Photos: It's back to school for Tampa Bay students, teachers
Parents and educators are hoping for a return to some sense of normalcy as thousands of children across the region are back in school this morning.
Published Aug. 10, 2022
Students walk to class during the first day of school at the Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation on Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2022, in Wesley Chapel. JEFFEREE WOO | Times
Students go to class during the first day of school at the Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation on Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2022, in Wesley Chapel. JEFFEREE WOO | Times
Pasco County superintendent Kurt Browning waves to parents and students as they (students) get dropped off during the first day of school at the Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation on Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2022, in Wesley Chapel. JEFFEREE WOO | Times
Students walk to class during the first day of school at the Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation on Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2022, in Wesley Chapel. JEFFEREE WOO | Times
Students walk to class during the first day of school at the Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation on Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2022, in Wesley Chapel. JEFFEREE WOO | Times
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Principal Dee Dee Johnson, left, and Anna Turner, pre-calculus teacher, play a game with students during the first day of school at the Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation on Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2022, in Wesley Chapel. JEFFEREE WOO | Times
Pasco County superintendent Kurt Browning waves to parents and students as they (students) get dropped off during the first day of school at the Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation on Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2022, in Wesley Chapel. JEFFEREE WOO | Times
Anna Turner, pre-calculus teacher, center, plays a game with students during the first day of school at the Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation on Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2022, in Wesley Chapel. JEFFEREE WOO | Times
Principal Dee Dee Johnson, left, and Pasco County superintendent Kurt Browning, tour the digital and multimedia room during the first day of school at the Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation on Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2022, in Wesley Chapel. JEFFEREE WOO | Times
Ezekiel Shorter, 5, a kindergartner, and his mom Rebecca Valentin hold hands as they walk through the parking lot towards before the start of school at Maximo Elementary, 4850 31st St. S, on Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2022 in St. Petersburg. “I think I’m more nervous than he is,” Valentin said. “I’ll probably cry once I get in the car and leave.” DIRK SHADD | Times
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Ava Williams, on left, a kindergartner, and her sister, Alayah Williams, pre-K, with their father Dqarious Williams, 24, gets a thumbs up from their dad’s former high school principal Kevin Hendrick, the new superintendent of Pinellas County Schools, as Hendrick greets students in the school entrance on the first day of school at Maximo Elementary, 4850 31st St. S, on Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2022 in St. Petersburg. “He was my principal and mentor at Northeast High,” Williams said. “He was a great mentor. He kept me on track.” Williams and his partner Asiah Lee, 24, (present but not pictured), both Northeast graduates, were bringing their two daughters to school when they saw their former principal. DIRK SHADD | Times
Balloons and signs welcome back students as they enter the building on the first day of school at Maximo Elementary, 4850 31st St. S, on Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2022 in St. Petersburg. DIRK SHADD | Times
Signs welcome back students in the parking lot as cars pull up to the building on the first day of school at Maximo Elementary, 4850 31st St. S, on Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2022 in St. Petersburg. DIRK SHADD | Times
Kevin Hendrick, the new superintendent of Pinellas County Schools, plays the drums as part of a 12 piece drum circle to welcome back students as Hendrick greets students in the school entrance on the first day of school at Maximo Elementary, 4850 31st St. S, on Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2022 in St. Petersburg. DIRK SHADD | Times
Marquel Henry, 30, smiles as he takes a first day of school picture of his two daughters second grader Aubrey, 7, left, and first grader Leilani, 6, center, in the parking lot before the start of school at Maximo Elementary, 4850 31st St. S, on Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2022 in St. Petersburg. “I wanted to do a tiktok of them but they said daddy you’re embarrassing us,” Henry said. DIRK SHADD | Times
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Second graders Damarion Keno, on left, talks with his friend Greyson Saunders, before heading into the school on campus on the first day of school at Maximo Elementary, 4850 31st St. S, on Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2022 in St. Petersburg. DIRK SHADD | Times
Students walk up to Roosevelt Elementary School on the first day of school on Wednesday, Aug.10, 2022 in Tampa. ANGELICA EDWARDS | Times
Evelyn Ortega, 50, of Tampa, takes a photo of her daughter, Camilla Ortega, 5, outside Roosevelt Elementary School on the first day of school on Wednesday, Aug.10, 2022 in Tampa. ANGELICA EDWARDS | Times
Students walk up to Roosevelt Elementary School on the first day of school on Wednesday, Aug.10, 2022 in Tampa. ANGELICA EDWARDS | Times
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/FWXB7UAXABDYTPQA7FUWO53K6A.jpg "Students walk to class during the first day of school at the Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation on Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2022, in Wesley Chapel.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/3VNDGRNLTVA5DGBELRKGQ2VC7M.jpg "Students go to class during the first day of school at the Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation on Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2022, in Wesley Chapel.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/XE3RXVYBIZHIVMOGDTPQF7YNN4.jpg "Pasco County superintendent Kurt Browning waves to parents and students as they (students) get dropped off during the first day of school at the Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation on Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2022, in Wesley Chapel.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/BEXGFKRHANEDDCYKQVTYB64D2I.jpg "Students walk to class during the first day of school at the Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation on Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2022, in Wesley Chapel.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/MNKU66SIARG3PKBOR7JNNCZAUM.jpg "Students walk to class during the first day of school at the Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation on Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2022, in Wesley Chapel.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/GADSVGEKAFGQFFYTWCOMUGILMQ.jpg "Principal Dee Dee Johnson, left, and Anna Turner, pre-calculus teacher, play a game with students during the first day of school at the Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation on Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2022, in Wesley Chapel.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/ZMTV46DC35FCJJXDQCFX3YW5TQ.jpg "Pasco County superintendent Kurt Browning waves to parents and students as they (students) get dropped off during the first day of school at the Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation on Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2022, in Wesley Chapel.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/WZ37NTCN4JCIZGSAXUBNMZIDRQ.jpg "Anna Turner, pre-calculus teacher, center, plays a game with students during the first day of school at the Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation on Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2022, in Wesley Chapel.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/H4HCLNT5JJGN5MSMG7OE36EVQI.jpg "Principal Dee Dee Johnson, left, and Pasco County superintendent Kurt Browning, tour the digital and multimedia room during the first day of school at the Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation on Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2022, in Wesley Chapel.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/7QQP5BRGARCAZJZCCIFTFM63CA.jpg "Ezekiel Shorter, 5, a kindergartner, and his mom Rebecca Valentin hold hands as they walk through the parking lot towards before the start of school at Maximo Elementary, 4850 31st St. S, on Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2022 in St. Petersburg. “I think I’m more nervous than he is,” Valentin said. “I’ll probably cry once I get in the car and leave.”")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/EDFGZ52NSRCYZILOZ32E2UKZZU.jpg "Ava Williams, on left, a kindergartner, and her sister, Alayah Williams, pre-K, with their father Dqarious Williams, 24, gets a thumbs up from their dad’s former high school principal Kevin Hendrick, the new superintendent of Pinellas County Schools, as Hendrick greets students in the school entrance on the first day of school at Maximo Elementary, 4850 31st St. S, on Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2022 in St. Petersburg. “He was my principal and mentor at Northeast High,” Williams said. “He was a great mentor. He kept me on track.” Williams and his partner Asiah Lee, 24, (present but not pictured), both Northeast graduates, were bringing their two daughters to school when they saw their former principal.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/X7S4B7E7PVCJRA32G4GETYHA4A.jpg "Balloons and signs welcome back students as they enter the building on the first day of school at Maximo Elementary, 4850 31st St. S, on Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2022 in St. Petersburg.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/VGIGLE2E4RB6XNIJM7F5IZ4DL4.jpg "Signs welcome back students in the parking lot as cars pull up to the building on the first day of school at Maximo Elementary, 4850 31st St. S, on Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2022 in St. Petersburg.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/5P76H5FZRFBIRJCEQTBCOHMLDY.jpg "Kevin Hendrick, the new superintendent of Pinellas County Schools, plays the drums as part of a 12 piece drum circle to welcome back students as Hendrick greets students in the school entrance on the first day of school at Maximo Elementary, 4850 31st St. S, on Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2022 in St. Petersburg.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/TVXUGBYQU5F4ZFMFSKDYCA6IRY.jpg "Marquel Henry, 30, smiles as he takes a first day of school picture of his two daughters second grader Aubrey, 7, left, and first grader Leilani, 6, center, in the parking lot before the start of school at Maximo Elementary, 4850 31st St. S, on Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2022 in St. Petersburg. “I wanted to do a tiktok of them but they said daddy you’re embarrassing us,” Henry said.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/AEM43OZ5I5DG7KEVCRA7FX5IRI.jpg "Second graders Damarion Keno, on left, talks with his friend Greyson Saunders, before heading into the school on campus on the first day of school at Maximo Elementary, 4850 31st St. S, on Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2022 in St. Petersburg.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/IVLUNOSUVRH4RDS4QKBUDY7H2Y.jpg "Students walk up to Roosevelt Elementary School on the first day of school on Wednesday, Aug.10, 2022 in Tampa.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/JR32QZCYJBBUFCXSHEAA4N2AKU.jpg "Evelyn Ortega, 50, of Tampa, takes a photo of her daughter, Camilla Ortega, 5, outside Roosevelt Elementary School on the first day of school on Wednesday, Aug.10, 2022 in Tampa.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/FHE2MUKC6NF2LOOV4MXMB2AWNE.jpg "Students walk up to Roosevelt Elementary School on the first day of school on Wednesday, Aug.10, 2022 in Tampa.")
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