Administration

Howard W Blake High School of the Arts Administrators

Jacqueline Haynes - Principal

Mrs. Jacqueline K. Haynes, is a graduate of Florida State University, where she received her Bachelor's Degree in Education. She continued her education at the University of South Florida, where she received her Masters Degree in Guidance and Counseling, and Educational Leadership. Ms. Haynes is a product of the HIllsborough County Public Schools, graduating from Brandon High School in 1978. For the past 25 years, she has worked as a teacher, guidance counselor, assistant principal and presently Principal at numerous schools. Her experience has allowed her to serve Blake, Brandon, Bloomingdale, and Plant City high schools. She loves serving the students and families of Blake. Ms. Haynes also has an AA degree in music, concentrating on Flute.

Gregory Basham - Assistant Principal of Curriculum for the Magnet Program

Mr. Basham earned his Bachelor's Degree in Music from East Tennessee State University and his Master's Degree from the University of South Florida. Prior to coming to Howard W. Blake High School he served as an Assistant Principal at Plant High School and the Director of Instrumental Music at Newsome High School where he helped the band program earn numerous Superior ratings, Grand Championships and a become a 3 time State Finalist. Mr. Basham also taught in Tennessee for 10 years before moving to Hillsborough County in the summer of 2006. Under his direction the Halls High School band program also won many Grand Championships and was a named a Finalist at the Contest of Champions. Mr. Basham was Teacher of the Year in 2001. He is currently on staff with the Florida Ambassador's of Music where he serves as the orchestra conductor. Mr. Basham is a member of Music Educators National Conference, Florida Music Educator's Association, Phi Beta Mu and the Hillsborough Association of School Administrators. Mr. Basham is married and enjoys spending time with his wife and daughter.

Teresa Winston - Fine Arts Coordinator

Teresa Benefield Winston earned a BA degree in Art Education from The University of South Florida and recently earned a Master’s of Science degree from Capella University graduating with distinction, Summa Cum Laude.

Winston is a founding member of the artist-faculty of Blake High School and currently serves as Fine Arts Coordinator / Lead Teacher, and is in charge of recruitment and admissions. Winston has served as an art educator /advocate for the past 37 years in Hillsborough County Public Schools. She has taught a variety of visual arts courses including: Jewelry / Metals, Photography, Ceramics, Sculpture, AP Portfolio, Drawing, Painting and Glass. She has been a workshop presenter at FAEA and Magnet Schools of America conferences. She previously served as secretary for Hillsborough Art Education Association and is on the board of directors for Friends of the Arts, a non- profit organization that supports Blake High School. In 2000 she received the recognition “Blake High School Teacher of the Year."

She is certified in Diamonds from Gemological Institute of America and is a goldsmith specializing in lost wax casting and stone setting. Winston’s artwork has been exhibited in local venues throughout the Tampa Bay area, including Tampa Museum of Art, and TECO Plaza. She is responsible for many murals and stained glass installations in both public schools and private spaces. Her current projects include overseeing murals at Roland Park k-8 School and Young Middle Magnet K-8 School and as well as serving as a consultant for glass mosaic installations at both Stewart Middle School and Orange Grove Middle School. Winston has written and received many grants to have students paint murals and produce stained glass windows for Blake High School.

Throughout her teaching career her students have won numerous first place awards including: The Columba Bush Award, The Congressional Show, Next Generation, Law Day, Tampa Museum - "The Art of Recycling", University of Tampa - "High School Art Awards", National Art Honor Society Exhibition, Holland and Knight Illustration Award, 3M Corporation “Think Big Billboard Contest” and the “Kodak Award of Excellence” in the Scholastic Art Competition. Winston previously taught visual arts courses at Blake, Gaither and Chamberlain High Schools in Tampa, Florida.

John Parris - Fine Arts Department Chair

John Michael Parris, director of Blake Guitar Studies, is a major prizewinner in four international guitar competitions and a former Artistic Ambassador for the U.S. State Department. Hailed as “a player of great sensitivity and refinement” (Soundboard magazine), he has performed throughout the United States and abroad. Mr. Parris has received national teaching awards from the U.S. Department of Education, the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts, and was voted Florida Studio Teacher of the Year 2004 by the American String Teachers Association. His Blake students have won seven national awards in the past seven years. They have performed at Lincoln Center in New York, the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, on The Today Show on NBC, and on NPR’s nationally syndicated From The Top. John Michael Parris currently serves as Fine Arts Department Chair at Blake. Mr. Parris joined the artist-faculty of Blake in 1998; previous teaching positions include North Carolina School of the Arts, the University of South Florida, St. Leo University, and Florida State University.