Page 3 - Florida Sentinel 8-30-19

Features
New Director
Of Emergency Management Hired
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
Earlier this year, Hillsbor- ough County hired a new Emergency Management Di- rector. He is a native of St. Pe- tersburg, FL.
Timothy Dudley, Jr.,
began his new duties in June. He brings a strong back- ground in strategic planning and emergency preparedness. Prior to accepting his posi- tion, Dudley served as the Senior Emergency Manage- ment Coordinator for Pinellas County.
The Office of Emergency Management has the respon- sibility of working closely with national, regional, and local agencies monitoring weather, large events, and other risks. As Director, Dud- ley leads Hillsborough County’s team and serves as the County’s representative in regional and statewide plan- ning agencies.
After graduating from Lakewood High School, Dud- ley earned his Bachelor’s De- gree in Homeland Security at
TIMOTHY DUDLEY, JR.
American Military University. He received his Master’s De- gree in Emergency Manage- ment at Columbia Southern University. He also has an Ex- ecutive Leadership Certificate from Cornell University.
He retired from the U. S. Army as a Sergeant Major after 27 years of service. He has served in every leadership role from Squad Leader to Senior Enlisted Advisor dur- ing his tenure in the military. He retired in April 2014.
Dudley is married to Mrs. Shonnette Dudley and they are the parents of 4 children. They have one granddaughter.
School Earns Passing Grade For Second Year
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
It has often been said that when one is on the bot- tom, the only direction to go is up. And that is exactly what the staff at Booker T. Washington Elementary School has done.
The school was rated an “F” for more than one year. But instead of giving up, the Principal Jaime Gerd- ing and her staff attacked the problem and were suc- cessful. For the second con- secutive year, Booker T. Washington Elementary School has earned a “C.”
Ms. Gerding said, “We are celebrating the hard work of our students, fami- lies and staff! It is wonder- ful that the talents and gifts of our students are adding to the important legacy of our school.”
Ms. Temeka Lewis,
Assistant Principal said, “This is the first time in school history since being an elementary school that we have made two years of consecutive passing grades.
“During the 2017-2018 school year we worked hard to increase our grade from a “F” to a “C” grade during the 20-18-2019 school year.”
History Of The School
Booker T. Washington Elementary School is
Members of the Booker T. Washington Elementary School staff shown here are from left to right: Assistant Principal Zemenaye Harris, Principal Jaime Gerding, and Assistant Principal Temeka Lewis.
named in honor of the African American Scientist, Booker T. Washington. It was constructed in 1925 as Booker T. Washington Junior High School to edu- cate African American chil- dren.
Located in Ybor City, the school soon expanded to become a high school. It served in this capacity until 1935, when the doors of the Middleton High School opened.
Through the years, the school experienced many
changes. In 1971, integra- tion brought about changes in several African American schools in Hillsborough County.
Booker T. Washington was converted into Middle School and later into a Sev- enth Grade Center. In the 1990s, it was converted into a Magnet School. It re- mained a Magnet School, focusing on International Studies.
In 2005, Booker T. Washington became an ele- mentary school.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2019 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDA PAGE 3-A