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Webb Middle Meets Its New Principal

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By COURTNEY CAIRNS PASTOR, The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 20, 2007

Updated: 10/18/2007 11:44 pm

TOWN 'N COUNTRY - Carmen Aguero fought hard for Webb Middle School, advocating for it when she felt it was getting an unfair shake, and seeing her work pay off when the school earned an A from the state and a visit from the governor.
Aguero wanted the community to see the positive about Webb, sometimes criticized for being in a low-income area or for perceptions it was unsafe.

'A lot of people think that school is such a horrible place, and it's not. I believe that kids are kids, no matter where they come from,' said Aguero, Webb's principal for six years. 'The school needed someone to love it, and I did.'

But stress and her insulin-dependent diabetes convinced her it was time to go.
Aguero retired Sept. 17. The Northdale resident had spent 34 years working for Hillsborough County schools.

'It was time. You know when it's time,' Aguero said. 'I loved the school. I'll miss the kids.'

Her replacement, Brent McBrien, officially takes over Monday but arrived this week to tour Webb and meet the staff and students. McBrien has served as Leto High School's assistant principal for seven years and is a former elementary and middle school teacher. Webb feeds into Leto, and many of the children he met at the middle school knew McBrien through their siblings at Leto.

The school board appointed McBrien, of Carrollwood, at its meeting Tuesday night.
Board member Susan Valdes praised Aguero and McBrien at the meeting.

'She had a long history of dedication to the district and was an asset to Webb Middle School and that community,' Valdes said. 'I know she will be terribly missed.'

Valdes, who lives in Town 'N Country, knows McBrien as well.

'As a parent of a student that has been through Leto High School, I know that he's going to be a phenomenal principal at Webb and will serve the community well,' she said.

McBrien, 38, wanted to return to a middle school. He likes the age group and the influence he could have, he said.

'It's almost like catching them and throwing them forward,' McBrien said.

McBrien's experience in high school showed him how middle school students need to be prepared to succeed as freshmen. He said he hopes to work with his new students on the transition and to tell them what to expect in high school. The change to ninth grade can be rough, he said, and many students are at risk of dropping out.
Aguero also preferred working with middle school students. She has taught every age from elementary school to adult education but likes middle school best.

'That's where you make a difference,' Aguero said. 'By high school, you've lost them. You don't save them all, but you can save some.'

At 55, she is adjusting to retirement. She does not plan to work full time again but hopes to get a part-time job during spring training with the New York Yankees, her favorite team. For now, she wakes up and can't believe she is not heading to school.

'When I see a school bus go by, I kind of smile and go, 'You know, I remember the day we found out we had an A, and when the governor came to Webb,'' she said. 'Those are the things I want to remember.'

NEW LEADERSHIP AT WEBB MIDDLE

Brent McBrien will take over at Webb Middle School for Carmen Aguero, who retired.

AGE: 38

RESIDENCE: Carrollwood
FAMILY: Wife, Denise, physical education teacher at Ben Hill Middle. Two children, Maria, 10, a fifth-grader at Northwest Elementary, and son, Peyton, 3.

EXPERIENCE: Taught at Sulphur Springs Elementary 1993-96; taught at Adams Middle 1996-99; taught at Coleman Middle, 1999-2000; assistant principal for student affairs at Leto, 2000-07.

Reporter Courtney Cairns Pastor can be reached at (813) 865-1503 or cpastor@tampatrib.com.

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