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Limo delivers top Hillsborough teacher to school

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BY ROB SHAW

The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 23, 2012

TAMPA - It was a day of firsts for Hillsborough High School teacher Yolanda Whitehead Driskell.

First, she could leave her car at home and ride to school in style in a stretch limousine.

That's something she easily could get used to every day.

"Oh definitely," she said this morning, flashing a smile. "I'd save on gas, too."

Second, she learned her photo is now on a tray liner that will be used at 53 Tampa Bay area McDonald's restaurants.

"I've never been on a tray liner before," she said.

And she's excited about it – even with the prospect of ketchup splashed on her face.

Such is the whirlwind of life for the school district's teacher of the year. The 41-year-old algebra teacher won the award last week.

She was picked up at her home in a Cadillac limousine early today for the 3-mile trip to her school, where she teaches algebra and coaches volleyball.

"It was short, but it was nice," Whitehead Driskell said. "I wish I could have brought some students with me."

Several classes of students were outside the school on Central Avenue to welcome her, accompanied as she was by officials from the Hillsborough Education Foundation. Even Ronald McDonald was there, opening the door and extending a hand as she stepped from the limo.

Joseph Serrano held up his Algebra 2 book as she posed for photos with the students.

"She's a good teacher," the freshman said. "She helps me figure out problems I never thought I could solve."

Whitehead Driskell, an 11-year veteran of the classroom, was named the best from more than 15,000 teachers in the county.

"This is so exciting. She's so deserving of it," said Anne-Marie Manning, the athletic secretary. "She's just phenomenal."

rshaw@tampatrib.com (813) 259-7999

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