I am Dr. Carmen J. Harris, newly appointed principal of Pinellas Park Elementary School. When I learned about your rich history and the impact that you all have had in the Pinellas Park Community, I was excited to have an opportunity to partner with such an amazing group.

This year, as we move into the 23-24 school year, we will grow and continue to establish our strong “Belief in the Bears”! Empowering our students, staff and community as we move full-steam ahead! I want to share a little bit about myself. I am a native Floridian and have resided in Tampa for the past 8 years. I am married and the mother of 4 children, aged from 5 years to college-aged. I am a die-hard Florida State University fan, so do not be surprised if you hear me shout “Go Noles.”

As a leader, I believe students have a right to the best educational experiences. To achieve this, I believe an equitable, diverse and rich learning environment will help create the space for this to happen. I look at all children as my own and believe the rewards, sacrifices and consequences needed to produce a “Harris” kid, are the same that should and will be applied to all students in the learning environment. I commit to being visible and accessible, with ears and heart open to collaborate with all stakeholders to produce these outcomes. Our families are an integral part of our journey. By partnering together, we can speak to our students’ experiences in and out of school and help our students make connections every day. Our teachers have an opportunity to serve our students and families through daily preparation and demonstration, in order to meet our students’ individual needs. Our community members are charged with the “ask” of rallying and supporting our schools and families with ongoing cheers, support and possible resources. Together we can get this mission accomplished because we don’t teach subjects, our subject is our students. My door is always open and I look forward to an amazing school year.

Sincerely,

Dr.Carmen J. Harris