Leslie Morris’ passion always had been education, but she took a special liking to ESE students. Her passion led her to become the first principal of Simmons Career and Exceptional Center in 2004. After she died suddenly at age 69 last August, the center decided to name the access road in front of the school after her.
The center unveiled the new street signs for Leslie Morris Lane Feb. 8, in a special presentation.
“She was passionate about her job,” Simmons principal’s secretary Belinda Robinson said. “She was passionate about her students and faculty. She was just a unique lady who had a lot of class.”
Robinson had been Morris’ secretary from almost the beginning of the school.
“She made a great impact in education,” Robinson said. “Within Hillsborough County, she just made a positive impact in everything she was involved in.”
The district agrees. Not only did they allow the road to be named after Morris, but also the board named an award after her, the Leslie Morris Community Impact Award. The award is given to any group or individual that supports ESE students in the county.
“That is just awesome,” Robinson said. “To have that honor in the school district — that’s as big as we get.”
Morris was born July 29, 1943, in Tennessee. When she was a child, she moved to Parkersburg, W. Va. In 1971, she earned her associate’s degree from Hillsborough Community College and then received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of South Florida.
Just three years later, Morris was immersed in the education field as an E.M.H. teacher, transferring to Dover Exceptional Center and teaching there until 1981, when she was appointed as its administrator. In 1999, she was appointed principal at Caminiti Exceptional Center and served there until 2004.
She left Caminiti Exeptional Center to be the first principal at Simmons Career and Exceptional Center, retiring from that position in June 2010.
Even though she had retired, Morris continued being a presence in the ESE community. She volunteered as a surrogate parent for exceptional children in the Hillsborough County School District and donated her time to the MacDonald Training Center, serving on its board of directors.
For the past three years, Morris also enjoyed what she called “adventures.” Longtime friend Lisa Wilkinson accompanied her on trips to Carlsbad Caverns, in New Mexico, San Antonio, New Orleans and Thailand, among many other places.
“She used to say we were Thelma and Louise,” Wilkinson told the Plant City Observer in August.
Morris also loved her family. Her two grandchildren, Evan Hill and Shayla Morris, were the light of her life. She is survived by two sons, Donald J. Morris and Michael E. Morris; her daughter, Julie; son-in-law, Erthel Hill; along with her sister, brother and nephews and nieces. Her husband, Donald E. Morris preceded her in death.
“She just had a way with people, with anyone who needed help, she went out of her way,” Robinson said.
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