Mr. Eric Krause is a Pinellas County Schools product as well, attending Curtis Fundamental Elementary, Southside Fundamental Middle School, and Largo High School. After graduating high school, Mr. Krause recieved both his Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Performance and his Master's in Educational Leadership from University of South Florida. Mr. Krause served 8 years as a middle school Band director at Thurgood Marshall Fundamental Middle School and Madiera Beach Fundamental Middle School before coming to Clearwater High School in 2015. He served 6 years as the adminstrator for the Sciences, the STEAM Academy, Head of Centre for our AICE program, and was also the Assistant Principal for Curriculum before being appointed to the Principal position. Mr. Krause is excited to have the opportunity to work with the students, staff, parents and community of Clearwater High School! He twists into the office every day happy to serve the Tornado community!

Jennifer Chenier
Assistant Principal
Email: chenierje@pcsb.org 

Ms. Jennifer Chenier, grew up in Pumpkin Center, Louisana, about 40 miles from the French Quarter in New Orleans. She graduated from Ponchatoula High School, and started her secondary educational career at LSU and finished her Bachelor's Degree at Louisiana Tech in Speech Communications and Social Studies Education. She received her Masters plus 30 in Educational Leadership at Southeastern Louisana University. Prior to moving to Clearwater, FL, Ms. Chenier worked in the Louisiana Public School System serving as a teacher, assistant principal, and district facilitator over twenty-four years. Subsequently she transitioned into Pinellas County Schools teaching Social Studies at St. Pete High for 2 years, before taking her current position at CHS. She serves as the administrator over Discipline and Attendance, Transportation, ESE, Technology, our Language Arts department, and our SHARE Academy. She feels privileged to be a part of the Clearwater High School family and excited to support the amazing traditions of the crimson and gray. Go Tornadoes!

R.J. Denton
Assistant Principal
Email: dentonr@pcsb.org 

Mr. R.J. Denton grew up in St. Petersburg, FL and went to high school locally in Pinellas County attending Keswick Christian School. Upon graduation, he attended the University of South Florida, Tampa, graduating Cum Laude in 2011 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Seconday Social Science Education. In 2016 he completed his Masters program at the University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, graduating with a degree in Educational Leadership. Prior to joining the administrative team, Mr. Denton spent 8 years teaching various Social Studies courses at Clearwater High School, and he has coached Football, Cross Country, and Track & Field at the school. He was nominated for Teacher of the Year by Clearwater High School in 2016, finishing as a semi-finalist in the district, and was the Cross Country Coach of the Year in 2016-17 after having won a Conference Championship earlier that year. He also oversaw the Freedom Ambassadors Civil Rights program and worked on many of the initiatives currently in place at the school. He currently serves as the administrator over Curriculum, Math, ESOL, SAC, the Clearwater Achievement Council, and our STEAM Academy. He is a Tornado through and through and is proud to be a member of this amazing administrative team!

Leslie Hopkins
Assistant Principal
Email: hopkinsle@pcsb.org

Mr. Leslie Hopkins is a product of Pinellas County Schools having graduated from St. Petersburg High in 1981. He then went on to receive his B.S. from Florida A&M University and then his Master’s in Education Leadership from Nova Southeastern University. His teaching career began at St. Petersburg High as a mathematics instructor for 5 years before moving into administration at Pinellas Park High for 12 years as Assistant Principal. Currently he is serving as the administrator over Facilities, Safety, Support Staff, Social Sciences, Volunteers, 5000 Role Models, and the oversees the BLIS Academy and our CAICC Program. He loves being a Tornado!

Eric C. Smith, Ph.D.
Assistant Principal
Email: smithericc@pcsb.org

Dr. Eric C. Smith is a product of Pinellas County Schools, having graduated from Gibbs High in 1999. He went on to earn is B.A. ('03) and M.A. ('10) from the University of South Florida and his Ph.D. from Barry University in 2017. He has served as an educator for the past 17 years in a variety of roles. He worked for 15 years in Hillsborough County Public Schools as a Teacher, Evaluator, and Mentor. Most recently, he taught in the Nashville area at Independence High School. He is currently serving Clearwater HS as the administrator over discipline, attendance, transportation, technology, our Science department, and our FAME Academy. He is enjoying his role at CHS and truly feels he has found a home back in Pinellas County and at Clearwater. GO Tornados!