Page 2 - Florida Sentinel 7-10-20

Feature
Educator Says ‘Farewell’ After 38 Years
BY GWEN HAYES Sentinel Editor
Mrs. Gwendolyn D. Fields-Williams has said “farewell to a profession that I’ve absolutely enjoyed for the past 38 years.” She has been a Business and Career Technology Education Teacher in the School Dis- trict of Hillsborough County.
Becoming a teacher was childhood dream that gave her the opportunity to be among the many residents to represent West Tampa- North Boulevard Homes.
“It was my plleasure to finish my career at Howard W. Blake High School, which is built on the same location tht I entered the world – pre- vious location of Clara Frye Hospital,” she stated.
Mrs. Williams feels more elated that she had the opportunity to work at the newly built Blake High School, being hired 23 years ago as Department Chair and Teracher of Business and Ca- reer Technology Education. David Best was her princi- pal. She was also the Student Government Sponsor. “These memories will forever be etched in my heart for years to come,” she said.
Prior to joning the staff at Blake, Mrs. Williams spent 15 years at junior high schools, which are now mid- dle schools – Greco, Pierce, Coleman, Middleton and Roland Park.
These years were instru- mental in her teaching devel- opmental growth. “These years allowed me to see
MRS. GWENDOLYN D. FIELDS-WILLIAMS
teaching through a set of lenses that prepared me to enter the ‘bigger arena,’ teaching at Blake.”
Simultaneously, she began her teaching journey at Hillsborough Community
College (HCC) as an Adjunct Professor, starting at the Brandon campus, transfer- ring to the Ybor campus where she remained until the recent retirement.
During her teaching jour- ney, Mrs. Williams earned National Board Teaching Certification credentials.
“This experience, along with a multitude of others, enhanced my eagerness for teaching and learning which allowed me to share my pro- ficiencies wholeheartedly to reach many diverse students of all ages and in a distinctive way,” she stated.
Under the leadership of Principal Jacqueline K. Haynes, she was appointed in August 2008 to serve as the teacher and coordinator of a program called, “Urban Teaching Academy (U. T. A),” which afforded her the opportunity to provide pre- liminary teacher-training to
many students who had an interest in becoming teach- ers.
“Many of the graduates from the U. T. A. Program, are now teaching in the School District of Hillsbor- ough County and surround- ing Charter Schools, and are helping to make a difference in the lives of many students in the Tampa Bay Area.”
In closing, she stated, “As I complete this chapter of my life, I would like to extend my well wishes to all that I’ve had the pleasure of meeting or teaching during my pro- fessional career in the Hills- borough County School District. I thank my beloved mother, the late, Willie M. Green, husband, Rev. T. L. Williams and my son, Willie for their exuberant support throughout my jour- ney, as well as my other re- markable family and friends.”
City Of Tampa And Mayor Jane Castor Launch Face Covering Fashion Competition
#FaceTheFactsTPA
The City of Tampa has launched a face covering fashion competition, encour- aging residents to embrace face coverings as an essential, yet fashionable addition to any wardrobe. Whether deco- rated at home or purchased from a local business, custom face coverings can be entered via social media to win prizes.
Prizes include $50-$100 gift cards from local part- ners:
• Bern’s Steak House
• Forbici Modern Italian
• Columbia Restaurant
Group
• Armature Works
To enter, submit a photo on social media (Facebook, Twitter or Instagram) using the hashtag #FaceTheFact- sTPA. Entries will be judged in the categories “Most Cre- ative” and “Best Homemade.”
The deadline to enter is July 12, 2020 at 11:59 p.
m.
Share your custom face coverings on social media using #FaceTheFactsTPA and tag the City of Tampa: facebook.com/cityoftampafl twitter.com/cityoftampa instagram.com/cityoftampa
For more information on how to make face coverings with household items, visit tampagov.net/COVID- 19.
*Note: Entries via Face- book posts using #FaceThe- FactsTPA should be set to the “Public” setting.
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