BY IRIS B. HOLTON
Sentinel City Editor
Derrick Gaines has been a member of the Hillsborough County School District for more than 20 years. He most recently served as the Assistant Principal of Administration at Middleton High School.
Earlier this month, Gaines learned that he earned a promotion to principal and was assigned to Van Buren Middle School as its principal.
Gaines arrived just in time to be a participant in the school’s Annual Black History Program.
A native of Hillsborough County, Gaines attended the public schools of Hillsborough County. He graduated from King High School in 1982, and continued his education at Florida A & M University, where he earned his B. S. degree in Education.
After graduating Gaines taught in the Leon County School District for several years before returning home. For the past 24 years, Gaines has served as an educator and coach.
In 2003, Gaines was promoted to Assistant Principal for Student Affairs at Sickles High School. Two years later, he was appointed Assistant Principal for Administration at Tampa Bay Technical High School.
In 2007, Gaines was transferred to Middleton High School to serve as its Assistant Principal for Administration. His most recent appointment was on February 5th.
In keeping with the theme, seven students participated in a play known as “The Graduate,” created by twin sisters, Dr. Philetha Tucker-Johnson and Dr. Phyllis Tucker-Wicks, of Bles’d Productions.
The play, which took place in the school’s gymnasium on February 13th, focused on a fictional school known as The African American Institute Of Black Studies.
In the play, the Valedictorian takes a trip with other students to hear what some students produced for their final presentation. The final presentations included tributes to such notables as The Jackson Five, Alicia Keys, Don Cornelius, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Whitney Houston, and Malcolm X.
As the Valedictorian talked, other students did a skit about the person she was speaking about. Ross Anderson said, “One student, Mark Coleman, recited the entire “I Have A Dream,” Speech and received a standing ovation from the students. He was very good.”
In addition to the play, fifteen students selected a theme and submitted an essay. The winner of the essay contest was Johanna Couchman, daughter of Dr. Marcus Coachman. The theme she selected was “Look at the diversity in the United States. What are the benefits of such a diverse society.”
Pictured: Johanna Couchman was the winner of the essay contest. She is shown with Principal Derrick Gaines.
