Alumna of the Year
Pasco-Hernando State College recognized Heather Fiorentino, former Pasco County superintendent of schools, with the 2019 Distinguished Alumna Award during the Student Life and Leadership Program.
Heather Rose-Fiorentino (’78) was among the first students who attended the West Campus in New Port Richey, in 1976, the year the campus was established.
She co-founded the Pasco Deaf Education Center and taught sign language at the college starting in 1984, the same year she received a degree in elementary education from the University of South Florida.
Fiorentino taught at Mittye P. Locke Elementary School and was awarded Pasco County’s Teacher of the Year in 1994.
She has served on the New Port Richey City Council, served three terms in the Florida House of Representatives, and was elected Pasco’s first female superintendent of schools in 2004, a post she had through 2012.
In retirement, Fiorentino serves on volunteer boards and remains involved in civic organizations and events.
Carrollwood Day appointment
Carrollwood Day School’s Head of School Ryan Kelly announced the appointment of Sara Rubinstein as the school’s first assistant head of school for academics, beginning July 1. Rubinstein also will continue to serve as upper school head.
As assistant head of school for academics, she will oversee all aspects of curriculum, teaching and learning as set forth by the head of school and rooted in the school’s mission.
Rubinstein will be the school’s chief academic officer and will collaborate with other division heads to ensure Carrollwood Day is delivering academic excellence to all students.
Together with the division heads, department chairs and grade-level leads, IB coordinators and other administrators, she will have strategic oversight of the review, revision and delivery of mission-aligned curricular content; design and implementation of academic policies and practices; and evaluation of programs and activities.
Rubinstein also will be charged with oversight in collaboration with division heads of teaching practices, professional development opportunities and evaluation of faculty.
Students place in national competition
The high school students at Land O’ Lakes Christian School took part in the 42nd annual American Association of Christian Schools National Competition in Greenville, South Carolina.
Approximately 2,100 students and sponsors from 29 states participated in the competition, after capturing top honors in their state contests.
The students, representing 200 Christian high schools, competed in 76 categories in the five basic areas of Bible, music, speech, art and academics.
The winners from Land O’ Lakes Christian were:
- Brianna Campbell, 12th grade: first place, original persuasive oratory
- Allison Woodson, 10th grade: second place, creative writing essay
- Orchestra/Band: third place, director, Sarah Peterson
- Handbell Choir: third place, director, Mares Shelburne
Humanitarian efforts recognized
The Anne Frank Humanitarian Award was established in 2001 and honors outstanding humanitarian efforts by high school juniors in public and private schools throughout the bay area.
Students are recommended for the award for making a conscious decision to better the lives of other individuals or groups, both inside and outside of school activities.
These students were honored in May at the Florida Holocaust Museum:
- Anthony Adrian Jr., Sunlake High School
- Bayli Baker, Wesley Chapel High
- Elijah Ferreira, Land O’ Lakes High
- Karina Frey, J.W. Mitchell High
- Paige Gray, Wendell Krinn Technical
- Christina Johnson, River Ridge High
- Madison Kachurak, Fivay High
- Raghan Pickett, Pasco High
- Kaitlyn Steward, Hudson High
- Jorlyanys Suarez-Ayala, Zephyrhills High
- Lori Tang, Anclote High
- Tenee Taylor, Gulf High
- Joseph Vreeland, Cypress Creek Middle High
- Kara Weihman, Wiregrass Ranch
Science & engineering fair
Congratulations to the students who represented Pasco County Schools at the 2019 State Science & Engineering Fair.
- Frederic Boylen, Charles S. Rushe Middle School: honorable mention, biomedical & health sciences
- Kaori Martin, Charles S. Rushe Middle: honorable mention, biomedical & health sciences
- Chase Olivanti, Wiregrass Ranch: Society for InVitro Biology award, plant sciences
- Shurti Patel, J.W. Mitchell High: fourth place, plant sciences
- Manahil Wajid, Cypress Creek Middle High: Michael J. Hansinger cash award, microbiology
- Myka Wilks, Centennial Middle: Osceola Regional cash award, engineering
For more about the fair participants and winners, visit Smore.com/dem26t.
