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Marlene Sokol
Marlene Sokol

Marlene Sokol is a former education reporter.

  1. School is back, Tampa Bay. So is the nightmare of the car line.
    • The Education Gradebook
    School Resource Officer Anthony Santiago monitors traffic as cars line up for car rider pickup during student dismissal outside of Bryant Elementary School May 22 in Tampa.
  2. 2024 primary election results for local races in Hillsborough
    • Elections
    Hillsboorugh County Public Schools Board Vice Chairperson Jessica Vaughn takes a selfie with Henry “Shake” Washington, of District 5, and Nadia Combs, of District 1, during the Governor’s Luncheon on opening day of the Florida State Fair at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa in February.
  3. Appeals court rules for Hillsborough schools in taxing case
    • The Education Gradebook
    Hillsborough County Schools Superintendent Van Aryes, along with Wharton High School Principal Taryn Anello, walk into a classroom on the first day of classes on Aug. 12.
  5. A Pinellas campaign ad may have violated state law — and it might not matter
    • The Education Gradebook
    Eileen Long, a Pinellas County School Board member, faces a challenge by Erika Picard to represent District 4 in the northern part of the county.
  6. New center in Hillsborough will address needs of immigrant students
    • The Education Gradebook
    Crestwood Elementary School in Town 'N Country is one of several in the area where nearly half the students are English language learners.
  7. Pinellas school board race draws complaint over ad featuring DeSantis
    • The Education Gradebook
    Eileen Long, a Pinellas County School Board member, faces a challenge by Erika Picard to represent District 4 in the northern part of the county.
  8. Hillsborough commission puts schools referendum on the ballot after all
    • The Education Gradebook
    Hillsborough County Commissioner Pat Kemp at an April board meeting. Kemp expressed frustrations Tuesday with the county's fight to postpone the schools referendum.
  9. Hillsborough judge rules referendum will go forward in school tax fight
    • Breaking News
    Hillsborough County Public Schools Superintendent Van Ayres speaks to the media after an emergency school board meeting on July 23, 2024 in Tampa, Fl. During the meeting, the Board voted to authorize the district to sue the county commission, which had blocked a tax referendum from appearing in the November ballot.
  10. Students return for the first day of school in Tampa Bay
    • Back To School
    Antonia Topalidis, 5, poses for a picture on Monday during the first day of school at Kirkland Ranch K-8 in Wesley Chapel.
  11. New cell phone rules top changes at Tampa Bay schools this fall
    • The Education Gradebook
    Wesley Chapel High School cheerleader Elisabeliz Lucas, 16, center, greets new teachers while attending a new teacher orientation on July 29 at the school in Wesley Chapel.
  12. Hillsborough Commission, told to put schools tax on ballot, appeals instead
    • The Education Gradebook
    Hillsborough County Public Schools Superintendent Van Ayres speaks to the media after an emergency school board meeting on July 23. The board voted to authorize the district to sue the County Commission, which recently blocked a tax referendum from appearing in the November ballot. A judge later sided with the school district.
  13. Hillsborough commission must put school tax referendum on ballot, judge rules
    • The Education Gradebook
    Hillsborough County School Board chairperson Karen Perez, right, and school board member Nadia Combs listen to public comment during an emergency school board meeting on July 23 in Tampa. During the meeting, the board voted to authorize the district to sue the County Commission, which had blocked a tax referendum from appearing on the November ballot.
  14. Hillsborough school board approves $4.3B budget
    • The Education Gradebook
    Middleton High School student Malachi Brown speaks Thursday during a gathering at the Hillsborough Classroom Teachers Association headquarters to promote a proposed property tax to support higher pay for school employees.
  15. Tampa’s Broward Elementary gets new principal
    • The Education Gradebook
    Broward Elementary School sits at 400 W. Osborne Ave. in Tampa.
  16. In fight over Hillsborough schools referendum, judge fast tracks case
    • The Education Gradebook
    A member of the public wears a T-shirt advocating for the Hillsborough school district during an emergency school board meeting on July 23. During the meeting, the board voted to authorize the district to sue the County Commission, which recently blocked a tax referendum from appearing in the November ballot.
  17. Hillsborough school officials find more flaws in county’s delay of tax vote
    • The Education Gradebook
    A member of the public wears a T-shirt advocating for the Hillsborough School District during an emergency meeting on July 23 in Tampa. During the meeting, the Board voted whether to authorize the district to sue the county commission, which recently blocked a tax referendum from appearing on the November ballot.
  18. Hillsborough lawyers: Yes, we can delay the school tax vote
    • The Education Gradebook
    Candidates for Hillsborough County School Board District 7 -- from left, Jen Flebotte, Johnny Bush and Karen Bendorf -- speak at a forum in Odessa on Thursday.
  19. Hillsborough, Pinellas scores rise in new Florida school grades
    • The Education Gradebook
    Children watch a motivational video at Sheehy Elementary School on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024, in Tampa. Sheehy was one of several schools that used Saturday classes to boost student achievement. The school improved from an F to a D when state grades were released on Wednesday.
  20. Hillsborough schools vs. county commission: Here’s what’s in the lawsuit
    • The Education Gradebook
    Attorney Jim Porter speaks during public comment at an emergency Hillsborough School Board meeting on Tuesday in Tampa. During the meeting, the board voted to authorize the district to sue the county commission, which recently blocked a tax referendum from appearing on the November ballot. At the podium is Kate Bentley, a Plant High School graduate who supports the referendum.
  21. Hillsborough schools to restrict student cellphone use
    • The Education Gradebook
    A sign is displayed inside a classroom that bans the use of electronic devices at Webb Middle School in November in Tampa.
  22. Three Hillsborough County schools get new principals
    • The Education Gradebook
    A student works at a laptop during class at James Elementary School in Tampa in 2021. James is one of three schools that were assigned new principals on Tuesday.
  23. Hillsborough schools OK lawsuit against county over teacher pay tax
    • The Education Gradebook
    Hillsborough School Board member Henry "Shake" Washington speaks during an emergency school board meeting on Tuesday in Tampa. During the meeting, the board voted to authorize the district to sue the county commission, which recently blocked a tax referendum from appearing in the November ballot.
  24. ‘Everyone is shocked’: How Hillsborough officials nixed a teacher pay tax
    • The Education Gradebook
    Members of the Hillsborough County School Board, leaders of the teachers union and the Hillsborough Education Foundation gathered Wednesday at school district headquarters. They were there to discuss a County Commission vote delaying a tax measure to raise pay for school employees.