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New Teacher Coffee Starts Fall Term

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By GEORGE H. NEWMAN

The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 27, 2008

PLANT CITY - Four days before students returned to the classroom, the community made sure new teachers in the area felt welcome and appreciated.

More than 200 teachers who are new to east Hillsborough County schools were treated to breakfast, goodie bags and some door prizes at the New Teacher Coffee, a longtime annual event.

More than 100 businesses and individual donors contributed money or gifts to the Aug. 14 event at the Florida Strawberry Festival's expo building. The coffee was for new teachers at the 27 schools in Area VI, which is directed by Barbara Franques and includes all public schools in east Hillsborough County.

"The New Teacher Coffee is an excellent opportunity for Hillsborough County to showcase our new teachers," Franques said. "It's also an opportunity for the local chamber of commerce to showcase our town and the support we provide to schools and teachers in our community."

Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce Chairman Paul Hackney attended for the first time.

"I think the New Teacher Coffee was a lot more than a lot of newcomers expected," Hackney said. "The enthusiasm shown by each school's new teachers was exciting and genuine. The energy that Barbara Franques brings to each event seems to rub off on everyone. It was a great way to start the new school year."

Plant City has held the welcoming coffees for about 25 years. The guest list includes teachers new to the profession and veterans who are starting their first year in schools in the region.

The coffees are always held a few days before classes begin, said Anne Haywood, Bruton Memorial Library director and chairwoman of the event.

The Rev. Tom Thoeni, pastor at St. Peter's Episcopal Church, blessed the food and commented on the teaching profession.

"Good teachers inspire and lead their students," Thoeni said. "Teachers are models of respect for others. It is our job to guide each student in the formative and crucial parts of their lives."

Amy Nizamoff, an employee at the chamber of commerce, was one of 17 event committee members who worked hard to pull off the annual event.

"It takes a couple of months to work it all out," Nizamoff said. "We put a call out to chamber members and individuals and they responded.

"The New Teacher Coffee is an important event to a lot of people in Plant City. Everyone wants to get involved and help out."

Nizamoff said the event was attended by 220 new teachers and 24 of the 27 principals in Area VI. Many of the major sponsors of the event were there, as well as former school board member Joe Newsome, School Superintendent MaryEllen Elia and several school board members including April Griffin.

"Board members go to a lot of chamber-sponsored new teacher coffees each year," Griffin said. "Plant City's was the first one done and remains the best each year. It is the model for all other chambers to live up to. Teachers who are new to Hillsborough County or new to Area VI are given an enthusiastic welcome at the event."

Reporter George H. Newman can be reached at (813) 865-4451 or gnewman@tampatrib.com.

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