Newsome High School Principal Retires After 37 Year in Education

Over the next month, in between handling last-minute administrative duties, Rebecca S. Fitzgerald will pack up the contents of the office where she has served as principal of Newsome High School since the school opened in the fall of 2003.

She’ll keep the family photos, books and keepsakes that line her office bookshelves. Her collection of cherished wolf statues, representing the school’s mascot, will be handed down to friends and faculty members.

And the Newsome legacy? Well, Fitzgerald will pass that on to incoming Principal Carla Bruning.

Fitzgerald is is retiring after 37 years in education.

“It was time,” said the grandmother of nine, who plans to spend time pursuing her love of photography, traveling with her husband, Jim, and playing with her grandchildren.

But her decision to retire didn’t come without some regrets. “I’ll miss the kids,” she admitted.

Fitzgerald inherited her love of teaching from her parents, both of whom were teachers. In fact, her parents met while both were coaching high school basketball. Her mother taught physical education and English, her father math.

“They were just very dedicated to education and fostered that appreciation for education in my brother, sister and I,” said Fitzgerald. “It’s a lifelong commitment.”

She went on to get her undergraduate degree in math from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, and then taught school for three years in the Cincinnati area before moving to West Milford, N.J., where she taught another three years.

In 1980, Fitzgerald moved to Brandon, teaching at Tomlin Junior High School for 10 years while obtaining her master’s degree in curriculum and instruction.

“Then I became a department head and went back to school for my master’s in administration and supervision,” said Fitzgerald.

She worked in administration at Dowdell Junior High School for five years and then moved to Brandon High School as assistant principal for curriculum in 1995. Three years later, she was named the high school’s first woman principal, following in the footsteps of former Brandon High principals Lyle Flagg, Linwood Nelson, Orlan Briant and Pat Gregory.

“I remember my first day as principal, I was walking in the back door of the school with my arms full of things for my office, including a crystal biscuit jar I intended to fill with candy,” said Fitzgerald. “I stepped into this long hallway that had been newly polished and slipped. I broke the pictures but managed to save the biscuit jar. I remember thinking, ‘Wow, this really brings me down to reality. I’m no better than anyone else.’”

Five years later, in 2003, Fitzgerald decided it was time to take on a new challenge and take over the administration of the newly opened Newsome High School.

“It was difficult to leave Brandon, but I just felt it was a good move for me,” she said.”I loved every minute of opening Newsome. I loved meeting with the kids and the parents. It was exciting, one of the highlights of my career.”

She’s especially proud of the accomplishments of her students during the last eight years.

“From the first year, students started bringing home trophies,” she said. “I couldn’t believe how many trophies they earned. The activities of the kids was tremendous – musically, academically and athletically.”

Today, Newsome’s trophy cases are packed with trophies, and trophies overflow onto the counters and floor of the front office.

Fitzgerald has reason to be proud of her students. Out of 530 seniors graduating this year, more than half were in the honor court. Four students received full ROTC scholarships. Another received an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy. The school had three National Merit Scholarship winners. And 306 seniors graduated with a 4.0 or higher grade point average.

Fitzgerald is equally proud of her parents and faculty.

“The first year we were open, we had no football stadium and had to travel long distances to play football games,” she said. “But at every single game, our side of the stands was filled. The support was incredible.”

Although she said she will miss her staff, she knows she’s leaving the school in good hands.

“This staff is extremely strong, my teachers are wonderful and my administrators have been absolutely dynamite,” she said.

Last week, the Hillsborough County School Board voted unanimously to transfer King High School Principal Carla Bruning to Newsome High School to fill Fitzgerald’s shoes.

A product of the Hillsborough County School System, Bruning received her master’s degree from the University of South Florida.

She began her education career in 1985, teaching the sciences at Gaither and Bloomingdale high schools before being hired by the late Ronald Frost in 1995 to serve as assistant principal in student affairs at Durant High School.

She remained in that position until 2001 when she was appointed to King High School as assistant principal for curriculum.

She served as King's assistant principal for curriculum under Principal Richard Bartels (now retired) and Dr. David Steele (current chief information and technology officer).

In 2004, Bruning was appointed principal of C. Leon King High School.

“I think she’ll do a great job here at Newsome,” said Fitzgerald.