Hello! My name is Michelle Fitzgerald, and this will be my fifth-year teaching here at Tarpon Springs Fundamental! I am so excited to be teaching kindergarten this school year!  Teaching Kindergarten is my passion! I love helping grow little minds by making my students feel comfortable and loved each and every day in the classroom. I graduated from St. Petersburg College where I earned my Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education with a Reading and ESOL endorsement. I have lived in Clearwater all my life and am proud to say I am a former student of Tarpon Springs Fundamental. Being able to teach at TSFES is a full circle, as some of my best childhood school memories took place right here at TSFES. Teaching is my passion, and I can’t wait to watch my students grow as learners throughout the school year. Some of my favorite pastimes are spending time with my husband and our two-year-old daughter Noelle, playing with our dog Mia, and two cats Mr. Bubbles and Tort. I also enjoy going to the beach, traveling, and spending time with my family.  

As a teacher, I strive to provide my students with a strong foundation so they can be successful throughout their school careers. I believe in providing my students with a safe, caring, loving, fun, and engaging learning environment where they will feel comfortable to try new things and grow as learners. I am looking forward to an AMAZING school year! 

Hello! My name is Alexandra Rodriguez, and this is my fourth-year teaching at Tarpon Springs Fundamental, but my first year in kindergarten. I have experience teaching 3rd, 2nd and 1st grade. I graduated from Florida State University with a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction and a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. I have two cats, named Jax and Missy, who I adore. A fun fact about me is that I am a vegetarian.

I am passionate about making sure that each one of my students is a lifelong learner. I strive to guide students to a deeper level of thinking while learning how to effectively collaborate with their peers. I look forward to teaching kindergarten here at TSFES during this 2025-2026 school year.

Hello. I am Amy Tassone and I’m absolutely excited to be teaching kindergarten this school year at Tarpon Fundamental. I have taught for 27 years in Pinellas County and 19 of those years have been in Kindergarten and First Grade. I sincerely love teaching both of these grade levels.

 It is a passion of mine to instill a love of learning in my students so that they become lifelong learners.  It is truly amazing to see their growth and accomplishments as they become readers, writers, and mathematicians.  I especially love seeing the children’s personality blossom throughout the year. It warms my heart to see their confidence and individuality grow and shine by the end of the school year.

I was born and raised in Indianapolis, Indiana. I graduated from Ball State University where I earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education with a Reading and ESOL Endorsement. After I graduated, I was ready for some warm weather, so I moved down to Florida and have never been happier!

I enjoy spending time with my husband and two children. I truly love creating memories with my family. The activities we enjoy the most are going to theme parks, sporting events, and movies. We also love to relax at our local beaches and parks.