Kathi Bentley

Principal

Welcome to the 2022-2023 school year. I am thrilled to have you and your children as part of the Fuguitt Family. It is an honor to be your principal at Fuguitt Elementary School. I am truly blessed to be the instructional leader of such an awesome school community. I have been dedicated to the field of education for more than twenty-nine years. During this time, my experiences include teaching mathematics for more than nine years in high school and college. I’ve served as an administrator at the high school, middle school and elementary level. In 2011, I completed my Doctor of Education at the University of South Florida. My husband, Cris, and I have been married for more than 31 years and we have two little Chihuahuas named Lucy and Lola.

 This past year, we faced many challenges, yet our students remained steadfast in their pursuit of academic excellence! This year, we earned an A from the state of Florida!!! Our teachers and students outperformed all other Title I schools in our district. Each new school year brings opportunities for both academic and personal growth. I am excited about our continued implementation of the 7 Habits found in Steven R. Covey’s Leader in Me program. We pride ourselves on developing a culture where students are empowered for success! For our students to be successful, we need your help. You are a special and unique part of our learning community. Collaboration with your child's teacher is a main ingredient to a healthy and successful year. Open communication is vital to ensure a successful home-school partnership throughout the year. Parent involvement is an important aspect of every child's education and is the primary factor of students' success in school. Our school offers a variety of family involvement opportunities as we want our parents to feel welcome and be part of our learning community. I welcome and encourage you to join our PTA and to serve on our School Advisory Council. Numerous parent workshops and evening events will be held throughout the school year. Please monitor the school calendar and our website for the upcoming events. I look forward to sharing these new opportunities with you. Together, we will grow leaders one child at a time.

 My priorities as principal include increasing student achievement through improved teacher quality and effectiveness in the classroom, increasing parental involvement that promotes clear support of the instructional program and continuing to build the leaders through character education that has been the foundation of success here at Fuguitt with the Leader in Me. However, my most important priority is our kids. This is the one area that I will not compromise nor grow weary. Fuguitt Elementary School students deserve the best. I am passionate about my mission as principal, and I will make decisions that are in the best interest of your child.

Our job is to continue to strive for excellence and make Fuguitt Elementary School world class. We are a Positive Behavior Interventions and Support Model school and as the first school in Pinellas to implement The Leader in Me program, all of us at Fuguitt Elementary School are eager and excited to begin what promises to be the best year ever. We will continue to provide academic experiences for our students that are rigorous and relevant while building strong relationships with you. As your principal, it is important to me that everyone who steps through our doors-staff, students, and parents is excited to be here! This attitude enables us to meet the challenges of academic excellence in a positive, fun and nurturing environment.

If I can be of assistance, please call, email, or stop in to see me! It is through a collaborative learning community with consistent, honest, and open communication that I can best serve our students. Thank you for the opportunity to work with this awesome community and I welcome each of you to Fuguitt Elementary – our students are paving the way to success!

Kindest Regards,
Kathi Bentley, Ed.D.

Eliza Lentz

Assistant Principal

I am thrilled to join the Fuguitt team and serve as your Assistant Principal.  I hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education and a Masters Degree in Educational Leadership from the University of South Florida St. Petersburg. I have eleven years of experience educating students in Pinellas County Schools.

As your Assistant Principal, I am committed to forming nurturing relationships with our students along with strong partnerships with our staff and families to foster a positive school culture that promotes academic excellence and success. My goal is to empower our Fuguitt community to use their Leadership Habits to prepare them for their future, inspire one another, and become a successful community member.

I am a proud, lifelong resident of Pinellas County and a successful product of Pinellas County Schools. My husband and I have two children and we enjoy spending time together as a family with any activity that includes the ocean, outdoors and sports- especially Tampa Bay sports!

I look forward to meeting and getting to know all of you and am so excited to be a Fuguitt Gator!