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Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

People Profiles

Basketball coach’s influence honored at Land O’ Lakes High

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For over three decades, he ran basketball players up and down the court — getting them ready for big moments, in big games, in big seasons.

On the evening of June 21, retired Land O’ Lakes High School basketball coach Dave Puhalski had a big moment of his own: That’s when the Pasco County School Board approved a request to name the Land O’ Lakes High School gym after him.

The effort to honor the coach in this way was brought forward by Ric Mellin, the school’s principal, and Heather Wall, the school’s assistant principal. Former assistant coaches, players and others were there, too, to signal their support.

From left: Land O’ Lakes High Principal Ric Mellin; Coach Dave Puhalski; the coach’s wife, Erika; the coach’s children, DD and Kenzie; and Land O’ Lakes High Assistant Principal Heather Wall. (Courtesy of Ric Mellin/Land O’ Lakes High School)

The coach retired in May of 2021.

Mellin addressed the board: “I’m here tonight to speak with you about the dedication of the gym at Land O’ Lakes High School, in honor of Coach Dave Puhalski.

Cheers and applause erupted from the crowd.

“He’s here with his wife Erika, daughter Kenzie and son DD, and I just wanted to mention, both of them are alumni of Land O’ Lakes High School.

“And, as you can tell from the applause, many of his other supporters are also here with us tonight.

“My letter included in the board’s agenda states the reasons why we believe this honor is warranted.

“For just over 30 years, Coach Puhalski served as the head coach of the boys’ basketball team, winning nearly 500 games, earning six conference and six district championships, and taking 15 teams to the playoffs. Very few, if any, coaches ever reached that level of success.

“But more important than the accomplishments on the court were the strong relationships built along the way, as a well-respected mentor and educator at the school during that same time.

“Coach Puhalski taught thousands of students and had a remarkable influence on everyone. In a Tampa Bay Times article about Coach Puhalski, published in February 2020, it stated his hope was for the program to continue standing solidly on the foundation that he built.

“A foundation full of heart and soul.

“In recognition of Coach Puhalski’s successes and devout allegiance to the school’s athletes and programs and the community in which he served for over three decades, we are requesting that the school’s gym be named the Dave Puhalski Gymnasium at Land O’ Lakes High School.

“It certainly has the solid foundation because of his body of work. His name displayed will serve as a stronger reminder of the person that relentlessly gave his heart and soul.”

Assistant Principal Wall also expressed her support:  “As a member of the Land O’ Lakes community for more than 20 years, and now in my role as assistant principal at Land O’ Lakes High School, I’ve had the privilege of knowing or working with Coach Puhalski for quite a few years.

This rendering shows the Land O’ Lakes High School gymnasium, which has been newly christened the Dave Pulhaski Gymnasium at Land O’ Lakes High.

“My husband, and many of his friends all played high school basketball for Coach Puhalski, when they attended Land O’ Lakes High School.

“I have heard endless recounts of big games, as well as stories and pranks that are only fit for locker room conversations,” Wall said, with the audience responding in laughter.

“What they remember the most are the life lessons that were gained from being a part of his program.

“I have seen pictures of Coach Puhalski speaking at former players’ weddings, and know that several years ago, he had the honor to speak at the funeral of one of his former players, Dave Starkey.

“Clearly, he has been asked to carry this role because of the difference he has made in the lives of all of his players.

“When I joined the staff at Land O’ Lakes High School in 2018, I was able to get to know Coach P on my own. I quickly saw the positive impact he made on so many of the students on our campus — both those who played for him and for some who were just in his P.E. classes. He became a mentor and a role model for my son, as well,” she said, noting he still asks about her son.

This coach left an impression
“When you talk to people who live in our community and they find out that you work at the high school, they’re always quick to ask about several of our past coaches,” she said.

People frequently mention that they played soccer, football, baseball or basketball for one of the school’s revered coaches, she added. She noted the school already has named its soccer, baseball and football fields after the outstanding former coaches.

“We would be remiss if we did not honor Coach Puhalski with naming the gym after his 32-year commitment to Land O’ Lakes High School,” Wall added.

“I know I speak for many community members and former players when I say he is so deserving of this honor,” Wall said.

On a motion by Colleen Beaudoin and a second by Megan Harding, the school board unanimously approved the request.

Its action was greeted by another round of cheers and applause.

Coach Puhalski addressed the board: “If I said what I really want to say, we’d be here a long time tonight. I would just like to thank the board for this opportunity and all of my friends, former players, assistant coaches — especially my wife (Erika), who was there for 32 years, and my children (DD and Kenzie).

“I’ll keep it that brief, because, like I said, we’d be here until the lights are off,” he said.

Published June 29, 2022

This pitcher made history, and helped his hometown

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During Game 1 of the 1965 World Series, nearly everyone in Lacoochee was gathered around a TV set, wildly cheering for James Timothy “Mudcat” Grant, a pitcher for the Minnesota Twins.

The team was playing 1,553 miles north of this tiny community in northeast Pasco County, but that didn’t dim the crowd’s enthusiasm a bit.

This photograph was taken of James ‘Mudcat’ Grant during the 1965 season, when he compiled a 21-7 record with a 3.30 ERA and six shutouts for the Minnesota Twins. (Courtesy of Johnnie Mae Lopey)

“All through the houses, you could hear people screaming and hollering,” Altamese Wrispus told Steve Kornacki , for a story published in The Tampa Tribune, in 2005.

“I had 30 people filling up my house and porch, watching a 24-inch color TV and trying to get a peek,” she added.

Even one of Florida’s top sports editors had taken note of her brother, who drove a brand-new Ford Thunderbird convertible three hours before the game to Metropolitan Stadium, outside Bloomington, Minnesota.

“He is at this minute the winningest pitcher in the American League,” Tom McEwen wrote, about Grant, a black pitcher from Lacoochee.

He got his nickname of Mudcat from a white teammate who had mistaken Mudcat’s home state and had proclaimed that the pitcher’s face was as ugly as a Mississippi catfish, often called mudcats.

Mudcat was standing on the pitching mound for the Minnesota Twins, as they battled the Los Angeles Dodgers, led by pitcher Don Drysdale.

Mudcat looked up into the stands and saw his mother, Viola Grant — the only family member among the 47,797 in attendance at the ballpark.

The Twins prevailed, winning 8-2, making Mudcat the first black pitcher in the American League to win a World Series game.

He was a stellar athlete
At Moore Academy in Dade City, Mudcat was 6-foot-1 and starred in football, basketball and baseball.

His nephews, Troy, and Darren Hambrick would go on to play on the Pasco Pirates football team in 1992, which remains the only Florida high school State Championship team from Pasco County.

Mudcat grew up with few memories of his father, James Grant Sr., who died from pneumonia when Mudcat was a child.

“I do remember what he stood for,” Mudcat recalled in 1989 in an interview with Bryanna Latoof of what was then known as The St. Petersburg Times: “Every time I got in trouble, there was a peach switch, the kind that didn’t break!”

Built in 2014, the Lewis Abraham Boys & Girls Club in Lacoochee was partially funded by celebrity golf tournaments hosted by James ‘Mudcat’ Grant. (Courtesy of Doug Sanders)

Mudcat also had childhood memories of watching weekend movies starring Gene Autry.

Autry would later become the owner of the Angels major league baseball team from 1961 to 1997.

In the St. Petersburg Times interview, Mudcat recalled: “Every time I go to Angel Stadium, Gene comes through, and we get a chance to speak. The first thing he says is: ‘How is everything in Lacoochee?’”

When he wasn’t playing ball, Mudcat led a song and dance group called Mudcat and the Kittens, appearing at nightclubs during the off-season, according to his obituary published by The New York Times, on June 12, 2021.

The act made an appearance on the Tonight Show, starring Johnny Carson.

“I made way more money in music than I did in baseball,” Mudcat once told The New York Times.

Mudcat also sang at the 2011 memorial service for Harmon Killebrew, a teammate and Hall of Fame player for the Minnesota Twins.

He began singing when he was 8 years old in the gospel choir his mother led at Mount Moriah Baptist Church in Lacoochee.

His elementary school teacher, Vera Lucas Goodwin, gave him albums of diverse styles of music, ranging from the composer Johann Strass, to bluesman Johnny Lee Hooker, and country-western star Eddie Arnold.

Mudcat hosted his own variety show and appeared as part of ‘Mudcat and the Kittens’ on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.

Pasco County pledged $300,000 and private donors chipped in more than $350,000 to build a boys’ and girls’ club in Lacoochee, still struggling for economic recovery after the closing in 1959 of the Cummer & Sons Cypress Company.

In 2001, Grant’s celebrity golf tournament raised some $31,000, including the proceeds from the silent auction with sports memorabilia autographed by Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali.

Despite his obvious ability, there were many times when he was required to drink from a separate water fountain in the dugout or to ride in taxi cabs, apart from his teammates.

In New Orleans, after an exhibition game, it took Red Sox great Ted Williams to help Grant and his teammates retrieve their luggage from a segregated hotel.

When reflecting on the racial inequalities of the 1960s, Mudcat told The Tampa Tribune in 2007: “But my mother always told me, it’s not you who has the problem; it’s the other person who has the problem.”

In 1960, his biggest fan happened to be John F. Kennedy, who was seeking to become the nation’s next president.

The junior senator from Massachusetts was staying at the same hotel as Mudcat, who was on a road trip to play against the Detroit Tigers.

“Man, I could hardly say anything,” Mudcat recalled for The Tampa Tribune in 2005 about having breakfast with the future president. “But we chatted for about a half-hour and he told me what a big fan he was of me. He said he liked my nickname and what I was about. It was unbelievable.”

When describing “a very good friend of mine,” Mudcat said that when Kennedy became president, he made sure that Mudcat’s hometown of Lacoochee had new schoolbooks, and housing with running water and electricity.

Mudcat published a book, “The Black Aces: Baseball’s only African-American Twenty-Game Winners,” featuring outstanding pitchers who faced similar experiences of racism that he encountered, in baseball and society.

Mudcat wanted his book and his frequent speeches to “stir people to action” by calling for racial equality in sports. Especially for “the people who run major league baseball, who own teams, (and) who run youth sports leagues.”

During the peak of his career, in 1965, he was named by Sporting News as the American League Pitcher of the Year, according to the New York Times’ obituary.

It also reported that Mudcat was honored by President George W. Bush, along with several other Black Aces, during a White House ceremony, in February of 2007.

The Black Aces
Don Newcombe (1956) 27-7
Sad Sam “Toothpick” Jones (1959) 21-15
Bob Gibson (1965) 20-12
Jim “Mudcat” Grant (21-7)
Earl Wilson (1967) 22-11
Ferguson Jenkins (1967) 20-13
Al Downing (1971) 20-9
Vida Blue (1971) 24-8
R. Richard (1976) 20-15
Mike Norris (1985) 22-9
Dwight Gooden (1985) 24-4
Dave Stewart (1987) 20-13
Dontrelle Willis (2005) 22-10

Source: “The Black Aces: Baseball’s only African-American Twenty-Game Winners,” by James “Mudcat” Grant

Published June 22, 2022

In a class of his own

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His grade point average is anything but average.

Then again, there’s nothing average about Gaither High valediction Dylan Mazard and his off-the-charts intelligence.

“When he was just 2 years old, I would come home from work, exhausted. He would read to me — just climb into bed and read to me before bedtime, said his father, Thomas Mazard, who has been a guidance counselor at Gaither High School for 13 years.

He’s amazed at his son’s accomplishments.

Gaither High valedictorian Dylan Mazard set a county and state record for the highest grade point average (GPA) ever, posting an 11.84 weighted GPA thanks to honors and Advanced Placement courses. He will continue his education at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), already having earned his associate’s degree through dual enrollment. (Mike Camunas)

“I still don’t know how he was able to do it — just finding the drive and time to do all (the classes). We weren’t looking to break any records,” he said.

But that is exactly what Dylan did.

When the 17 year old graduated with nearly 500 of his classmates on May 23 — he did so with an 11.84 grade point average — the highest ever, not only in the county, but in Florida, too.

It’s a remarkable feat — one that started back when Dylan was in eighth grade and was already taking college-level courses.

“It wasn’t planned, the record,” Dylan said. “These classes, to me, are fun. So, why not take them and experience any class to see if I want to take that a higher level later?”

That higher level for Dylan is now the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT),  beginning in the fall. As he enters, he already will have an associate’s degree that he received from Hillsborough Community College on May 6.

However, Dylan plans to take every course he can en route to earning his major in what MIT calls 6-3: Computer Science and Engineering

“I want to enjoy it,” Dylan said. “I know it’ll be a lot harder, too, but the first semester at MIT is pass/fail only, that way students can get used to the rigors of MIT, know what is expected of them and how to balance school life.

“I love the campus and I’m ready to get up there.”

The fact that Thomas Mazard doesn’t know how his son pulled off his GPA feat is not hyperbole.

“I’m inspired by my son,” Thomas said, “Everything I’ve done for him, I’ve done for all of my students. I have top kids going to Yale and produce Ivy Leaguers almost every school year. Everything that he did at school, every kid here at Gaither has the opportunity to do that, it’s just the will and desire to go do that.

“We’re grateful for the school district to provide these opportunities and get such an impressive GPA. (Hillsborough County School Board) Superintendent (Addison) Davis has done a great job of making parents aware of these available opportunities.”

Dylan loves being in class, he also enjoys a social life that includes friends, movies and working out. He’s also belongs to so many clubs that it would make any college admissions advisor drool.

Dylan is president of National Technical Honor Society and also in the Robotics and Engineering Club at Gaither, Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), National Honor Society Beta, Sandy Hook Promise Club, and a Parent Teacher Student Association Board Member as the voice for his class and students when they want to express an opinion at meetings. He also works at the Humane Society, as well as tutor at Gaither, where he logged more than 200 hours with Credit Recovery, which helps high-risk seniors graduate.

Dylan’s teachers have taken notice, not only because of his high GPA, but also to his dedication to education.

“It is amazing because (toward the end of their high school time), many students give up a little — he never gave up,” ” said Gaither engineering teacher Ibrahim Ayoub, who taught Dylan in Applied Engineering and Technology and Advanced Engineering Application.

“He is going to have an amazing career and be one of the kids that we’ll be looking forward to seeing in the future,” Ayoub added.

Dylan knows this wouldn’t have been possible without his supportive family.

“I wouldn’t say (learning something new) just clicked, but it definitely came to me a lot easier than you would expect at that age,” he said.

“I had a huge support system, especially my parents who were always proactive, not reactive — staying one step ahead at all times, so if I ever stumbled, they would check to see if I needed anything,” he added. “I just wanted to work hard and take advantage of everything high school had to offer.”

GPA explained
Gaither High valedictorian Dylan Mazard has now posted the highest grade point average (GPA) ever, not only in Hillsborough County, but in the state of Florida. This is his weighted GPA, which means more rigorous courses receive higher point values, increasing a student’s potential GPA. There have been some high GPAs in Hillsborough County.

Here are a few:
2022 – Dylan Mazard – Gaither – 11.84
2019 – Katherine Metheny – Newsome – 10.58
2014 – Dhara Patel – Plant City – 10.03
2012 – Ravi Medikonda – King – 9.30

Published June 01, 2022

Ms. Staney retires for a second time, this time at 75

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As staff members arrive at Sand Pine Elementary each day, they know one thing for certain: Corey Staney already will be there.

The 75-year-old second-grade teacher is first to arrive in the morning and the last to leave at the end of the day.

“Her work ethic — it’s legendary,” said Shay Peck, a fellow second-grade teacher.

Ms. Staney is also known for her warmth.

Sand Pine Elementary second-grade teacher Corey Staney, 75, speaks to her classroom about proper grammar and elements of an article during a lesson. Stanley has been an educator for 53 years, has been at Sand Pine since 2007, and plans to retire at the end of the 2021-2022 school year. (Mike Camunas)

“When I first started here (at Sand Pine), I was 25 and she was so welcoming,” Peck said. “She taught me to be kind, always.”

Staney’s presence is comforting, too.

“Every school needs a grandma,” Peck said, jokingly, but also lovingly.

Ms. Staney has been a teacher for 53 years, spending the last 15 at the elementary school tucked inside the Meadow Pointe Community.

Her career as an educator may be coming to an end, but she expects to return again.

Well, in a way.

“Oh, she’s already figured out when she can come back — about a year after retiring — to volunteer,” Sand Pine Principal Christina Twardosz said.

Ms. Staney is invested.

The principal said Ms. Staney is the first to say: “‘They (the kids) need us. I need to be here.

“And she is always here. She’s never sick — basically perfect attendance, but she’s also always there for the kids, academically and emotionally,” Twardosz said.

The principal added: “I mean, she’s been teaching longer than I have been here — not (just) at the school — (but) alive in this world!”

The teacher’s colleague, Nathan Moore, said: “People her age, they’d be out on an island or living it up, but she loves what she does.

“You don’t replace Ms. Staney.

“What’s awesome about her is that she cares about her students like no one I’ve ever seen,” Moore said. “She always has her kids on her mind. That’s her passion to not only help them academically, but as a person — to see them grow to their fullest potential.

“To have her as a mentor, it’s been amazing,” he added.

Ms. Staney began teaching, alongside her husband, Joe — a former teacher and assistant principal — in Worcester, Massachusetts.

They met at Worcester State University, formerly Worcester State College, at a time when Ms. Staney was certain she’d be a teacher for life.

But then she had some second thoughts.

“When I was a sophomore, I said to my dad that I didn’t know if I wanted to be a teacher.

“I even left school.

Longtime elementary school educator Corey Staney, left, speaks with Sand Pine Elementary Principal Christina Twardosz. Staney is 75 years old and has been an educator for 53 years. She plans to retire at the end of this school year.

“I went to work for an insurance company and knew right away that wasn’t for me.

“I knew I wanted to be a teacher for sure, so I went back to school, right away, and have been at school ever since.”

After spending 36 years as a teacher in Massachusetts, Ms. Staney and her husband decided in 2005 that they wanted to retire early and move to Florida. The couple had two children and three grandchildren.

The retirement, however, was short-lived.

After being in Florida for just two weeks down here, her husband required quadruple bypass surgery and then an angioplasty soon after.

Ms. Staney had help from her daughter, Lisa, to care for her husband, but she needed to find work and needed medical coverage for her husband.

She tutored in the neighborhood and did the same thing at the nearby Kids ‘R’ Kids Learning Academy of Meadow Pointe.

That turned into a preschool teaching position and then she joined Sand Pine as a second-grade teacher.

Over the years, she’s touched thousands of lives, and has even kept in touch with some of them.

Students in her class speak highly of Ms. Staney.

“She’s a perfect teacher,” 8-year-old Kaylanis Rodriguez said. “She’s nice and she always makes us learn new things that we always love to learn about.”

“She has a lot of stories,” added 8-year-old Evan Kalojiannis. “I didn’t know she had been a teacher for so long, but she has a lot of funny stories that help us learn.”

Saying goodbye is never easy, Ms. Staney said, adding it will be especially difficult this year.

Teaching children has been such a source of joy for her.

“They’ll just make your whole day,” said Ms. Staney, flashing a broad smile.

“It’s worth it to get up and see the kids first thing in the morning. I loved every minute of it.”

Published May 18, 2022

Southport Springs resident celebrates big birthday

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(Courtesy of Joe Grigelevich/The Southport Sun)
Gene Poupard when he joined the service.

Gene Poupard will be turning 100 years old on May 28 and soon will celebrate with his family in Michigan. Meanwhile, his friends in Southport Springs Golf & Country Club in Zephyrhills had a party to mark his milestone. His daughter, Marie, and her husband Paul Weston, also live in Southport Springs and, together with Poupard’s friends, threw him a party, according to Joe Grigelevich, editor of The Southport Sun, a community newsletter. ‘And, what a great celebration it was,’ the editor noted.

Her behind-the-scenes work saved millions for Pasco Schools

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Observers of Pasco County School Board meetings know her as the woman who breaks down the complex language of school finance into easy-to-understand English.

Her budget updates explained how much money the school district had available to spend in various categories — because when it comes to spending state and federal funding, there are often strings attached.

She also kept the board informed on how the district’s investments were faring, and how much interest the school system would have to pay on financing school construction projects, or buses, or other big-ticket items.

When it came to finances in Pasco County Schools, Olga Swinson has been the voice of authority, as the district’s chief finance officer since 2006.

Olga Swinson is stepping away from a 32-year career in Pasco County Schools. The chief finance officer is credited with steering the district through some financially turbulent times and for helping to save millions, which could be used to directly benefit teachers and students. (Courtesy of Pasco County Schools)

Her work in the school finance arena dates back to 1990, when she joined the district as an internal auditor. Next, she worked as superintendent of finance, then as director of finance, before assuming the role she will retire from on April 29.

Swinson served under superintendents Thomas Weightman, John Long, Heather Fiorentino, and finally, Kurt Browning.

Browning joined the district’s leadership staff and Pasco County School Board members during the board’s April 19 meeting in honoring Swinson’s service, expressing their gratitude for her financial leadership and congratulating her on her retirement.

Browning kicked things off, with a good-natured tone, by sharing an encounter he’d had with Swinson earlier in the day.

“She sent the board and leadership an email that was thanking us for giving her the opportunity to serve as chief finance officer, among other positions,” Browning explained.

When he saw Swinson, he told her: “I was just a little surprised at the tone of that email because it certainly didn’t sound like Olga. It was tender. It was caring,” he said, eliciting laugher from the room. “It was empathetic, sincerely grateful, for the experience she’s had in the Pasco district.

“As she’s looking at me, she’s wagging a finger. She says: ‘Don’t say a word tonight.’

“I looked at her and said, ‘I won’t say a word tonight.’

“And, as she walked off, I said, ‘I will say multiple words tonight.’”

Then Browning began describing Swinson’s many attributes.

“I count Olga Swinson, as being, in large part, the glue (in the district),” Browning said, noting the district’s success depends largely on its financial integrity and stability.

“There has never been a moment, not a single moment, in the 10 years that I’ve been superintendent, that I have ever had any doubts, any concerns, any questions, about our financial standing in this district.

“I will tell you, that speaks volumes,” Browning said.

Over the years, because of her tough budgeting skills and her ability to say, ‘No,’ Swinson developed the nickname ‘Nolga,” Browning said.

Deputy Ray Gadd continued on that theme.

“We give her a lot of grief, calling her NOlga, for ‘No,’ all of the time,” Gadd said.

But the truth is that because of her financial management skills, the district has been able to do far more than it would have without her, he said.

“She doesn’t get a lot of credit for how it (her work) benefits children — but her managing of finances in this district has greatly benefited the lives of children.

“It’s made us effective at what we do. And, when you compare our financial statements to some surrounding counties and other places throughout the state, we’re hard to beat,” Gadd said.

Her acumen is known in school finance circles
School board member Allen Altman said Swinson is known for the accuracy of her numbers, and that she has helped steer the district through financially turbulent times.

“Olga and I, I feel like, have some of the same battle scars,” said Altman, who has served on the board for 15 ½ years.

“We went through the Recession and laid off several hundred employees. And, we’ve been through the battles with the State,” Altman said.

When board members have to make difficult decisions, it’s important to know there’s “integrity behind the numbers,” Altman said.

Swinson’s “financial stewardship has saved this district millions of dollars of money that has been spent on children and employees, that wouldn’t have been, otherwise,” Altman said.

“I give her credit for that and thank her, for that,” he said.

Board Chairwoman Cynthia Armstrong agreed with Altman regarding the importance of having numbers the board could rely on.

“Our job is so much easier because we could trust, exactly, the numbers that you gave us —  so we know we were making the best decisions possible,” Armstrong told Swinson.

Board member Alison Crumbley said Swinson’s financial leadership has been unwavering.

“Mrs. Armstrong and I started (on the board) during the Recession. The first task was to make $55 million of cuts. Olga led the way. It was excruciating.

“We got through it, and all of the while, maintained a AAA Moody Bond Rating, somehow, through all of this, which has saved our district millions of dollars,” Crumbley said.

She also pointed out that when she was attending state school board training sessions people have frequently told her: “Oh, you have Olga Swinson. We’ve heard about her. You’re so lucky.”

Betsy Kuhn, assistant superintendent for support services, agreed that Swinson’s reputation for excellence is known throughout the state.

Kuhn said she’s had the opportunity to be part of the Florida Institute of School Finance, where she’s seen Swinson in action.

“It confirmed to me what I already know — Olga is a rock star in the world of school finance,’” Kuhn said.

Besides hearing words of praise, Swinson received a huge bouquet of roses and a standing ovation.

Her response was simple.

“I will miss all of you, and it’s been a rewarding career,” Swinson said.

Olga Swinson
Olga Swinson ends her 32-year career with Pasco County Schools on April 29.

Here’s a snapshot of her roles in the district:

  • Chief Finance Officer, 2006 to 2022
  • Director of Finance: 1997 to 2006
  • Superintendent of Finance: 1993 to 1997
  • Internal Auditor: 1990 to 1993

Swinson served under superintendents Thomas Weightman, John Long, Heather Fiorentino and Kurt Browning.

Published April 27, 2022

Lutz filmmaker offers glimpse into nature’s secrets

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Alexis Yahre’s appreciation for nature began when she was young.

But she had no idea that her time in Future Farmers of America and at Nature’s Classroom would contribute to her becoming a talented documentary filmmaker.

Lutz native and local filmmaker Alexis Yahre has been hitting the festival scene hard. She premiered her documentary, ‘Nature’s Secrets: Florida State Parks,’ at the Gasparilla Film Festival at Tampa Theatre in March, and will be showing it at the Sunscreen Film Festival from April 28 through May 1 at the Sundial AMC 12 Theatres in St. Petersburg. (Mike Camunas)

The 21-year-old Lutz native has channeled her love for nature into a film project that is being screened at film festivals.

And that’s all before the mass communications and broadcast production student graduates from the University of South Florida (USF).

She wants her film to encourage people to take a closer look at nature’s beauty.

“It’s right in the tagline (of my film), ‘In our own backyards, there are hundreds of worlds to explore,’” Yahre said.

“My goal with this film is to share some of the beautiful parts of the community I grew up in, so that others can appreciate and help protect them, too,” she said.

Her film, “Nature’s Secrets: Florida State Parks,” focuses on the nature preserved in Florida’s state parks.

As a one-person film crew, she visited a dozen of the more than 100 parks in this state.

Then, she interviewed numerous people from the park system who devote themselves to conserving and protecting the parks, and helping others to develop an appreciation for Florida’s natural environments.

The film is already garnering attention on the festival circuit, including being nominated for “Best Student Film” at the Cannes World Film Festival. Additionally, Cannes awarded Yahre with “Best Young Director.”

The documentary had its first theatrical screening at the 2022 Gasparilla International Film Festival in March. That even came with a red carpet appearance for the young filmmaker, at Tampa Theatre in downtown Tampa.

Next, on April 28, her film will be shown at the Sunscreen Film Festival at the Sundial AMC 12 Theatres in St. Petersburg. There will be showings there through May 1.

The young woman’s foray into filmmaking surprised her mother, Nicole Yahre.

“Honestly, I thought she would be a farmer,” Nicole said.

But she quickly recognized her daughter’s talent because even when she was young, she was landing editing jobs.

Her father, Adam, had a hand in helping her develop those editing skills.

“My dad is a software guy, so he got a computer and just put every professional program available on there,” said Alexis, a graduate of Steinbrenner High. “It really started with Adobe Premiere when I was 10 or 11 and took off from there.”

Learning software at such a young age led to editing opportunities for Alexis.

One of her jobs was creating content for the meat processing equipment company, Tipper Tie.

The work included producing videos for the Fresh-N-Ready salad bowl, the Herb Shooter and other products.

The job also inspired the name for Pepperoni Studios, the production company she founded, which produces her freelance work and personal projects.

Her technical skills and her eye for nature have impressed her professors at USF.

In fact, Kristofer Atkinson already has agreed to produce her next film. It will focus on college students taking a “gap year.”

“Most of my students are prolific filmmakers,” said Atkinson, Alexis’ mentor, who helped her navigate producing the film and getting into festivals.

“I do everything in my power to help them,” Atkinson said. “Maybe 15 become filmmakers, but two or three of them are excellent filmmakers, and she will be one of those.

“She has real directorial prowess, a real eye behind the camera and does a great job interviewing. I was duly impressed just how laser-focused her vision was from beginning to end.

“So, I’m hoping one day she will be thanking me at the Oscars,” he said, with a laugh.

Alexis graduates from USF in May and already works as an educator in Hillsborough County.

She feels her true place, however, is behind a camera — and then in the editing room.

At the same time, she’s at one with nature and she hopes her film will inspire others to explore the great outdoors.

“I just want people to know they live super close to all these parks,” she said.

“I just think it’s a huge untapped resource,” she said, adding, many don’t realize the treasures that are right in their own backyard.

She also is thrilled with the favorable reception enjoyed by “Nature’s Secrets: Florida State Parks.”

“Considering that I made this (film) without a budget or experience, I didn’t expect to see this kind of success,” she said. “I’m overjoyed that I can be a part of the festival and share a topic that I’m passionate about with the world.”

Her parents are delighted by her success.

“(Her father and I) are so proud of her and love that she’s being able to do what she loves doing,” her mom said.

Nature’s Secrets: Florida State Parks
Director: Alexis Yahre
Runtime: 10 minutes 30 seconds
Synopsis: Alexis Yahre invites viewers on a journey through the Florida State Park system to capture the sights of whimsical animals, and hear the stories of some the unsung heroes who labor to conserve their habitats. Along the way, she uncovers secrets about the parks and highlights some of Florida’s best lesser-known places.
Film includes: Hillsborough River State Park, in Hillsborough County; Werner-Boyce Salt Springs State Park, in Port Richey; and, Honeymoon Island State Park, in Dunedin.
To view a trailer of the film, log onto YouTube.com/watch?v=WZTRdnxDHL0.

Published April 27, 2022

New Kirkland Ranch principal described as ‘a blessing’

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It surprised Dee Dee Johnson.

The longtime Pasco County Schools teacher and administrator was named 2021 Principal of the Year in November and all of it came as a shock, especially when Superintendent Kurt Browning showed up with a bouquet of flowers.

Dee Dee Johnson was named Pasco County School District’s 2021 Principal of the Year and is now principal of Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation. The new high school is set to open in August. (Mike Camunas)

“Oh, it was very unexpected,” said Johnson, who has been with Pasco County Schools for 18 years. “It was pretty cool that my peers nominated and voted for me. There are so many great leaders in the area and so many great leaders that I’ve learned from and still reach out to. I felt great that everyone recognized that I worked hard and want to do what is best for the kids.

“I was very surprised to get the award.”

Those who know Johnson and her work, however, weren’t as surprised. As someone who worked her way up from math teacher to principal of the soon-to-be-opening Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation, it was a long time coming. Especially to one of those leaders who has witnessed Johnson’s career firsthand.

“We are just blessed beyond blessings to have her,” said Dr. Kim Moore, assistant superintendent for Career and Innovative Programs. “She is a phenomenal leader with a proven track record. Every school she has gone to has improved because she is that phenomenal leader.”

Johnson is a product of the school system where she works. She attended Quail Hollow Elementary, Weightman Middle and Zephyrhills High.

At Zephyrhills High, she was a soccer star — earning a scholarship to Florida Atlantic University, where she graduated in 2000.

“She is from the community and knows the community,” Moore said. “So everyone knows her and she’s earned that trust as a person from the community.”

Johnson began her career as a mathematics teacher at Centennial Middle and then moved on to her alma mater, Zephyrhills High. Next, she became assistant principal at Wesley Chapel High, where she was named principal in 2017.

In the 2018-2019 school year, she became principal at Pasco Middle.

Superintendent Browning named her Kirkland Ranch’s first principal in September.

“I couldn’t think of a better person to be that school’s principal,” Moore added.

Johnson’s ties run even deeper with Pasco County’s school system, as her husband, Mike, is the football coach at Cypress Creek High in Wesley Chapel.

Now, Johnson’s days are filled with planning to open Kirkland Ranch, which includes visits to the construction site until the work is finished this summer.

“I’m ready for August,” Johnson said.

“But the kids will come and tour it in July, so I really just can’t wait until then,” she said.

Published April 13, 2022

Dade City naval officer sets off for deployment

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Lt. Junior Grade Riley Roberts recently departed on her first deployment, which will involve seven months driving the USS Gunston Hall, performing repairs and in command of some of the 600 other sailors on board.

Lt. Junior Grade (LTJG) Riley Roberts is shown here, center, with other members of the Roberts family, from left, her sister, Alison; her brother, Jonathan; her mother, Tracey; and her father, Dave. (Courtesy of Tracey Roberts)

Her vessel’s whereabouts and duties are classified — even to her family — but the 25-year-old naval officer, from Dade City, is embracing all the emotions that come with her first military orders.

“I’m mostly excited, but there are some nerves and stress,” Roberts said, in a recent telephone interview. “The weight on your shoulders that you’re navigating a ship with 600 of us on it, so their lives are in my hands. It’s a little scary driving it, but I also do enjoy it.”

At Pasco High School, Roberts was a member of the JROTC, but didn’t sign up for service after graduation. Instead, she attended Florida State University and then enlisted in Officer Candidate School, where she graduated in July 2019.

She was stationed at the naval base in Norfolk, before her deployment.

While Roberts is away at sea, those back home in Dade City will be keeping her in their prayers, especially those at Sacred Heart Catholic Church.

Lt. Junior Grade (LTJG) Riley Roberts, who graduated from Officer Candidate School in July 2019, just began her first deployment. She will be at sea for seven months, steering the USS Gunston Hall.

She has belonged to the church since was born and has been active in myriad ways. She has served as altar server, been involved in youth group, has done ministry work and has performed in the choir.

“People at our church watched her grow up, care about her, have seen her sing in the choir,” said her mother, Tracey. “Even if they don’t know her name, they know Riley’s voice. So they’re asking about her all the time. Neighboring Catholic churches have added her to the prayer list and, of course, our parish gathered to offer a Mass for her protection.

“That means a lot to us and, of course, her,” Tracey said.

More than just prayers, Sacred Heart also added Riley to its Wall of Honor, a place where parishioners dating back to World War II are recognized for their service in the U.S. Armed Forces. Also on the wall: her father, David, and grandfather, Scott.

“My mom showed me pictures of it and I got goosebumps seeing myself up there with all the names,” Riley said. “I’m humbled to be on there when I think about all the others up there who lost their lives during bigger conflicts.”

At home in Dade City, Tracey, who works for Sacred Heart’s Early Childhood Center on the church grounds, is dealing with her own nerves, as any mother of a military officer would.

The USS Gunston Hall (Wikipedia.org.)

“It’s kind of terrifying, quite frankly,” Tracey said. “I am very proud of her, more proud than I thought I would be. I toured her ship, (have) seen what she does, driving a 600-foot warship. She’s super inspiring and has become a very tough, independent, brave person. In my mind, she’s going to be fine, but I’m still her mom — still going to worry.”

Certainly everyone at Sacred Heart will worry for Riley, especially those who she lovingly calls her “Old People Fan Club.” But she is ready to take on this seven-month challenge, even when faced with uncertainty regarding the war between Russia and Ukraine, and a potential for U.S. military involvement.

Riley says she will think of her family, and her church, in Dade City.

“I love going to that church because everyone knows who I am,” she added. “I get recognized around town, and, to be honest, I’ve struggled to find a church here in Virginia because none can compare to mine.

“I know it sounds cheesy, but I joined (the Navy) because I felt obligated to do so. I feel every able-bodied person should serve your country, so I joined and didn’t care what my job would be. If I had to scrub toilets, so be it. But, right now, there are no plans to engage (with Russia) and I hope it stays that way.”

Published April 06, 2022

Helping principals develop their skills was his biggest joy

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Dave Scanga received a standing ovation during his final meeting with the Pasco County School board and district leaders, at the beginning of March.

Superintendent Kurt Browning lauded Scanga for his 27 years of service to the district.

“I’ll tell you, when Dave walks out the door, there’s going to be a great deal of institutional history that is walking out with him,” Browning said.

“His fingerprints are on so many things around here,” the superintendent added.

“Dave has been a rock,” Browning said, characterizing Scanga as “the voice of reason” during various staff discussions.

School board members praised Scanga’s ability to work through issues.

Dave Scanga recently retired from his post of assistant superintendent in Pasco County Schools. Regardless of his role during his 27 years in the district, his aim was the same: To help students to learn and to thrive. (B.C. Manion)

Board member Colleen Beaudoin recalled her first encounter with the assistant superintendent, which came when she was parent attending a board meeting, to call attention to an issue.

“He took me aside afterward and we problem-solved and worked together, and it was a really great experience,” Beaudoin said.

“He really listens to parents and community members, and I greatly appreciate that,” she added.

Board Chairwoman Cynthia Armstrong said the board could count on Scanga to be responsive, whenever it was warranted.

“I didn’t have to worry, you were going to be there, and you were going to handle it with such calm and reason and grace,” Armstrong said.

Board member Allison Crumbley said, the way Scanga worked through a problem, “everybody felt pretty good by the time it was solved.”

Board member Megan Harding appreciated Scanga’s presence — not only when a situation needed correction, but also to celebrate a success.

“You’ve always been there and you’ve been advocating for our kids,” Harding told Scanga. “I am unbelievably grateful for you.”

Deputy Superintendent Ray Gadd weighed in on Scanga’s even temperament.

“Over the years, he’s come into my office a few times, just madder than heck about a few things. And, he was very calm, when he was mad,” Gadd said. “Rarely is he mad, but even when he is mad, he is calm.”

In his final role, Scanga was an assistant superintendent. Before that, he was director of research, a principal, an assistant principal and a behavioral specialist.

Scanga arrived in Pasco County after working overseas for 10 years in Saudi Arabia, Africa and Japan. He worked in student services in those schools.

Scanga grew up on a farm outside of Pittsburgh, in a family of nine children.

He said his international experiences broadened his perspective and deepened his understanding of himself.

He was attracted to Pasco County through a recruiting effort, and once he arrived had no desire to leave.

“At our core (in Pasco County Schools), we do believe in supporting the whole child and we do believe in connecting to the family,” Scanga explained.

He also admires that the district gives principals the autonomy to work with the community.

Scanga said he was attracted to serving in an administrative role because he desired a wider sphere of influence. He wanted to focus on helping others develop their leadership skills.

“The joy of my career has been working with principals, and the great ones … they create the context for everybody to feel like they’re part of the work,” Scanga said.

Role of principal complex, challenging
Scanga holds principals in high esteem.

“They are excited. You can barely contain them. They want to be so successful. But they also are stepping into a role that is very complex and very challenging — a lot of responsibility,” Scanga said.

“Every principal I’ve ever worked with has basically said: ‘I thought I knew what it was going to feel like. But I didn’t.’”

This is a group of new elementary principals that Dave Scanga worked with to help them develop their leadership skills. (Courtesy of Dave Scanga)

It’s a tough job, Scanga said.

“Principals are at the apex of everything below them and are a conduit to everyone above them,” Scanga said.

He said he  appreciated being able to be a mentor to new principals, and to help them build a network of support, where they could learn from one another’s experiences.

In a group meeting, Scanga said, one principal might say: “’I have this problem.’

“And everyone else in the room will go: ‘So, do I.’’

The quality of a principal’s leadership has a direct bearing on the effectiveness of a school,  Scanga added.

“It doesn’t matter, the context of the school — the socioeconomic level, high or low, (or) where you are geographically — a good principal will make a difference in whatever situation you put them in, whether it’s a brand-new school, or a school that’s been there for 100 years.

“Helping principals transition into the role is part of what I’ve been able to do and what I’ve enjoyed,” Scanga said.

Whether on the front lines, or working at a higher level, Scanga said his driving motivation has been same: To foster a culture where children had the opportunity to learn, and to thrive.

Although stepping away from Pasco County Schools, Scanga will remain active in education — continuing in his role as an adjunct professor at Saint Leo University.

He is passionate about public education.

“I believe it’s the bedrock of our democracy, and even though, we’re under attack sometimes, it’s the people in this (district board) room that are going to make the difference,” Scanga said, during his last school board meeting..

“They’re going to keep public education viable. They’re going to keep it so that every student has that opportunity that they need to have to become a strong, literate citizen in this country,” Scanga said.

Public educators must stay the course, he said.

“If we ever blink, it will be our fault because basically without it (public education), the country just won’t be what it is meant to be,” he said.

Published April 06, 2022