Mr. Speaker, I rise today during Black History Month to commemorate Starling School, located in the Childs Park neighborhood of St. Petersburg, and the leadership of Carolyn Cloud as a bedrock educational institution in St. Petersburg. Founded in 1974 by Viola and Jimmy Starling, Starling School has remained steadfast in its commitment to embracing and nurturing local youth.

Jimmy Starling was born and raised in Cuthbert, Georgia and Viola Starling was born and raised in Springvale, Georgia. Upon meeting and embracing their shared passion for education, they moved to Florida to make that dream a reality. Viola Starling’s lifelong passion for early childhood education shaped the institution’s mission. Prior to establishing the school, Mrs. Starling worked in childcare throughout Pinellas County, including at Jordan Park, in Dunedin, and alongside her cousin, Fred Williams, at a local daycare. Determined to create a center of her own, she pursued her dream despite repeated financial barriers, ultimately securing a loan from a banker at the St. Petersburg Bank in downtown St. Petersburg in 1974. This achievement marked the beginning of a service-based institution dedicated to expanding educational access and empowering generations of families.

From its earliest days, Starling School has remained deeply rooted in family and legacy. Mrs. Starling not only laid the foundation of the school’s legacy but envisioned its future well beyond her lifetime. The Starling family home, located adjacent to the original center in Childs Park, was intentionally incorporated into the school’s design and later transformed into classrooms that now house the school’s Voluntary Prekindergarten program. Each year, the center serves up to about 80 young learners through its early childhood education programs. Today, members of the second and third generations of the Starling family continue to operate and care for the center, preserving the founding values that have guided the institution for more than five decades.

Passing the torch to their daughter, Carolyn Cloud, has continued to preserve and advance her parents’ vision. Under Ms. Cloud’s leadership, Starling School has educated generations of students, many of whom have gone on to become doctors, lawyers, and community leaders. She has witnessed former students return to support the center through donations, mentorship, and service, while parents who were once students now entrust their own children to the school. In February 2024, Mrs. Cloud was honored by the Early Learning Coalition of Pinellas County in recognition of her extraordinary 50 years of dedication to education, noting her remarkable impact on more than 26,000 children between ages 2-5. The school was also named a 2022–2023 National Beta School of Merit in recognition of its commitment to academic excellence. This continuity reflects a living legacy of trust, care, and community investment.

Starling School emphasizes character, compassion, and responsibility alongside education. The center continues to reflect the foundational values instilled by the Starling family, “train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Through Cloud’s leadership, the school remains a nurturing environment where children are valued, supported, and inspired to give back to the community that first invested in them.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to recognize Starling School for more than half a century of extraordinary service to St. Petersburg and to commend Carolyn Cloud for her unwavering dedication to preserving and advancing her family’s vision. Through her stewardship, the legacy established by Viola and Jimmy Starling continues to uplift families, strengthen communities, and expand opportunity for generations to come. Their work reminds us that when a community invests in its children, it invests in its future. On behalf of my constituents, I congratulate Starling School on its 52nd anniversary and extend my sincere wishes for continued success and impact for many decades to come.