Explorer Principal Remains Hospitalized

David Schoelles went from classroom to classroom at Explorer K-8 on Friday so students can put a face with the name of their interim principal.

"Just so that students know I'm here for a short period of time and know who I am," Schoelles said. "That's important, especially for the little ones."

Schoelles, a former principal who now works as the district's curriculum specialist, is back behind the administrator's desk to fill in for Explorer Principal Dominick Ferello.

Ferello was hospitalized earlier this week and remained at Tampa General Hospital Friday afternoon. A call to Ferello's room was transferred to the intensive care unit.

District officials, including Superintendent Wayne Alexander, declined to comment, citing medical privacy laws.

A message left at the hospital for Ferello's family members was not returned. Ferello and his wife Vivian have two teenage children.

Schoelles said neither he nor school staffers are broaching the subject with students as to why Ferello is absent.

"All we're able to say is Mr. Ferello will be back, but he's out for a while, and in the meantime we'll keep things going normally until he's able to return," Schoelles said. "That's the best we can do."

Alexander said he tapped Schoelles, who most recently worked as principal at Fox Chapel Middle, "to provide leadership" while Ferello is away.

Ferello, 53, was hired in January to lead the new, 2,100-student school that opened in August. He most recently worked as assistant principal of Sandpiper Elementary School in Fort Lauderdale.

Ferello has already established a reputation as an energetic, hands-on leader. Alexander has described him as "a dynamic, passionate leader," and school board member Jim Malcolm has called Ferello "a dynamo."