FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 14, 2003
Pinellas County deputy superintendent, Freedom coach to join FHSAA staff
GAINESVILLE – Pinellas County Schools deputy superintendent Dr. John A. Stewart and Freedom High School girls volleyball coach Tamara J. Wilsey will join the staff of the Florida High School Athletic Association this fall, Commissioner Robert W. Hughes announced today. Stewart will replace Ron Allen, who retires Aug. 31, as the Associate Commissioner for Athletic Operations and Officials. Wilsey will fill the newly created Associate Director of Athletics position.
Stewart’s 35-year career in public education includes 30 years in school administration on the school, county and state levels in Florida. He served as a principal and Superintendent of Schools in Polk County from 1975-96, and as Deputy Commissioner of Educational Programs in Florida’s Department of Education from 1998-2000. He was appointed Deputy Superintendent of Pinellas County Schools in 2000. As Associate Commissioner for Athletic Operations, Stewart will oversee the FHSAA’s athletic and officials programs, and supervise the FHSAA’s nine-member athletic operations staff. His employment begins Sept. 1.
Wilsey has worked in organized athletics on both the high school and college levels. She began her career in 1996 as a graduate teaching assistant in the University of Florida College of Health and Human Performance while also serving as head girls volleyball coach at Gainesville’s P.K. Yonge Developmental Research School. Wilsey served as Academic Counselor for Intercollegiate Athletics and as assistant coach and interim head coach of the men’s volleyball team at St. Francis College of Pennsylvania in 1997-98 before taking a position as Academic Advisor/Counselor for the men’s and women’s basketball programs and learning disabled student-athletes at the University of South Florida in Tampa from 1998-2000. She accepted a position as head girls volleyball coach at Seffner’s Armwood High School in 2000, then transferred into the same position at the newly opening Freedom High School in Tampa last fall. Wilsey has served as FACA District 13 Volleyball Chairperson and as a Section 3 representative on the FHSAA’s Volleyball Advisory Committee. As Associate Director of Athletics, Wilsey will administer the FHSAA’s programs in the sports of fall soccer, swimming & diving, boys volleyball and girls weightlifting. Her employment begins Aug. 18.
“We are fortunate to have John and Tamara joining our staff,” Hughes said. “We look forward to working with them and to the contributions both are sure to make to the Association.”
On a related note, Hughes also announced the promotion of communications assistant Laurel Ring to the newly created administrative position of Communications Coordinator effective Sept. 1. Ring, in her new position, will assume responsibility for the preparation of the FHSAA’s handbook and sports manuals, will administer the sportsmanship and all-sports awards programs, and will supervise the media operations at six FHSAA Finals state championship events.
The Florida High School Athletic Association is the governing body for interscholastic athletics in Florida. It has a membership of more than 670 middle and high schools.
Contact:
Jack Watford
Director of Communications, FHSAA
(352) 372-9551 ext. 170
jwatford@fhsaa.org
