J. W. Mitchell High School

Infobox_School | name = J. W. Mitchell High School
established = 2000
type = Public
staff = Approx 190
principal = Ric Mellin
asst principal = Carin Nettles, Joanne Glenn, Jessica Schultz, Cindy Miller, Fatima Delio
enrollment = approx. 2,800
free_label = Colors
free_text = Black and Gold
location = 2323 Little Road
New Port Richey, FL 34691
information = [phone]
website = http://mitchellonline.pasco.k12.fl.us

J. W. Mitchell High School is a public high school in New Port Richey, Florida of the Pasco County Schools in Pasco County, Florida. Home to the Mustangs, JWMHS is one of the largest schools in the county.

The school received its name as a condition by the owner of the land, James W. Mitchell, who lives nearby. Many people expected the high school to follow the name of its adjacent Seven Springs Middle School and nearby Seven Springs Elementary School.

J. W. Mitchell High School opened at the start of the 2000-01 school year, although there was no senior class until the second year of operation. The school, designed to relieve overcrowding at River Ridge and Gulf High Schools, was constructed adjacent to Seven Springs Middle School on Little Road. The school consists of separate buildings originally designed for each of the five learning communities.

Classes meet according to a modular schedule which allows longer classes which do not meet every day. The school is named for James Mitchell, a rancher, community leader and businessman. His wife Dorothy served on the school board for about 20 years.

The first principal was Tina Tiede, who later became assistant superintendent for middle schools for Pasco County. The second and current principal is Ric Mellin, a former assistant principal at Wesley Chapel High School who was promoted in September 2005.

By 2006, the enrollment had increased to the point that 27 portable classrooms were in use. In the October 1, 2006, newsletter, the Principal reported that enrollment stood at 2,555 students.

The school's mascot is the mustang.

In the News

Lisa Robyn Marinelli , a substitute teacher at Mitchell, was arrested on March 24, 2008 for having sex with a 17 year old student at the school and was charged with unlawful sex with a minor. The boy's father saw him pulling up his pants as he exited Marinelli's car which resulted in the investigation. The boy later told police that he and Marinelli had sex 10 times between January and February, starting when he was 16. His father provided cell phone records and text messages, some of which said, "How about a quicky 2morrow afternoon." and, "You can meet me at home at 3. Real men only need 20 minutes. We will be alone cause there is a field trip." According to the criminal complaint, Marinelli was looking for potential suitors for her 16-year-old daughter, and identified the boy as a possible boyfriend for her. [ [http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/mar/25/me-educator-arrested-on-sex-charge/ New Port Richey Teacher Arrested In Student Sex Case ] ] [ [http://suncoastpasco.tbo.com/content/2008/mar/25/teacher-wanted-student-date-daughter-documents-say/ Documents Say Teacher Wanted Boy To Date Daughter ] ]

Notable Alumni

* Tyler Clippard-Nationals pitcher

References

External links

* [http://mitchellonline.pasco.k12.fl.us J. W. Mitchell High School Website]
* [http://www.pasco.k12.fl.us District School Board of Pasco County]
* [http://www.mitchellband.com J. W. Mitchell High School Band]