As Taylor Swift plays Tampa Bay, superintendent warns students: ‘You Need to Calm Down’

Nobody sits out the upcoming Taylor Swift invasion. Nobody wants to, anyway.

Even the Hillsborough County, Fla. Public Schools superintendent got in the spirit with social media messages this week acknowledging Tampa Bay’s excitement about planned concerts from the international mega-pop star.

Borrowing from Swift song lyrics, Davis told students in a tongue-in-cheek letter: “You may think you’re ‘Out of the Woods’ since it is the fourth quarter.” But if they miss an important lesson, “you will not be able to ‘Shake It Off.’”

He sprinkled similar references throughout a video in which he told students “You Need to Calm Down” and come to school on Friday, even if Thursday night’s concert at Raymond James Stadium runs late.

“This was our idea, in Communications.” Davis’ media director Tanya Arja said. Then she added, “Of course he loves Taylor Swift.”

Regardless of the superintendent’s true taste in music, Arja said that Davis was seeking to split the difference between encouraging good attendance and joining the community in celebrating Swift’s visit.

“Of course he wants kids in class,” Arja said. “But this is a fun thing. He knows it’s a big thing going on in Tampa this week. It’s just a fun little thing we did.”