Mrs. Leslie B. Rice was a phenomenal educator who touched many lives throughout her teaching career at Plant City High School. To her Advanced Placement Literature students she was affectionately called "The Butcher," as her silver tongue could build you up when you were in the right, or tear you down if you were in the wrong.

She had such a great passion for teaching students about the classics, but also about life. Mrs. Rice never stopped fighting cancer throughout her long battle. During her first bout, she would leave school during lunch to get radiation treatments, and be back in time to teach her next class. When she started losing her hair during her second bout, her students stood with her in solidarity and shaved their heads. When walking became painful and she started losing her strength, she wheeled around the halls at Plant City High School in a motorized scooter. Mrs. Rice gained her independence from cancer on July 4th, 2015 and left a husband, two sons, colleagues, and countless students behind. She never let cancer get her down though and taught her students that strength through adversity was one of the most admirable qualities a person could posses.

Mrs. Rice lovingly referred to her students as "brats" and "twits," terms she spouted out with the most infectious smile. When the bell rang everyday, and her classes scurried out the door, she would always yell, "respect your elders...they're fragile!"

Leslie B. Rice was an inspirational teacher, but more importantly, she was an inspirational person. One of a kind, everyone that knew her will be eternally blessed. We wish to honor her memory by naming the Media Center at Plant City High School, the Leslie B. Rice Memorial Library & Media Center.