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Four schools are ordered to get new principals

 
Published Jan. 17, 2018|Updated Jan. 18, 2018

Dover Elementary Principal Kayla Forcucci [TBO}
Dover Elementary Principal Kayla Forcucci [TBO}
Palm River Elementary principal Dawn Stites [HCPS]
Palm River Elementary principal Dawn Stites [HCPS]
Pizzo Elementary School during Hurricane Irma [TIMES]
Pizzo Elementary School during Hurricane Irma [TIMES]
It was an abrupt turn of events on Wednesday when the state Board of Education ordered Hillsborough Superintendent Jeff Eakins to get new principals into four struggling elementary schools.

How quickly that will happen remains to be seen. Here is what we know, based on school websites and press clips, about the four:

  1. Felicia Davis,  49, is the principal of Mango Elementary on the outskirts of Brandon. She joined the school district in 1998, beginning her career as a classroom teacher at Bing Elementary. In 2005 she was appointed as the assistant principal at Mango, then principal in 2009.  She has a master’s degree in Educational Leadership, completed a specialist degree in Turnaround Schools Leadership is 2017 and is currently working on her doctorate degree.
2. Kayla Forcucci, Dover Elementary School, is 40 years old and rejoined the district in 2010 after a stint as co-founder and teacher at the Shiloh Charter School in Plant City. She earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and, eventually, a master’s degree from the University of South Florida. Forcucci began her teaching career in 2000 at Dover.
3.  Dawn Stites, Palm River Elementary, is 49 and joined the district in 1993.
Originally from Charlotte, NC, she earned bachelors and masters degrees at the University of South Florida.
4. Pamela Wilkins, Pizzo Elementary, joined the district in 1992. She worked as an exceptional student education specialist at Pizzo in 2001. She moved on to other schools before returning to Pizzo.