SEBRING — More than 50 Cracker Trail Elementary students in challenging situations have been paired up with a concerned staff member. School's guidance counselor Crystal Pella created the Adopt-A-Student Program to promote self-esteem, school attendance, academic achievement and a reduction in discipline problems. It's a "Big Brother/Big Sister" strategy for meeting the individual student's self-esteem needs, said Principal Rick Demeri. Cracker Trail Elementary staff members are asked if they would like to be paired with a student who has been chosen based on attendance problems, academic difficulties, divorce or death in their family or low self-esteem. Pairing up with a student is on a voluntary basis and not a requirement, Demeri said. Parent permission is obtained and all strategies take place during school time on the school campus. ...more

January 21, 2008

Jan Henrick's legacy as a caring, loving wife and teacher lives on each year when Hillsborough County students receive an award named in her honor. ...more

January 9, 2008

Students are practicing leadership skills at a young age at Apollo Beach Elementary School. ...more

December 29, 2007

Clips on YouTube show teenage girls scratching, punching and pulling hair in brawls as boys look on in amusement. ...more

December 16, 2007

The dining room of Valencia Garden was abuzz with children's voices. One look inside the private room would prove this wasn't a typical after-school party. ...more

December 12, 2007

The soup, pudding and instant potatoes Xavier Peoples brought to class would help feed the hungry. In the special-needs class he attends with other kindergartners and first-graders, the donations also became lessons in math, reading and graphs. ...more

November 28, 2007

The MOSI Partnership School will keep its name. The Hillsborough County school board decided not to rename the elementary at the Museum of Science & Industry. The school was given the temporary name this summer before the school's fast-tracked opening. ...more

November 26, 2007

Middle school students are getting online help to plan their future. ...more

November 24, 2007

Shaw students will get a new leader and more relief from crowding. ...more

November 10, 2007

A new middle school will honor a Tampa man who died while fighting in Iraq and received the Medal of Honor for his courage. ...more

November 10, 2007