Principal Anthony Giancola is led into a police car on Thursday.

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Tampa Tribune and News Channel 8 staff report

Anthony Giancola, who was charged with buying crack cocaine from an undercover police officer, has resigned from his position as principal of Van Buren Middle School, according to Hillsborough County School District spokesman Steve Hegarty.

A news release states he resigned in a one-sentence letter: “With a heavy heart I respectfully tender my resignation from Hillsborough County Public Schools, effective immediately, due to personal issues I am attempting to deal with at this time.”

Cars were parked in the small circular driveway outside the home of Van Buren High School Principal Anthony Giancola on busy Tyrone Boulevard in St. Petersburg today, but no one answered the door.

Outside one sign says “A spoiled rotten bulldog lives here.” Another says, “A spoiled rotten mastiff lives here.”

Linda Stees, a next-door neighbor, described him as an outstanding man.

“If this happened, he’s had a complete breakdown,’’ Stees said while standing in her doorway. “This is not him. He is a completely upstanding person.”

“This is completely out of character for him,’’ Stees said. “This is 180 degree. This is not him.”

“He is the kind of person who would give you the shirt off his back and ask if there’s anything more he could do for you,” Stees said.

As a tired-looking Giancola walked out of jail Thursday night, he told reporters he hopes others will learn from his predicament.

“Everyone makes mistakes sometimes,” he said. “Some are more serious than others. I’m not running from anything. I know I’ve disappointed a lot of people. But I need to take care of, I need to get my life together. And then maybe from that, other people will learn not to make the mistakes I’ve made.”

Students were greeted this morning with an announcement from Assistant Principal Allison Edgecomb: “Good Morning Van Buren. This is Miss Edgecomb. It is important that I have everyone’s attention and most of all your respect for what I’m about to share with you. Yesterday, there was a sad incident at our school that I need to talk to you about. As you may have heard, Mr. Giancola was arrested yesterday and charged with a very serious crime.”

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