Steinbrenner High School families heading into Monday's first day of school will do so under a new state education chief who wants to push more students toward careers faster.

Florida Education Commissioner Dr. Henry Mack outlined his priorities at Hillsborough County Schools' back-to-school kickoff Thursday, Aug. 6, at Lamb Elementary School in Tampa. It was Mack's first public appearance since being named commissioner July 22.

"I think we need to really think about options for career and technical education, greater alignment between education and industry needs, and how we are sort of breaking down those silos to accelerate individuals into jobs faster," Mack told Tampa Bay 28.

Steinbrenner in Lutz already offers several career-focused programs that align with Mack's stated priorities. The school runs an Academy of Information Technology, a Gaming and Simulation Design program and a Health Science track through HOSA, according to its official website. On July 8, six Steinbrenner students brought home two national FBLA championships from San Antonio: Hridansh Deshmukh, Ashir Patel and Aziz Shakruwala took first place in Data Analysis, while Manasvi Komaragiri, Ayati Kotha and Renee Qiang won Hospitality & Event Management.

Steinbrenner has held an A rating for 14 consecutive years. Principal Tiffany Ewell noted on the school's website that the streak reflects dedication from students, staff, families and community partners.

District riding momentum

The school's streak fits a broader upswing. Hillsborough County earned its first district-wide A grade in more than a decade heading into 2026-2027. Superintendent Van Ayres said at the kickoff that 74 schools earned an A, the most in district history, and 53 earned a B. No school received a grade below C.

Ayres also pointed to a record 71% pass rate on more than 30,000 AP exams taken during the 2025-2026 school year, an 18-percentage-point jump since 2022. Teacher vacancies have dropped from more than 650 to under 200, according to WFLA.

Screen-free K-2 classrooms

Parents of younger siblings will notice another change when school opens Aug. 10. The district is eliminating digital screen time for kindergarten through second grade, replacing devices with printed books, writing exercises and hands-on learning. Ayres said the shift is grounded in research showing young children learn best through interactions with teachers, classmates and printed materials.

What's ahead

Mack's contract has not yet been approved by the State Board of Education, according to the Tampa Bay Times. His visit to Hillsborough marked a shift in tone from his predecessor, who had frequently clashed with district officials.

The first day of school for Hillsborough County students is Monday, Aug. 10.