The Surge

During the 2025-26 school year, Assistant Principal (AP) Alejandro Zapata was introduced to the Bay. As an AP, there are different roles Zapata has begun to fill, especially at a school where there is a larger student body. Zapata said that he, along with the rest of the APs, wears many hats when it comes to handling the functionality of this school, but he is already very much enjoying it.

“It is a great place with some amazing students and staff that I am happy to serve,” Zapata said. “It is a different audience and different demographic, but regardless of whichever school I was at, kids are the same. The school culture is different though, I feel like it is more evident that kids want to be here.”

The Bay, like many other schools, offers a variety of athletics, providing opportunities to boys and girls who share a passion for sports. Zapata said that he oversaw the athletic programs  of three schools he held an AP position at and plans to continue doing so while at the Bay. 

“I think athletics in general can really influence overall school spirit, so I believe it is very influential,” Zapata said. “I have fortunately always overseen athletics in all my AP roles. I was an athlete when I was younger. I love sports, so yes, there is definitely a focus. I know Cypress Bay has a rich tradition in a bunch of different sports programs, so I want to continue that and see them grow.”

With school and homework already taking up a majority of students’ time, adding a sport that needs its own time for practice and competition can stress a student’s schedule. During his high school career, Zapata put focus into football, track and soccer, with football being a big part of his life from fifth grade until the end of high school, so there is a firsthand understanding of the time commitment that comes with sports.

“I give a lot of credit to student athletes because the discipline that is involved with it and the time commitment really builds character and prepares people for life,” Zapata said. “Life is a lot of scheduling, and I think it builds a lot of character for the world out there, any extracurricular but sports specifically.”

Zapata quit his athletic journey after high school, choosing to prioritize his studies at Florida State University because he said he knew the type of commitment that came from continuing his sports. Even with this, Zapata said the time spent in athletics taught him about the real world.

“It prepared me for the challenges that I faced coming out of high school and how to work with them in life,” Zapata said. “It really does teach discipline because there are moments in games where you are fired up, not thinking right, but you still have to control.”