Meet the Principal: Victoria Hawkins

As the beginning of the new school year nears, Palm Harbor Middle School Principal Victoria Hawkins says she has a lot to be thankful for. 

“I have been blessed with an excellent staff and student body.” said Hawkins. After twenty six years in education, I feel lucky to be here.”

Under her leadership the school has received an "A" grade from the State of Florida for the last five years. (PHMS) has also earned the Five Star School award for the last eleven years in a row.

Hawkins says she's wanted to be a teacher for as long as she could remember. “My fondest memory of school was loving every day of it. I enjoyed the one-on-one time I was able to spend with my teachers,” said Hawkins. When it came her favorite books, she loved reading the Nancy Drew series.

Hawkins began her teaching career in the Pinellas County school system after moving here from New Cumberland, PA. Her first assignment was as a math teacher at Safety Harbor Middle School. After she received her Masters degree from Argosy University, Hawkins was promoted to Assistant Principal at Oak Grove Middle School in Clearwater. Five years ago, the call came for her to take over PHMS.

When asked about the single most important quality a principal should possess she was thoughtful, “To me it’s really important to inspire. Not just the students but the staff. Instilling the passion of education to me is the key. Once you ignite that passion, you can accomplish anything.”

The greatest challenge facing Hawkins this year is handling an increased enrollment of 1450 students and maintaining the level of excellence that currently exists.  

She has no doubt that together with her faculty and students, they can overcome any obstacle. She says, “In a sea of changes, we have always been able to swim with the current and succeed."

Hawkins is passionate about parents being involved in their child's education and thinks it can lead to success in the classroom. “If the parent can talk to their child about their day, every day, look at their planner, and ensure homework is complete, then they can truly improve the quality of their education.”

The principal believes that keeping up with technology is also very important. “We have over 900 computers at our school,” she said. “We have mobile computer labs, Ipods  for students use, and even a new Ipad lab. This year, the school will also receive a new digital arts computer lab that will help produce future graphic artists.”

PHMS has been virtually untouched by the current budget cuts. Last year, the school had 92 teachers on staff.  “We were lucky this year,” said Hawkins. “Due to the increased enrollment we haven’t lost a single teacher allocation.”

The school also has strong support from the private sector and business community. 35 School Partners donate money for use in the schools general fund and 126 Classroom Partners have adopted individual classes. 

When it comes to improving education, if Hawkins could wave a magic wand, she says she would wish for an instruction model that addresses all learning styles. “Students learn in different ways. Some are visual, some are auditory learners. If we could teach the way each student effectively learns, that would be incredible,” she said.

Community involvement is also on Hawkin's list of priorities. Students at PHMS have the opportunity to be involved in several community activities. Members of the Garden and Horticulture clubs visit local nursing homes. Members of the National Junior Honor Society complete 20 hours of community service.  

Students also have the opportunity to help local animals in the area. “We are also the only school in Pinellas County that has the Adopt Romeo Friends program,” said Hawkins,  “We have over 200 students who work with the Suncoast Animal League.”  The club, sponsored by Chorus teacher Susan Cavanaugh, coordinates donations of dog and cat food and supplies.

So, what is the one thing that people might not know about Victoria Hawkins?  

“I guess it’s that I am a great mom and I have a big heart,” she said with a smile.