I’m work- ing with are going to turn it up a notch, especially during the summer when things tend to get crazy. When we say ‘Black Lives Matter,’ we mean they matter even more when it in- volves Blacks killing Blacks.”
Jones said he wants to find out what community the young man came from, and perhaps meet with his family to find a way to get him help.
“I was lucky, but so was the young man who robbed me. He took a chance of me not being armed, but that’s not going to always be the case.”
ALI MUHAMMAD (Clarence Jones)
The Hillsborough County Democratic Black Caucus To Host Candidates Forum In Progress Village
On Saturday, August 6th from 11 a.m. to 4:45 pm. the Hillsborough County Demo- cratic Black Caucus will be hosting their 2016 Candidates Forum, “Education Equals Empowerment,” at St James AME Church, 5202 South 86th Street.
Caucus President, Robin Lockett, said the turnout at the earlier forums has been tremendous, and she’s hoping that continues with this one in
the Progress Village commu- nity.
At this forum, there will be an opening prayer and wel- come, followed by interviews with candidates seeking office as County Commissioner, State Senate District 18, School Board Districts 1 and 3, U. S. Senate, Hills- borough County Clerk of the Circuit Court, Florida Representative District 59, Florida Senate District 19, School Board District 7, State Attorney, Florida Representative District 61, U. S. Congress, School
Board District 5, and Florida Representative District 63.
This open forum is for those in attendance to ask the candi- dates questions and evaluate their answers.
The Hillsborough County Democratic Black Caucus is standing with the community to make the candidates/elected officials accountable.
Come and find out why you should vote for each candidate based on their responses to questions, and their campaign promises.
Refreshments will be served.
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