Superintendent Kevin Hendrick receives Lifetime Achievement Award from alma mater

May 13, 2025

The University of South Florida College of Education chose Superintendent Kevin Hendrick for the 2025 Dean's Lifetime Achievement Award.

He was recognized at the Distinguished Alumni Awards program on Wednesday, May 7, on the University of South Florida's Tampa campus.

The annual awards honor the exceptional achievements of College of Education graduates. Recipients are chosen from nominations submitted by the USF community.

"Mr. Hendrick is the perfect example of someone who has come in over the last three years who has truly impacted education, not only in Pinellas, but in the state of Florida and beyond," said former Superintendent Michael Grego, who nominated him for the award.

Superintendent Hendrick earned two degrees from USF: a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Science Education and a Master of Education degree in Educational Leadership. He also earned a Master of Arts in Exercise and Sport Science from the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill. 

After taking the helm as superintendent in 2022, he launched community “Listen & Learn” sessions, championed student-led initiatives, and introduced a staff recognition program rooted in the district’s core values. His leadership guided Pinellas County Schools to its first-ever “A” grade from the Florida Department of Education in 2024.

Mr. Hendrick began his career as a teacher and basketball coach before serving as principal of Northeast High School, where the school achieved its first-ever A and B grades and national recognition for college and career readiness. 

Before his appointment as Superintendent, he served five years as the district’s Associate Superintendent of Teaching and Learning Services. During his leadership, Pinellas County Schools achieved a record-high graduation rate and consistently increased academic performance in English and math. The superintendent also led the district through the pandemic with academic recovery far above the state and national averages.

Superintendent Hendrick's work has earned him numerous honors, including the Governor’s Shine Award, and national recognition as a “Superintendent to Watch” by the National School Public Relations Association. He was twice selected for the Tampa Bay Business Journal’s "Power 100" list, and he has been honored by the Florida PTA and the Children’s Movement of Florida. 

See the USF College of Education Distinguished Alumni Awards announcement.