More to The Story | Hillsborough County Public Schools

For this episode, we’re talking about something that touches every subject, every classroom, and every student — literacy. Literacy is so much more than the ability to read at an early age. It’s about comprehension, communication, critical thinking, and the ability to engage with the world — from elementary classrooms to advanced high school coursework and beyond. Tracie Bergman, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction, joins us for this very important topic.

Families entrust us with their children every single school day. Creating safe, secure learning environments isn’t just a priority—it’s a responsibility we take seriously across every school in our district. In this important episode, we’re joined by John Newman, Chief of Security & Emergency Management and the Florida Department of Education’s 2026 Florida Safety Specialist of the Year, to talk about how we keep students and staff safe.

For this episode, we’re talking about one of the most important stages in a child’s education — early childhood. Dr. Emily Cimino, Director of Early Childhood shares the power of early childhood education — and the opportunities our district offers families.

In this episode, we explore the accelerated programs and academic pathways available to students at Hillsborough County Public Schools with Jazheel Lenegar, Executive Director of Instructional Support, and Brian Hoover, Director of Accelerated and Magnet Programs.

Join us for a 15-minute conversation with Hillsborough County Public Schools Superintendent Van Ayres. Born and raised in Tampa, educated in HCPS classrooms, and inspired by parents who were educators, Ayres’ path to leadership feels almost destined. Today, he’s at the helm of the nation’s seventh-largest school district—and sharing his story with us.