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New Teachers Get A Grand Welcome

Tribune photo by LOIS KINDLE

Ruskin Chamber of Commerce board member Brandy Knowles, left, hands a gift bag filled with school supplies to Michelle Smith, a pre-K, special needs teacher at Wimauma Elementary.

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By LOIS KINDLE and JOHN CEBALLOS The Tampa Tribune

The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 19, 2008

Updated:

SOUTH SHORE - About 300 new public school teachers were greeted with gift bags, food and other goodies by the Ruskin and Riverview chambers of commerce Thursday morning.

The chambers host the breakfasts to welcome the teachers to their respective communities.

"I thought it was terrific," said Jeff Collins, who will teach physical education at Sessums Elementary. "It's my first time attending an event like this and it's great to see the Riverview community supporting its teachers like this."

The Riverview chamber hosted its event at the International Independent Showmens Association, while the Ruskin chamber had its at The Resort & Club at Little Harbor.

Following breakfast, executive directors Kitty Cunningham and Melanie Morrison introduced their guest speakers - Earl Lennard, who spoke at the Riverview function, and George Keith, who talked at the Ruskin event.

Lennard is a former Hillsborough County school superintendent, and Keith is the president of the new SouthShore campus of Hillsborough Community College in Ruskin.

Both chambers gave teachers gift bags filled with supplies to help them get a head start on the school year. The Ruskin chamber also handed out Wal-Mart gift cards, and Riverview awarded a variety of door prizes, including a one-hour massage, Tampa Bay Lightning tickets, hotel getaways, tote bags and facials.

"I thought it was great how they brought everyone together to make us feel so welcome," said Michelle Smith, 33, who will teach prekindergarten, special-needs children at Wimauma Elementary. "The gifts were totally unexpected, but a very pleasant surprise."

"We do this to welcome teachers to our community, to show them Ruskin is a great place to live and work," Morrison said. "We encourage them to be active in the community and to view the chamber and its members as their resources."

"This was our third annual event, and it was the biggest ever," Cunningham said. "We want to welcome our teachers and let them know how much we appreciate what they do for our kids. We are here to support them."

Reporter John Ceballos can be contacted at jceballos@tampa trib.com or (813) 865-1555. Reporter Lois Kindle can be reached at lkindle@tampatrib.com or (813) 865-1553.

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