I could not make it to the NAACP annual gala as I was sick, but it warms my heart to see both mother and son honored like this. Vivian Kitchen was honored as an Unsung Hero - her work as an educator, Principal, person who testified before the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights on the desegregation of Hillsborough County public schools and as former chairwoman of the Hillsborough County City-County Planning Commission is stellar. She is a proud Christian and a Tampa Alumnae Chapter - Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. woman. Her son Otis Kitchen was given the NAACP President’s award. Otis is Principal at Twin Lakes Elementary, and has a heart for young people - he just wants to see them fulfill their God-given potential. He is co-chair of the Hillsborough County NAACP ACT-SO program and is a community pillar. He is a friend who fulfills this special Bible verse: “And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” Congrats to mother and son.

Roadrunners, join us in congratulating Ms. Mercado as our Teacher of the Year, Ms. Casper as our Ida S. Baker Teacher of the Year, and Ms. Fernandez as our Instructional Support Employee of the year! Thank you for making an impact at Twin Lakes! #OneTeamOneGoal

Today we kicked off Hispanic Heritage month with Tampa City Councilman Luis Viera on the morning show! Our students also dressed up in outfits that represented their heritage! #OneTeamOneGoal @HillsboroughSch @HCPSELRegion2

A HUGE thank you to our incredible Twin Lakes families and community for helping us raise OVER $7,000! 🎉💰 Your generosity, support, and Roadrunner Spirit made this event such a success. We are so grateful for a community that continues to show up for our students! 💙

This is what One Team, One Goal looks like! Putting DATA into Action! #EveryStudentCanExcel @HillsboroughSch @HCPSELRegion2

One Team. One Goal. One amazing year ahead! 💛💙 Our Twin Lakes Elementary family is ready to make 2026–2027 a great year for every student. Together, we are One Team, One Goal! #OneTeamOneGoal #TwinLakesElementary #EveryStudentCanExcel

We are honored to welcome back former Twin Lakes Elementary Principal Cora Wimberly (2001–2003)! Thank you for stopping by and for helping us plan our 100th Anniversary Celebration for October 23, 2026. 💙💛 #TwinLakes100 #OneTeamOneGoal @HillsboroughSch

Thank you, American Legion Auxiliary Unit 152! Your generosity reminds students that an entire community is cheering them on! #ItTakesAVillage

It’s always a good day when Principal Otis Kitchen comes to Tampa City Council. Councilwoman Naya Young invited the local Hillsborough NAACP to talk about their ACT-SO program, and Principal Kitchen came to talk. Few people are more passionate about our public schools and people in general than Principal Kitchen.

Today was a bittersweet day as we shared our best wishes with our Chief of @HCPSSecurityEM, John Newman, on his upcoming retirement. For the past 12 years, John has dedicated himself to keeping our students, staff, and entire HCPS family safe.

Day 1 Memorial Day Monday getting my PD in with @JorgeDoesPBL & Frederick Buskey in the books. I drank my supplements, spoke to my Savior and took my time in an empty gym to finish chest day. Y Tu? Vamos! @Asael_Ruvalcaba @DrDonParker1 @fit_leaders @Principal_EL @okitchen32

TAKE A LISTEN 🎧 The latest episode of “More to the Story” is out now! For this episode, we’re talking about something that makes a powerful difference in a child’s education — family and community engagement. We know that student success doesn’t happen in isolation. It takes strong schools, supportive families, and a connected community, all working together. When those pieces align, students are more engaged, more confident, and more likely to thrive both in and out of the classroom. Joining the discussion is Dr. Felita Lewis, our executive director of Family and Community Engagement. Listen on your favorite podcast platform, and subscribe so you don’t miss upcoming episodes! 🎙️