Candidate: Nadia Combs

Nadia Combs has had a passion for serving the children of Hillsborough County for over thirty years. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Studies Education and Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership, both from the University of South Florida in Tampa, where she also served in student government and was the sole founder of the U.S.F. Social Studies Club. Nadia started her teaching career by working for the Japanese Ministry of Education for three years on a remote island in Japan. After returning to Tampa, she spent ten years teaching in Hillsborough County Public Schools. During that decade she worked as a teacher, team leader, department head, district teacher trainer and taught at-risk students in the Dropout Prevention program. She also taught night ESOL classes for adult immigrants in Tampa. Through her commitment to Hillsborough County students, she was awarded Teacher of the Year at Franklin Middle School and Middle School Social Studies Teacher of the Year for all of Hillsborough County.  

            In 2005, Nadia founded a company to serve the national Supplemental Education services program. Her company provided free tutoring services to thousands of students in Title I Schools in Hillsborough County and throughout Florida. During the eight years the program was in place, her company received an “outstanding” rating each year from the State of Florida. This accolade was based on increases in student achievement scores, parent satisfaction surveys and district evaluations. Nadia’s success led to the Florida Department of Education appointing her to the Advisory Panel for Supplemental Educational Services.

            Nadia opened Brighton Learning tutoring center in 2014, and she continues to provide educational support to students in public, private, magnet, and charter schools throughout our county. Also during this time, she has actively served as a judge for Hillsborough County School events including the History Fair and the World of Wisdom Tournament. She has also served as a member of the Children’s Cancer Center Knead for Knowledge Scholarship Committee from 2012 through 2020.

            Nadia has been married for 20 years and has two high school children attending Hillsborough County Public Schools.