Faculty and Staff- 2008-2009 School Year

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Mr. Bradley Agee,  6th Grade Science

Mr. Brad Agee is a 6^th grade science teacher.  Before coming to TCMS, he was employed as an Atmospheric Scientist for the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder, CO.  He was lucky enough to get paid to travel around the globe performing weather experiments of very high caliber with some extremely intelligent experts in the field.  Prior to that, he worked as the lead Meteorologist for a Cloud Seeding program in White Deer, TX where he flew into thunderstorms in an attempt to enhance rainfall.

 

Mr. Agee graduated from Ball State University in May of 2004 with a B.A. in Operational Meteorology and Climatology, a B.A. in Telecommunications that focused on audio/video production, and a minor in Geographic Information Systems and Mapping.  He is an avid storm chaser and has hopes to be able to educate his TCMS students in weather, as well as the other aspects of 6^th grade science.   Mr. Agee has received his Middle Grades Integrated Curriculum Certificate, and is a member of the National Science Teacher's Association.  He looks forward to sharing his knowledge and experiences at TCMS. GO TORNADOES!

 

Ms. Sarah Bare, Spanish

Ms. Sarah Bare started studying Spanish at the age of 5 in a dual language program offered in Cincinnati, Ohio. She continued studying the language all through school, and began studying abroad at the age of 12. She completed her undergraduate degree in 2003, during which time she spent 10 months in Spain and 4 months in Mexico. Ms. Bare recently completed her master’s degree in Spanish. During her graduate years, she spent time abroad in Spain, France and Africa. This will be Ms. Bare’s fifth year teaching and tutoring Spanish; she has taught one year of middle school at Nativity of Our Lord in Cincinnati, Ohio, two years at Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio and a year of high school at Winter Haven High School in Winter Haven, Florida. This will be her first year at Terrace Community Middle School and she is very excited

 

Ms. Kristine Bennett, Building Administrator/Assistant Principal

Ms. Bennett, a Tampa native who currently lives in Temple Terrace, earned her Educational Leadership Degree from the University of South Florida.  In addition to serving as an administrator for Terrace Community, Ms. Bennett served seven years as a classroom teacher, grade level house leader, and lead teacher at TCMS.  Ms. Bennett earned a BA in Secondary English Education from the University of South Florida and has earned ESOL, Gifted, and Middle Grades Math certification.  As a Sixth grade Math League coach, Ms. Bennett led the team to first place in Hillsborough County.  With over ten years of experience in the field of education, Ms. Bennett continues to pursue excellence in education by attending conferences, trainings, and by participating in professional organizations such as Phi Delta Kappa International.

Mr. Brian Bethune, Physical Education/Health     

Mr. Bethune has been teaching physical education for the past ten years, five of them at TCMS.  He received his B.S. from the University of South Florida.  Mr. Bethune was named "Teacher of the Year" in his second year as a teacher. 

Mr. Rixie Burroughs, 7th Grade Social Studies

Mr. Burroughs was born in Tampa and graduated from King High School (77).  He earned a B.S. in Christian Education from Toccoa Falls College, and an MS in Elementary Education from Nova Southeastern University.  A widower with three children, he taught for sixteen years at the Alliance Academy International in Quito, Ecuador.  He loves to write poetry and magazine/newspaper articles and often he can be found in his kitchen baking goodies and treats!  This will be his fourth year of teaching at TCMS, and his 27th overall. He enjoys getting to know each of his students and likes to assist with student government and other student activities. On dress-up days you never know what he will wear to school as he is full of surprises with his various outfits.

Ms. Amy Burton,  6th Grade Social Studies

Ms. Burton teaches 6th grade Ancient History and is in her second year at TCMS.  She holds a BA in Anthropology and Sociology from Florida International University, and a Masters in Social Science Education from the University of South Florida.   She is a Tampa native who loves world travel, culture, and outdoor activities.

 

Mr. Jason Canonaco, 8th Grade Language Arts
Mr. Canonaco recently moved to Florida from New York and is looking forward to some great weather! He graduated in 2000 from Binghamton University with a BA in English and btained aMaster's degree in 2003.  Mr. Canonaco has taught  Middle school English for the past 5 years. He was very proud of his students this year because their New York State test scores were the highest in the entire county! 
 
Mr. Canonaco loves to travel and has been to many different places.  He lived in London for a semester and studied poetry, Shakespeare, and theater. He also spent time in Italy and Scotland and also spent close to a month in Hawaii.  He looks forward to exploring Florida!
 
He is an avid sportsman and loves playing sports such as soccer, football, tennis, and basketball. He coached  the boy's Junior Varsity soccer  for the past 3 years. and enjoys boating , and especially fishing! He hopes to land  a marlin as soon as possible! He also enjoys reading and writing in his spare time.

 

Mr. Canonaco is very excited about teaching at TCMS this year!
 

Mrs. Vivian Canaday , Physical Education

Mrs. Canaday has been a Tampa resident for the past 20 years.  She earned a B.A. in Physical Education from the University of South Florida. She has taught seven years for Hillsborough County schools and has coached girls cross country and track. She is looking forward to her 3rd year at TCMS.

Mrs. Rocio Castillo,  Teacher Para-Professional, English as a Second Language 

Ms. Castillo is originally from Mexico City and  moved to Tampa in 1999.  She has been married for almost 20 years and has a daughter who recently from TCMS.  Ms. Castillo graduated from Universidad Motolinia in Mexico City and is Gifted and ESOL certified. She is fluent in Spanish and can speak Italian and some French.  She encourages  students to think out of the box and to look at things through a different perspective. This is Ms. Castillo’s 6^th year of  teaching at TCMS

 

Mr. Steve Conover,  8th Grade House, Math Subject Area Leader    

Mr. Conover teaches 8th Grade Algebra I Honors and is the Math Subject Area Leader for TCMS.  He has a BA in Secondary Mathematics Education from USF (1992) and a MS in Math Ed from NOVA (1998).  He is certified to teach Secondary Mathematics grades 6-12, Middle Grades Math 6-9, is Gifted endorsed, and ESOL certified. This is his 16^th year teaching in the county and his 7^th year at TCMS.  Mr. C’s interests include sci-fi/fantasy literature, Magic: The Gathering CCG, and a varied taste in music.  Mr. C also is a group fitness instructor at Lifestyle Family Fitness where he is currently certified in the Les Mills RPM program.

Mrs. Cecilia Diaz, Spanish I Honors

Mrs. Diaz was born in Venezuela, South America, and is fluent in Spanish.  She is a graduate of the University of South Florida with a B.S. in Business Administration.  She is a Florida certified Spanish teacher and has obtained her Professional teaching certificate through the Florida Department of Education.   Mrs. Diaz has also received her gifted and ESOL certifications. This is her  5th year as TCMS Spanish Teacher and her 4th year as Student Government Association (SGA) advisor. She has been a resident of Temple Terrace for the past twenty-one years and she is actively involved in the Temple Terrace community.  

 

Mrs. Brenda Grosenbaugh, Bookkeeper

Ms. Juliana Hite, 7th Grade Language Arts

This will be Ms. Hite's second year teaching 7th grade Language Arts at TCMS. Prior to teaching here, she taught 8th grade Language Arts at Burns Middle School in Brandon for two years and 7th grade Language Arts for two years at Gray Middle School in Union, KY.  She attended Murray State University on a tennis scholarship for three years before returning home to graduate from Northern Kentucky University with a degree in Middle Grades Education- Math/Language Arts.  She is currently earning her ESOL certification.  In addition to teaching, she was the director of tennis at Triple Crown Country Club in Union, KY prior to moving to Florida and the coach of the Ryle High School Girls' Tennis Team. In her free time she still enjoys playing tennis, running, reading and of course, going to the beach (why else move to Florida?).

 

Mr. Gary Hocevar, Chief Education Officer/Principal 

Please click here to read Mr. Hocevar's profile.

Mr. Adam Hough, 6th Grade Science

Mr. Hough enters his 10^th year of teaching at TCMS.  A Florida Certified Teacher, he received his Bachelor’s Degree in Geological Sciences and his M.Ed in Education from Wright State University in Ohio.  He is endorsed in Drama, Middle Grades Integrated Curriculum, ESOL and Gifted Education.  Mr. Hough has been a member of the TCMS faculty since the fall of 1999, and has previously taught 6^th, 7^th and 8^th grade science as well as drama.  Among Mr. Hough’s interests are cinema, international travel, and composing music.  He has directed TCMS students in the stage productions of "Treasure Island" and "Alice in Wonderland" as well as directed the movie version of Alice in Wonderland.

 

Ms. Kathleen Jarosh, 7th Grade Science

Mrs. Cynthia Johnson, Cafe Manager

Mrs. Johnson is a native of Tampa.  She has three years of experience managing lunchrooms for private/charter schools.  This will be her 2 second year at TCMS. 

 

Mr. Edgar Jones, Maintenance, Health, Safety and Custodial Services

Ms.  Rebecca Kimmitz, 6th Grade Language Arts, Faculty Representative to the Board (2008-2009SY)

Mrs. Caryl Kloppenburg, LPN, School Clinic

 

Mr. Scott Labaw, Supervisor for School Climate and Athletic Director
Mr.  LaBaw began his career serving as a parent volunteer who handled extramural sports for the school.  His volunteerism evolved into a full time position and he has been an employee of TCMS for the past four years.  Mr. LaBaw has served as a PE instructor/Athletic Director, and is currently the responsible for the Climate Control (i.e., safety and discipline issues) in addition to his role as Health instructor and Athletic Director.

 

Mr. LaBaw attended USF from 1974-1979 and has many years experience as a trainer and medical sales.

Ms. Meichelle Long, IT/ Media Resource Director, Teacher

Ms. Long is the Information Technology Director and will serves as the school's Media Resource Specialist. She earned a B.A. from Taylor University and has Technology certifications such as MarcoPolo Certified Instructor, MOUS Certification and Miami Museum of Science's in Tech Certified Instructor as well as Gifted certified.  This is Ms. Long's tenth year teaching in Florida and her sixth year at TCMS.  She is certified in Middle Grades and has completed her ESOL endorsement.   She is also responsible for the management of classroom websites.  She researches and publishes in the area of distance learning, utilizing technology in the teaching and learning process, and using technology to support e-Learning and e-Publishing.

Mrs. Ruth Morris,  Band, Jazz Band                                                                                                                                                                           
Mrs. Morris has lived in the Temple Terrace area since graduating from Florida College and USF.  Five of her six children are graduates of TCMS.  Mrs. Morris holds her teaching certificate in Music K-12 and has both her gifted and ESOL certifications.  Mrs. Morris plays the piano, flute, trombone, bagpipes and sings.  She is looking forward to her eighth year at TCMS!

Ms. Beth Murphy, ESE Specialist

Mr. Robert Negron,  Physical Education

Mr. Negron was born and raised in Puerto Rico and lived there until graduating from high school. An athlete since birth, he participated in basketball, track and field, and played baseball from the age of 4 to the age of 20, finishing the last two years as a Spartan at the University of Tampa. A graduate in 2006, he since has been substitute teaching and working with children as an instructor at the SACC program at Cannella Elementary. Young, driven, enthusiastic, he now enters his second year at TCMS  and is ready to mold the the TCMS students of today into tomorrow's leaders. 

 

Ms. April Oliphant, 6th Grade Social Studies

Ms. Oliphant is in her 2^nd year of teaching at TCMS.  Last year, she taught 6th  Grade Earth Science, but will teach Ancient History this year, along with Ms. Burton.  Ms. Oliphant was born and raised in El Paso, TX.  She attended the University of Central Arkansas on a soccer scholarship, graduating in 2003 and receiving a BA in Psychology with a minor in Business Management.  Before joining the TCMS family, Ms. Oliphant worked as a family services counselor for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Pinellas County.  Some of Ms. Oliphant’s loves, in additional to teaching children, are spending time with her family and enjoying the outdoors.  She ishonored to be a part of the TCMS family!

 

Ms. Octavia Delk-O'Neal, 8th Grade Algebra I Honors

Ms. O’Neal is new to TCMS this year and is  teaching 8^th grade Algebra I Honors. She is certified to teach Middle grades Mathematics 5-9 and is ESOL endorsed.  She is originally from Saginaw, Michigan and has lived in Florida for 5 years where she has taught in the Orange County Public School District of Orlando. She is a graduate of Michigan State University with a B.A. in Public Administration and a M.A. in Administrative Sciences from Saginaw Valley State University. She truly enjoys the essence of teaching and has demonstrated her dedication while working summer and after school programs like the YMCA, Upward Bound Trio, and Bright Steps Tutoring Services. Her hobbies include roller skating and bowling. She looks forward to a new beginning with Terrace Community Middle School.

 

Ms. Karen Ott, 6th Grade Math, Math League coach (6th grade)

Ms. Ott is teaching sixth grade math in her third year here at TCMS.  A graduate of Fairmont State College where she attended on a basketball scholarship, Ms. Ott earned a BA in Elementary Education, is certified in Gifted Education, ESOL and is currently pursuing National Board Certification.  She has been teaching for 23 years and 13 of those years here in Hillsborough County.  She lives in Valrico with her two sons and one daughter and loves all sports, the beach, reading and spending time with family and friends.  Go Lightning!!!

Ms. Helen Ratcliffe, Director, Office of Student and Personnel Services   

Mrs. Ratcliffe celebrates her 10th anniversary of employment with TCMS in July of 2008.  She is very proud to be associated with such a wonderful school and the community it serves.   Mrs. Ratcliffe graduated Cum Laude from St. Edward’s University in Austin, Texas with a BA in English.  She and her husband have been married for 34 years and are the very proud parents of two young adult children.  Her interests include musical theater, reading, college and professional football and traveling (which she hopes to do alot of when she retires in five more years!).