Howard W Blake High School of the Arts - Creative Communications Faculty

Cassandra Curry - Creative Writing

Casey Curry is the director of Creative Writing studies at the Blake High School of the Arts. Ms. Curry holds a B.A. degree in philosophy and religion - with a concentration in education and a minor in applied art - from Hood College in Frederick, Maryland. She also holds an M.A. in Gifted Education from Norfolk State University in Norfolk, Virginia specializing in the linguistically gifted and under identified gifted students. This population includes emerging female student writers, students from inner city schools and children of migrant workers. She is the author and creator of the “Gifted Girls” writing workshop and game. Ms. Curry is the author, illustrator of a children’s poetry book entitled, I Remember You Today (ISBN: 1-884878-15-6). The innovative, interactive book combines a poetry form, the elegy, with vivid illustrations and an invitation for the reader to write. She has conducted poetry writing and bibliotherapy workshops using this book, other poetry forms as well as therapeutic and grief related writing sessions in a variety of academic settings.

Kelly Horne - Journalism

Newspaper Adviser Kelly M. Horne is a graduate of Florida A&M University, where she majored in Journalism and Graphic Communication. Ms. Horne joined the artist-faculty at Blake School of the Arts in 2006 and currently teaches English and Journalism. Prior to joining Blake, Ms. Horne worked as a professional journalist for numerous newspapers, including the Detroit Free Press, the Tallahassee Democrat, The Lakeland Ledger and The Fernandina Beach News Leader. She remains actively involved with the profession, participating regularly in high profile events such as the American Society of Newspaper Editors national conference, the High School Journalism Institute for Advisers and the Journalism Education Association Advisers Institute. Blake’s exceptional student publication, The Blaze, consistently receives awards and accolades for its journalistic excellence. In 2009, The Blaze won a Bronze award from the Florida Scholastic Press Association for outstanding achievement in Journalism. The staff received a total of seven awards, some of which include “Excellent Newspaper Design,” “Excellent Newspaper Review,” and “Excellent Editorial.” Ms. Horne has established partnerships with both the St. Petersburg Times and the Poynter Institute, affording Blake students unique opportunities to interact with high caliber professionals.

Anthony Gill - Multimedia Production

Television and Film Production Anthony Gill, a resident of Tampa for over 30 years, has been producing digital media for more than eleven years. Mr. Gill began his career editing commercials and web videos for a Clearwater media firm. He later became the lead producer for video based training at Jabil, Inc., producing digital media for marketing, online training, and general events. Anthony started his own video production service/advertisement agency in 2006 and has continued to produce professional videos for clients such as Brighthouse, Leapfrog, NCAA Women’s Final Four (2007), Tampa Bay Black Heritage Festival and a host of other businesses and individuals.

Anthony has spent over 13 years of working in youth services in after-school programs and with at-risk services for teens. He began his teaching career in the alternative education and charter schools teaching computer technology and administrating PLATO labs.

Mr. Gill brings his years of experience and creativity to Blake High School of the Arts in order to turn the Television and Film Production program into a competitive and exciting program for students interested in becoming marketable producers.