Tinker Elementary School

This school may be conviently located but trust me it is a poor choice of a school. If you aren't an officer and if your child isn't the brightest in the class, they WILL be left behind. Teachers and staff are very gossipy and the demenor of the school is that of a snotty South Tampa private school.
—Submitted by a parent

I currently have 2 children at Tinker (2nd & K). This is our 1st year at the school. However, we transferred in from another school (10 rated) in the district. We have been very happy with the administration, staff and teachers. I feel everyone has gone out of his or her way to make the transition as smooth as possible. I find everyone to be very responsive and helpful. My children are having a great time learning. The school isn't as test crazy as the previous school my children attended but I find it makes for a better learning environment. For my kids to spend time learning the FL test is just a waste of time b/c they will be in another state or Country next year. I like that the teachers teach the fundamentals instead of "teaching the test". Best part about the school is they get the very unique lifestyle that military brats live so they understand the needs and constraints that come along with moving frequently and deployments. The school isn't perfect and there is always room for improvement but I would absolutely recommend Tinker to my friends and family.
—Submitted by a parent

My children have both gone to Tinker. My son from 3rd to 5th and my daughter since kinder and she is now in 5th grade. I will say this last year there has been a nightmare. They have had so many changes in the front office and teachers that it has really gone downhill. My child's teacher is not understanding of anything and feels that it is necessary to make my child feel unworthy. I worked at Tinker the first 3 years they were there so I know first hand how bad it has gotten. The numbers drastically decreased this year as well because parents have noticed this as well.
—Submitted by a parent

Parents Beware, if you child is too busy they will be labeled and thrown to the side!!! If your child is self sufficient and a A student then your child will be fine at Tinker. My child was a student at Tinker from 1st grade through 5th. Although Tinker passed my child year after year and now he is so far behind that he is repeating the 5th grade. Every year I grew increasingly frustrated, asking for help, bringing him to outside tutors as well as Tinker's sad excuse for extra help (ELP). The school does not welcome involved parents, in fact I had volunteered on several occasions to help out and never received calls back. The school doesn't even support parents having lunch with their children anymore. They should fire about 90% of their staff and start with teachers that really want to be there. Thank goodness the principal retired, but the assistant principal is just as bad if not worse and WOW she is sneaky!!! Hopefully the new principal will clean house!!! I am so glad to finally have my child at a school where the teachers and staff really care about education and not just the FCAT.
—Submitted by a parent

This school is desperately trying to hide its failures and pull itself out of a B rating back to a A rating. They are trying to raise the percentage of rotating children in efforts of hiding their staff's deficiencies since this is easier then rotating stale staff and leadership. Even the base commander has joined this selfish cause. Their latest framework ensures this by not allowing children even siblings of children who already attend Tinker to be enrolled from households not within MacDill s perimeter. Over the last decade this was not the case, until the newly arrived leadership changed the rules. Previously children from MacDill's workforce would be allowed to attend even if they resided off base. When the percentage of children in Tinker changed from a rotational majority (leaving every 2 to 3 years) to a non-rotational majority (not leaving due to military orders every 2 to 4 years) the schools ranking fell to a B . As you can guess when the decade of A ratings fell to a B rating the new principal and base commander joined forces in changing the enrollment framework to raise rotational majority.It is easier to change children then failed staff.
—Submitted by a parent

Average academics, but the children are safe. Front office staff may be a little overzealous in enforcing rules, and it may come across as parents aren't welcome. The new principal lived the military life and really understands what our children go through. I love how she thanks the parents for allowing them to serve the children of those who serve! She was put in the tough position of enforcing the rules after the previous principal gave everyone special favors and enrollment got out of hand. Parent involvement is shamefully low since most live off base and commute (see favors above). Tinker will be a great school in a couple of years!
—Submitted by a parent

I love this school and so does my son. Mrs. Bussey has been our favorite teacher. She loves her kids and her way of teaching is great. This year we had Mrs. Gatton and I still don't know what really make of way she grades them. Overall my son had a great report. Card and his fcat scores were great. The only downfall is I don't like the new principal. I do not feel she really understands military lifestyles and how it effects the kids like our last principal
—Submitted by a parent

My 3 children have attended Tinker for 3 years. I absolutely love this school. The teachers and staff truely care about the children and the school has a stong parent community. I am a firm believer in it taking a community to raise a child and Tinker has that environment. We are a military family and my children love that the other kids understand why mom or dad might be gone. I have had one class where one of my children did not work well with the teacher and brought the issue to the principal and Ms. Tao quickly fixed the issue and my son was placed in a better class fit for his learning personality. He is in the gifted program and they constantly challenge the children. Teachers are open to parent involvement which is always a plus. There are tons of activities throughout the year for families put on by the school. My children also attend Host and the staff there are also wonderful. Mr. Kevin takes good care of them all.
—Submitted by a parent

Tinker is a wonderful school my son love it all his techears are great ( Miss Kain 1st grade, Miss Bussey 2nd and now Miss Miller 3rd... This is our last year here in this school and I have to say I'm gonna miss this school. They make u feel really welcome and the teachers really care about students... Definitely the best school so far
—Submitted by a parent

Both of my children have attended Tinker Elementary. My son for fourth and fifth grades and daughter for kindergarten through third grade. The teachers have been wonderful. In particular Mrs. Kain (first grade) and Mrs. Dunkel (fourth grade). They show genuine care and concern for the students. Mrs. Humenansky is the assistant principal and she is AMAZING! My daughter had a hard time when my son transferred to middle school. Mrs. Humenansky personally took responsibility for making my daughter feel comfortable during this difficult transition. In addition Mrs. Catts, the school counselor worked with my daughter to help her feel more independent and less afraid of being at school without her brother.
—Submitted by a parent

Absolute disappointment when it comes to school management. The school administration has proven itself inadequate and somewhat surprised at the sudden influx of new students this year - the classrooms are bursting at the seems and the teachers are unable to handle the full load, so to speak, with patience. The cafeteria is out of control! The staff at the cafeteria is absolutely incapable of handling the noise and have no proper training as to how to handle the younger children. The food that is served is NOT what the menu online shows. The younger children are offered a la cart items with a lot of junk food in the selection. The kids do not have time to finish their lunch - the lines are long and the cashiers would rather chat with each other than help the kids go faster. I am shocked at the fact that our kids have an average of 7-10 min. to eat and they end up throwing most of it in the trash because they can't finish it. We even know of children who ended up going hungry and throwing away their entire lunches because "the janitor came for the trays". My advise - send your lunch from home! Or - to avoid the problem with the junk food temptation send exact change daily
—Submitted by a parent

I do not know this school ranks. While I am a parent I have heard nothing from them about my children
—Submitted by a parent

Love the teachers and the after school program! Wonderful school! The kids love it and we love all of the activities that are available to them.
—Submitted by a parent

The school is a fair school. Although I feel it's greatest flaw is a total lack of organization, I do feel my children are safe. Seeing as how the school is located on the military base it is not accesible to the public. The teachers are pleased to be teaching in this school. We have 2 children currently enrolled. Our 2nd grader loves her male teacher our kindergartener is less thrilled with his female teacher but we are working on it. I will say the pick-up drop-off can be a little daunitng. Your best bet is always to park and retrieve your child by hand. Children are given a great deal of freedom to roam during school so I would reccomend a plan and course of action for issues that may occur in that area. All in all, a fair school. Not the most academic school but a safe environment.
—Submitted by a parent

Great school. My son was here for kindergarten and 1is now in 1st grade. I love, love, love both teachers he had. Ms. G Bell and Ms. S Bell (yes they're related), are great teachers and my son loved them both. They are very approachable, and you can tell they genuinely care for their students. Though I've never had any personaly experience with the priniciple, she is tough, but she loves her students as well. I'll miss Tinker. The only reason my child won't be attending next year is because the school will be outside of my area. Thank you Tinker staff.
—Submitted by a parent

Staff continually puts a good show on but our children's education is paying for it!!
—Submitted by a parent

Tinker Elementary is a fantastic school located on MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida. My children have great memories of that little school!!! The teachers and staff are the best in Hillsborough county!
—Submitted by a parent

My daughter started at Tinker about 2 monts ago. So far, I really like her teacher's methods of teaching, which is what counts. I can still tell you that I don't care with the people at the front office. I agree with a lot of previous reviews, they are rude, are not professional and seems like they do not care abou who is standing in front of them. I have met the principal on several occasion and so fat, I think she is great. So that's it...I just have a bad thing to say about the admin.
—Submitted by a parent

This school is the best that has happen to my son! I have found the principal to be supportive w/responsible parents and matters under her control. My son teachers are and have been responsive to the needs of the student and as a result my son has moved up the grades with no problem. Today, my son (eventhough he is in lower grade) he is reading and doing math work at the fifth grade level and he is very motivated. His disposition is the reflection of the school's environment and the high quality of teachers the schools has on-hand. The fact this school is inside of a military base gives me the peace of mind I could not get in any other school. The only observation I have is for the office staff to be more customer oriented and stay away from gestures to improve their bad repution. A parent
—Submitted by a parent

This is an outstanding school to send your children to. This is a school of choice. Those parents who are complaining need to do us all a favor and find a new school! The principal is a great person. Very professional and supportive. She is very friendly and goes out of her way to know each parent in the school. The administrative team at Tinker needs to do some work that reflects the principal's leadership and caring attitude...
—Submitted by a parent