[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 50 (Thursday, March 19, 2026)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E239-E240]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   COMMEMORATING STARLING SCHOOL AND THE LEADERSHIP OF CAROLYN CLOUD

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. KATHY CASTOR

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 19, 2026

  Ms. CASTOR of Florida. 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

[[Page E240]]

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.

                          ____________________