Hillsborough Schools supervisor honored for Hispanic heritage advocacy

TAMPA, Fla. — As Hispanic Heritage Month continues, Hillsborough County Public Schools’ English language supervisor, Jessica De La Prida, is being recognized for her decades of helping multilingual students succeed in the classroom.

De La Prida received the 2025 Hispanic Advocacy Award from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Hispanic Advisory Council for her leadership and community engagement.

A proud daughter of Cuban and Peruvian immigrants, De La Prida has spent more than 25 years in education — first in Broward County and now in Hillsborough — supporting English learners and the teachers who serve them.

“We want to ensure that as our students are learning how to speak English,” De La Prida said. “They’re also learning how to read and write, how to do math and other content areas.”

Her work comes at a crucial time.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, English learners accounted for 10.6% of all public school students in 2021, up from 9.4% in 2011. That number is expected to increase significantly by 2030.

Education experts say the growing population of English learners has created a nationwide shortage of ESOL (English for speakers of other languages) teachers, leaving schools struggling to meet demand.

De La Prida said collaboration among teachers, families and community partners is key to ensuring that students learning English don’t fall behind in other subjects.

Beyond the classroom, she works closely with organizations like the Greater Haitian Chamber of Commerce of Tampa to help immigrant families understand their rights and navigate the school system.

“The Haitian community is very close to my heart,” De La Prida said. “Collaboration is key to helping families understand how vital their role is in their child’s education.”

For De La Prida, education remains the foundation of the American dream her parents sought when they came to the United States.

“My parents came to this country so that I could have an education,” she said. “Education opens doors — it’s what connects families, cultures and communities.”

Her recognition during Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates not only her career, but also her commitment to ensuring that language is never a barrier to success.

Jessica De La Prida received the 2025 Hispanic Advocacy Award from the Sheriff’s Hispanic Advisory Council. (Courtesy: Sheriff’s Hispanic Advisory Council.)