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Features
School Superintendent Jeff Eakins Meets With Sentinel Editorial Board
Fresh from his recent se- lection as Hillsborough Schools’ newest Superintend- ent, Jeff Eakins met with the Florida Sentinel Edi- torial Board, last Tuesday. Accompanied by School Board member Doreatha Edgecomb, the leader of America’s eighth largest school district introduced himself as a listener with a bevy of boundless ideas and an obvious energetic vision to see them through.
In what appeared to be part of a whirl-wind visit to organizations, agencies, and businesses throughout the Tampa-Hillsborough commu- nity, Superintendent Eakins has set out a no-non- sense plan, which centers around his wanting to make certain that “every student is
prepared for graduation; that they’re prepared for what happens after graduation and that they’re prepared for life.”
Tackling the question of what the Hillsborough Schools system intends to do in order to stem a growing rate of Black male drop-outs in its high schools, as well as an unsettling upsurge of juve- nile violence that impacts the school environment, Super- intendent Eakins intro- duced an administration reorganization plan that brought on board six new po- sitions, eliminated four cur- rent positions, and created numerous new jobs to, as Su- perintendent Eakins stated, “make school a fun place to be.”
New positions include the returning of retired Assistant
SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT JEFF EAKINS
Superintendent of Adminis- tration Lewis Brinson to take on the role of Chief Di- versity Officer while school veteran Larry Sykes, former Assistant Superintendent of Academic Services and Fed- eral Programs will become Chief of Schools, managing day-to-day operations at the districts more than 200 schools.
Other names added to Su- perintendent Eakins reor- ganization plan included the popular former principal and school board Administrator Henry “Shake” Washing-
ton, whose job title changes to Area Superintendent.
But new positions were not all that was on the new Superintendent’s mind. With a 28-year education back- ground, 26 of those years spent in Hillsborough County schools as teacher, principal, and administrative aide to former Superintendent Elia, Superintendent Eakins was able to see first- hand what in his opinion, would make Hillsborough County Schools not only first- class, but world-class.
To that extent, the Super- intendent presented a plan, which would not only answer the challenge of the social media and its impact on pub- lic education, but would also help public schools to become more competitive to so-called charter schools.
Referring to the recent fir- ing of former Superintend- ent MaryEllen Elia as “emotional,” but admitting, “one of the benefits of my per- sonality is I bring calm,” the native Ohioan, who is known by fellow employees as “gen- tle” and “helping,” and who is
as hi-tech as he is traditional (acknowledging the academic benefit of texting and Twit- ter), rounded out his visit with a pledge to help strengthen the work relationship between administrators, parents, teachers, and students.
He also promised to re- turn to the Sentinel Edito- rial Board in the next four months to report the impact of his new plans.
For the more than one hour interview that included questions that spanned a gamut of concerns, and talked about the development of a new school culture based on sincerity and responsiveness, Superintendent Jeff Eakins was indeed, gentle.
Yet, beneath his respectful demeanor, one could detect a sharp mind well-honed on de- tail and a plan well-rehearsed during the years when he watched and waited. Now is his time. We will watch to see what he does. But as we re- minded him at the end of our meeting, the door of the Florida Sentinel Bulletin is always open.
U. S. Dept. Of Justice:
Forum On Police Traffic And Bike Citations Set
On Tuesday, July 14th from 6p.m.to8p.m.,theTampa Police Department’s Traffic and Bicycle Enforcement Practices will be discussed.
The U. S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) is inviting the public to share their input on the traffic and bicycle en- forcement practices of the Tampa Police Department.
The COPS Office and the Virginia Center for Policing Innovation are conducting a Critical Response Initiative with TPD. An important part of this process is listening to the community’s perspective.
The community is asked to come share their views with the assessment team.
Doors will open at 5 p. m., and all speakers will be pro- vide equal amounts of time to provide input.
The listening session will be held at Hillsborough Com- munity College-Ybor Campus, Performing Arts Building, Mainstage Theater, East Palm Avenue and 14th Street.
In order to promote free discussion, Tampa Police De- partment officials will not be present at the community meeting. Spanish translators will be present at the session.
Pedestrian Killed In Accident
The Florida Highway Pa- trol reports that a man was struck and killed in an early morning accident in Eastern Hillsborough County.
According to the reports, at 2:10 a.m. Thursday morn- ing, a vehicle driven by David Tidd, 25, was travel- ing north n U. S. 301, north of Stacy Road. Darryl Thomas Robinson, 34, was walking north on U. S. 301 in the southbound lane.
Troopers said Tidd’s ve- hicle traveled into the south- bound lane to pass a vehicle and struck Robinson, who sustained fatal injuries. He was pronounced dead at the
DARRYL THOMAS ROBINSON
scene.
Tidd stopped after the ac-
cident, and the incident is being investigated.
FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 3-A