Over twenty years ago, James “Jas” Warren started the Wharton High School theatre program, and established one of Hillsborough County’s most awarded and respected performing arts programs. This is what happens when passion meets purpose in public education.

Mr. Warren didn’t just teach theatre — he taught life. His students found their voices, learned accountability, embraced empathy, and discovered confidence. Under his guidance, students learned what it meant to work hard, to show up even when you didn’t want to, and turn challenges into art.

The success of the Wharton theatre program under Mr. Warren’s direction, elevated the school’s reputation, bringing statewide and national recognition, as well as pride and opportunity to his students, and to the entire Hillsborough County School District.

Though his passing leaves a profound and irreplaceable void, Mr. Warren’s influence continues to resonate through the hundreds of lives he helped shape — the alumni who teach, perform, and lead with the same integrity and compassion he instilled in them. His legacy is written into the very history of Wharton; the trophies, ribbons, awards, and photos still decorate the auditorium lobby, today.

Naming the auditorium in his honor is more than a tribute; it’s a promise that we will never forget the educator who turned a stage into a home, a classroom into a family, and a program into a legacy that will endure for generations.

This petition will be shared with Wharton High School alumni, current students, faculty, members of the Florida Thespian community, and local community stakeholders, including educators, parents, and arts advocates who recognize the lasting educational and cultural value of Mr. Warren’s work. Together, these voices represent a collective commitment to preserving and honoring the legacy he built for our district.