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The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 16, 2009

Blake High's Shirley Parker, who has taught and coached in Hillsborough County the past 37 years, said she is retiring next month as track and cross country coach.

Parker has been in the county's "drop" program the past five years. Like others in the program, which allows teachers to work beyond retirement, she was told by the school district she would not be rehired in the fall due to cost-cutting measures.

Although a compromise was recently reached between the teachers union and school district to allow most of these teachers to return at a reduced pay scale, Parker said she had already begun "mentally preparing" for her retirement and will focus more of her time on her small catering business.

Parker, a graduate of Savannah State, began teaching and coaching in 1972 at Webb Middle School, then Webb Junior High. Among the athletes she coached at Webb were current Wharton assistant track coach Laura Newton and Wharton football coach Dave Mitchell.

Parker also coached Damu Cherry, who was a member of the U.S. Olympic track team for the 2008 Beijing Games.

In 1994, Parker began coaching at Jefferson High. Four years later, she made the switch to Blake, where she has coached the past 11 years.

Zephyrhills names athletic director

Longtime baseball coach Bruce Cimorelli was named the new Zephyrhills athletic director, replacing longtime AD Craig Milburn.

Cimorelli, 50, had spent the previous 24 years as the school's baseball coach.

Cimorelli was one of five finalists for the job.

This was the first hire for new principal Steve Van Gorden.

Bill Ward, Eddie Daniels

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